Ok, she’s dead, can we get back to the news now?

I turned on the TV this morning to see whats going on in the news, and I was reminded why I’d rather listen to NPR or BBC World News rather than whats on TV.

Local news channel: Anna Nicole Smith’s body blah blah blah…
Other local news channel: Anna Nicole Smith’s son blah blah blah…
Fox Pseudo News: Anna Nicole Smith’s will blah blah blah…
CNN: Anna Nicole Smith’s refrigerator blah blah blah…

I thought if there was one cable news channel left that might have an iota of dignity left, it may be CNN. Guess not.

Can we get back to the news now? She died, her son died, its a sad tragic story, but exercise some moral judgement, please leave them alone, and lets get back to the news, ok?

I realize that cable news, be it ‘liberal’, ‘conservative’, or whatever political label people choose to attach to it, ultimately, all of these channels have one thing in common: what they cover is driven by popular demand and the lowest common denominator. Not by global, national, or regional importance, say like genocide in African nations, millions with AIDS, malnutrition, global warming, etc.

No, screw that stuff, I really want to know whats going to happen to the body of that ex playboy model? (sarcasm) What’s wrong with Paris Hilton, why is she looking so down? (more sarcasm) Is Britany Spears pregnant again? I really have to know! Inquiring minds want to know!

Isn’t it odd that news broadcasters that are controlled by and funded by federal governments like the BBC, CBC, and PBS have better overall coverage of important news stories than the major independently owned news networks? Would this have something to do with…oh, I dunno…money?!? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for competition, free enterprise, capitalism, free press, if the end result is a better product. But what ever happened to ethics, morals, and dignity in the news? Since when has it dissolved into tabloid garbage in disguise followed by tabloid garbage not-in-disguise (Extra, Entertainment Tonight, etc)

Leave this story, its over, exercise some journalistic integrity, and move on to the real news, please?

~Active Ingredient