Sensationalistic Television

[Our Family]

There was an interesting article in the NY Times about the rise of sensationalistic television, both newscasts and reality TV which draws on people's yearning for more and more shocking programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/opinion/10m...

We have decided as a family to discontinue watching this type of television. Instead, we are watching PBS, listening to NPR and more importantly focusing on television which addresses real world issues such as war, violence, poverty and hunger, global warming and pollution, and other issues which we feel will encourage our children to think about and desire to be part of a generation which seeks out peace in the world.

You may call us idealistic. But we believe that it has to start one household at a time.

[Alicia]

Wow....it was so great to hear that others have noticed this as well. Many of my friends and I, when we get together, have talked about how inappropriate TV is becoming.....even when it might be the 'news'. Some news is either a political agenda or just preying on peoples fears......trying to get you freaked out about something. You get drawn in but the truth is its a little like tobacco.....if you are an ex smoker like me. You smell it and you want it....but you know its not good stuff.

We aren't letting our kids watch this anymore. Try BBC. At least its a little more broad minded.

[Samantha]

They prey on parents worst fears often times, operating under the guise of 'informing the public', but the truth is that they just breed fear and hate and rarely solve any problems. People come away satisfied like they do after an ice cream sundae, but also mistrusting their neighbors and friends and further isolating communities.

Solving these problems is not the realm of television in my mind.

I'd like to see television focus on arts, information and caring for the world. Making it a better place. Not giving us more people to hate.

Sam I am

[Edward M]

I don't consider this to be journalism at all. Setting up a police sting, if done legally, is fine. But putting a journalist there to humliliate the person that is about to be arrested, does not constitute journalism. Even worse, the person has not even had a chance to a fair trial yet, but they have already been publically convicted and so badly disreputed, that they will lose their community, job and possibly even their home.

From what I hear, humiliation and isolation drives these guys further. They are most likely to get help if they are connected with a community - not isolated from it.

By the way, try CNNI. Relevant topics of the day are:

- Devastating cyclones in Asia
- Continued humanitarian issues in Africa
- Food shortages in Africa
- Continued unrest in the middle east
- Millions of American children without any healthcare
- Disastrous infrastructure deterioration in the US (did you know that we have the MOST deteriorating infrastructure in the world???)

[Larry Kong]

We call it 'faux news' here :-))

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