All the News that's unfit to print

I've had two very bizarre "Breaking News" occurrences in the last week. As someone who enjoys posting oddball news for a laugh, I can't say I am above reproach on this issue. But honestly, twice this week I have been watching television, only to be awoken from my near comatose TV watching state by the flashing "Breaking News."

When I was on radio, we would do this by having frantic sounding music followed by "We interrupt this program to bring you this late breaking news bulletin" or words to that effect as I was trained in old school radio announcing. But we would never interrupt a program with trivial news. If there had been a murder or something a bombing or something.

Now we get "breaking news" for stupid stuff. I was watching something, Law and Order I think, the other night and the show was actually interrupted. It peeks my interest. Has the stock market crashed? Has Alex Trebek finally found his mustache?

No. A Springer Spaniel won Best in Show at the Westminster Dog Show.

I was irritated, but went back to Law and Order not missing too much of the dialogue. Such is life in 24 hour news world I suppose. But then, last night, it happened again.

Breaking News...Pop Tart Britney Spears has shaved her head and gotten a tattoo.

You have got to be kidding me.

First, Newspeople this is not news!
Second, beware the story of the Boy who Cried Wolf. All the trivial stuff in the world should be be labelled as Breaking News lest people tune out real news like, say, a nuclear attack.

Sigh...Where have you gone Walter Kronkite?

Comments

Rainy Rector said…
Too true, Archer, too true. And, by the way, Walt is sipping Margarita's in some lovely tropical location and trying not to beat his head with a coconut at the state of the current news media!
2/18/2007 1:56 PM
Anonymous said…
I so much agree with what you are saying! It used to be "breaking news" was something MAJOR, now they have to do like any stupid, ordinary information is considered "breaking news". Come on... it's just a way to get our intention.
2/18/2007 2:17 PM
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