Due to a mystery illness that has overtaken me over the past few weeks, I am sorry to say that my television watching has increased dramatically. Although lounging in front of the television might seem appealing to some, I must say that I am very close to losing my mind.
Sure, I may be pleased that I can now quote ""Jurassic Park's"" entire script and that I got to see Kanye West go for a swim, but the repetitious news cycle of the cable networks is driving me insane.
Now we know where all those BALCO steroids were shipped after Victor Conte went down. Sensationalism is running rampant like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his final battle against the Predator. All I want to do is get to the chopper.
I made a point of humorizing the major news networks' coverage during this past week in a twisted attempt to shed some light on the recurring cycle. Maybe if I sat on my couch for a few hours and threw insults at the tube, all this anguish would go away.
I was wrong.
Nancy Grace was jabbering on about Natalie Holloway and Caylee Anthony (again) when the remote ran out of batteries. The next hour was mind-numbing: Casey Anthony trial, Natalie Holloway update, Octomom, Anthony, Octomom, Anthony, Octomom, Anthony... Stop!
Where is that lecture from Billy Madison when you need it? ""Excuse me, Ms. Grace ... what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.""
Nancy Grace is not the only so-called ""news show"" that regurgitates the same video and analysis around the clock. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and local news networks are all guilty of the same offense.
At what point did television media lose its soul? My entire life has been filled with blanket stories that fill time slots rather than educate the public.
Millions of Americans sit in front of their televisions every day hoping to be informed about what's happening in the world around them. I fear the rising tide of sensationalism is dulling the minds of my fellow countrymen.
Hearing the same cycled coverage about sensationalized issues is preventing U.S. citizens from hearing the stories that are truly important.
For instance, every Sunday my DVR is set to record Fareed Zakaria's Global Public Square on CNN. Zakaria is one of the last hosts who actually devotes his show to socially relevant stories. I was excited to hear about Syria's reaction to Obama's speech in the Turkish Parliament, until the U.S. cargo ship captain escaped from captivity off the coast of Somalia.
The news update was worthy of airtime, but it shouldn't have taken more than five minutes. All the necessary information could be obtained from the byline: ""U.S. Cargo Ship Captain Freed. Three Pirates Killed in Navy Assault."" Instead, CNN decided to devote the entire afternoon to the story.
After reporters were finished interviewing retired naval officers and the captain's neighbors, I still learned absolutely nothing more than what a byline could have told me.
The problem is that the large media networks compete with each other for coverage on the sensationalized stories. They find a story that revolves around a heinous murder, kidnapping, celebrity arrest or political flap and milk it for all it's worth. And at the end of the day, when the original story has lost its vivacity, the ""media leeches"" move on to their next victim.
While news networks decide their content, the viewers keep these programs rolling. So I plead with you, if you are as sick of the OJ Simpson, Joe the Plumber and Octomom stories as I am, boycott these networks. Use the Internet to choose your own news. Only then will we get to that chopper.
Tom Hart is a senior majoring in history. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
