Our group decided to look into why the media is shifting from reporting hard news stories to covering more stories on entertainment and celebrities. Although entertainment and celebrity are both news values, it seems that they have taken a front row when it comes to choosing stories that will be broadcast/published. Why are Britney Spears and Paris Hilton headlining our news bulletins? Are media empires more concerned with sales and ratings rather than hard news? Is there too much to report on celebrities that there is no room for other news? Have our news values changed?
WHEN
Over the last one hundred years interest in celebrities has risen. An increase in technology has led to celebrities becoming the victims of constant media attention. Our obsession with Hollywood scandal exploded with the proliferation of cable television broadcasts and other media which meant that celebrity and entertainment stories were pushing hard news stories off news broadcasts and the front pages of newspapers. Everyone agreed that entertainment and celebrity news should be reported but rarely did a celebrity story make front page. Now, however, it’s a different story everywhere we turn today there seems to be pictures or stories of celebrities. When we line up at the checkout to pay for groceries we are surrounded by Magazines carrying the latest story on the current ‘IT’ girl or guy or attempting to shock with the latest antics by Hollywoods troubled. Even when we open up the paper – both the daily paper and Sunday paper – there is a section dedicated to celebrity gossip. TV news bulletins contain celebrity gossip. We can’t even wake up in the morning and turn on the TV without hearing of Britney’s latest fall to rock bottom. Although there isn’t an exact date and time when celebrity news stories became so popular many people believe that the O.J Simpson murder scandal during the mid 1990’s saw the turning point in the public’s attitude to news coverage.
WHY
Could it be that journalists are becoming too lazy? Some of the best stories require persistence and a lot of effort to uncover. Are freedom of information laws too strict that journalist don’t have the money or resources to access certain information? Or is it just a simple matter of popularity?
We decided to ask people if they would prefer a celebrity story to a hard news story and 86% said celebrity news stories interest them more than serious news stories. With the majority of consumers wanting to know the latest celebrity gossip it seems only natural that media organisations will provide them with it. This will lead to larger sales and higher ratings which will result in more advertising revenue. There is a lot of money to be made out of celebrity and entertainment news. If you get the exclusive coverage of an awards ceremony or the only interview with a fresh out of jail Paris Hilton. As we said in a previous post, it’s no secret that the media is a profitable organisation that needs to make money to survive. Although many would agree that journalistic values should not be sacrificed for economic reward.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN
The much-sought-after younger generation has a never-ending need for juicy celebrity news and media organisations are more than happy to give it to them, no matter how low they have to go to get it. Sex, nudity and exposes of the private lives of people have replaced news and information in the popular press. It seems nowadays more often than not a story on a celebrity will be chosen over a hard hitting news story. Instead of journalists pursuing hard news stories their time is spent chasing rumours about celebrities.
Thank you for your time and feel free to comment on our blog or leave suggestions for ideas. We will be continuing our blog when we return to on-campus studies in early May.
Erin Somerville
Elyce Kolder
Caterina Fraga Matos
Stephanie Borys
Natalie Whiting
Natalie Howarth
