Watching the various news stations with dedicated coverage of Iraq I have noticed a few rather annoying trends.
First, who the hell thought that this conflict needed a theme song? I’m aware of the emotional impact of music on the human psyche, but frankly the music is not needed, and the money would be far better spent on additional source of information. We already had to deal with the inane branding of the conflict as if MSNBC’s “Target Iraq” is a far cry from CBS’s “America at War”.
Second, why do the media outlets think I should care about ‘man on the street’ interviews? I really don’t give a damn what some hick thinks about the battles or the political situation. And I’m pretty damn sure that 99.44% of the nation/world doesn’t particularly care about my opinion on the events either. Stop wasting my time with the poorly informed masses and provide me with intelligent information and opinions from the experts. Save the human interest stories for Barbara Walters and her ilk.
Third, Lester Holt, an anchorman for MSNBC smiles way too much considering the news he is reporting. I’m sure he’s psyched at having landed such a great assignment that could lead to a grand career, but he should keep in mind that he is reporting events that are intense and at times downright earth-shaking.
The media should be reporting the facts and providing information that educates their audience. Instead of reporting what Joe Bob and Sally think about the war, the media outlets should provide historical and cultural perspectives of the region. Far too many people aren’t nearly as well informed as they should be. Our nation is already divided on numerous fault lines because people are unaware of basic facts and base their opinions on malformed belief and the opinions of others.