Quit 'yer Bitchin'..

.. about the media coverage for Michael Jackson, will 'ya?

If I read one more post about how there's nothing but wall-to-wall coverage of it, that Farrah's death was just as big, and that our nation's economy and the escalating situations in Iran and North Korea are far more important--I'm going to go find a blade of grass and scream at it (it won't fight back--that's why).

Because, truth be told, the economy and the Iran and North Korea situations ARE far more important! But the bigger issue is this: America, to a large degree, likes its celebrities and its junk--with a large portion of that junk being the dirt that surrounds its celebrities. And, I really don't have a problem with it.

My problem is with those that bitch and complain about it, while talking about it. Don't like it? Don't pay attention to it. And quit blaming the media while you're at it. Let me let you in on a not-so-secret secret: big media spends millions a year on research on what the American public watches/reads/listens to, and guess what? A good part of it is sex, crime, and celebrity dirt. That's why in the news biz we have a saying: "If it bleeds, it leads." And, sorry folks, it seems to be true, because if it weren't true, it wouldn't be peddled. Case in point? "The National Enquirer"--it's still the most widely read newspaper in the world. And good people out there, the media has to make money just like your particular profession does.

Which brings me back to Michael Jackson. Look, I'm pretty indifferent to his music, and I'm in no way qualified to try to pass judgment on his out-of-the-studio controversies--which were many. But I will say he seemed to be the epitome of the "Double T" of his kind: talented and troubled. But its that kind of combination that a large portion of the American public seems to be drawn to following--perhaps because a large portion of the American public is neither talented or troubled, and can draw some solace that perhaps their rather average life isn't so bad after all. And you know what? I have no problem with that. But, I do have a problem with bitching about it. Get a life.

Now, I can hear some say, "But it's the media's fault for pushing this stuff on us--we see it everwhere. It's on TV. It's on news stands. It's on the internet. Quit pushing this stuff on us.". Well, I'll offer you a better solution: don't watch it, don't read it, and don't surf it. Most of you who bitch about it are adults, so act like adults and make an adult decision to be responsible for yourself and what you choose to absorb. And, CHOICE is the key word there. Have you ever heard of "U.S. News and World Report" or Jim Lehrer on PBS? How about showing the kids a globe? I bet many kids--and adults for that matter--probably couldn't find Iran and/or North Korea. Or even Washington, DC. But they probably know where the Neverland Ranch is.

While I'm at it, quit bitching about athletes earning too much money--if you've read my previous posts, you know why.

It all seems like a cruel circle. And somebody made a perfect illustration on a friend's Facebook page today:

"Vince, that sounds like what we felt like we were up against when I was a public affairs officer in Iraq -- the media reported on "bad" news because that was what the public wanted, then people complained they didn't hear enough of the good news/success stories from Iraq. (But didn't pay enough attention when they were covered.)"

Almost sounds like the person who says they like nice guys or girls, but really digs the asshole(s), doesn't it.

Well, I'm one of those media folks who's not going to allow the general public to shoot the messenger unless it is truly the media's fault--and to be fair, there have been more than enough instances of that. But the Michael Jackson coverage, the Farrah coverge, and even the Jon & Kate coverage are not over the top at all. Why? People watch, and many who don't are talking about it. The media to a large degree is a reflection of its consuming public, so look at those three fingers pointing back at you, will 'ya? The public is the one entity in our culture that doesn't have its feet held to the fire. And I do have a problem with that.

But, that's where I stop bitching.