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"I am big, it's the pictures that got small." In our new 24/7 news world, Gloria Swanson's famous line from Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard" takes on a new meaning. "News" by definition is important, sometimes urgent, and worthy of discussion and analysis. But the way things work now, with so many pictures (and their attendant pundits and analysts) available, so often and in such infinite variety, that they become small by the countless acts of repetition. In the first half of 2005, there were some genuinely important news stories, ones that will impact a lot of people's lives, in a lot of years to come. But because they come so fast and furious, it's hard to get a handle on which are lasting and which just lend themselves to the way media (and media consumers) operate now. People get small and stories get big, but in an unwieldy, inflated way, that somehow seems to untether them from reality. Cynics who think the general media foists sensational stories on the public because "that's what they want to see," are forced to reassess that position when more genuine stories come along, and media consumers gladly give up sensation for substance. This April's "Trial of the Century," the Michael Jackson case, was pushed off the front pages and openings of newscasts by the death of John Paul II. (March's "Trial of the Century," the Robert Blake murder case, was all but preempted by the Terri Schiavo story). To be sure, the wall-to-wall coverage of even important stories can get downright weird at times, as news outlets struggle to get an unusual or unique angle. I was struck by the bizarreness of one of the cable networks showing an old still photograph of the Pope holding a koala bear-a quarter century as spiritual leader to half a billion people, and the cute animal shot still gets a prime place. So, there is genuine news out there, but you have to be willing to look for it. In a Google World, that's easier than it used to be, but it's frustrating, when some stories seem logjammed in some creepy loop of divorced princes, fallen pop stars and failed American Idols. The Schiavo matter, and even the death of the Pope, ignited genuine discussion among folks-people who are never going to be television talking heads, but people who are capable of interest and concern in matters larger than themselves. The discussion that takes place on the op-ed pages can be useful, just as the opinions expressed by the legions of television talking heads can, but the ones that really count are those that happen without the cameras, tape recorders or notepads handy. Instead of worrying that the news from a particular outlet is "slanted" or "biased," it would be a lot more useful if people started worrying if those outlets were their only source of news and opinion. I was actually rather heartened to be discussing Schiavo during a trip to the hairdresser's and at a break in a Scrabble tournament. Over the years I have had stimulating discussions in airplane seats, on living room couches and at restaurant tables. Did I agree with everything I heard? Of course not. But the fact that people can take the time and effort to express themselves to other people without worrying about their close-ups is a very good thing. Often we "just plain folks" have the luxury of much more nuanced opinions than those straining to get their comment in before the host cuts them off at the requsite eight seconds. I'm often in the position of talking to non-gunowners about guns and try to remember to change hats from "Editor" to "Citizen" and from "Expert" to "Acquaintance." People are much more willing to listen with an open mind that way. You can be opinionated and passionate without being a bully and a bore. Because we're so used to watching "discussion" in the form of verbal bear-baiting, we often fall into that default mode, and usually end up alienating our audience. When big pictures and big stories come up, it's worth remembering that it's always the people who are bigger.
Photo © Copyright 1998 Nancy Floyd, used with permission. |
By
Peggy Tartaro,
