Take a minute and think about what article topics catch one's eyes. What comes to mind? Articles with a catchy little phrase or a ridiculous issue that has been an ongoing problem for sometime. The media is a money-making business, just like anything else in this world. The media is suppose to be a reliable and credibly source that people can count on being the truth. How many times has someone read about a story in several different newspapers, magazines, etc. and there has been a different version of the story in each and every one of the articles. How reliable is that? Where is the public suppose to turn for the facts if the TV, Newspapers, and Magazines are just looking for the money making story?.
The media frequently over-dramatizes some news stories just to sell more papers. I see misleading, "hype" headlines in the paper more than once a week. Often, reporters take a small amount of information and twist it into a story, particularly if there is pressure from an editor. The pressure of deadlines are often the cause of false reports and media "hype." I understand that the newspaper business has to make money just like any other business, but maybe we can start a new system or committee that knows the facts in order to proofread the stories before they are printed. Another solution is to encourage people to write to their papers if they see mistakes. Also, the newspaper itself should get the people involved in the stories approval. None of these solutions will help if the consumers are not educated about, what"s news and what"s "hype." Consumers of the news must be aware of "hype," so they can watch the news skeptically and form their own opinions. Knowledge of media hype takes power from the media and gives it to the people.
The Middle- East has started a committee called CAMERA (the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America) which is a national organization devoted to promoting accurate, full and balanced media coverage of Israel and the Middle East through a combination of systematic monitoring, research, communication with media outlets public education and citizen activism.
