While there are important issues to deal with, what is our media reporting on? Gov. Crist’s new girlfriend.
There is absolutely nothing important, newsworthy or useful to Floridians in this story, yet it’s everywhere. Shouldn’t we have some more coverage of the bills still sitting on Crist’s desk? Or the upcoming special elections? Or the upcoming special session? Or maybe a story on whether or not local governments are ready for the upcoming hurricane season? No, let’s talk about Charlie Crist’s girlfriend.
What amazes me is the way in which people zero in on stories they dislike and ignore everything else in the newspaper that day and that week.
The fact is, on the same day that we had the Crist story — which didn’t even run on our front page or as a featured centerpiece story in our local news section — we had front page stories on efforts by counties to resist state propert tax cuts, efforts by the Buccaneers hold onto $12-million in taxpayer money provided for a practice facility they already seem to have built, and Rudy Guiliani’s attempt to focus his presidential campaign on Florida.
The local front features stories on efforts to curb road racing, graduation ceremonies across the area, a column on the brooker creek preserve and a story on the beauty queen dating charlie crist. A story, by the way, which was the fifth-most read item on our web site that day.
The fact is, we are reporting on important issues facing the state. And we’re also talking about the social life of Florida’s first bachelor governor in many years. A bachelor governor, by the way, who has faced rumors both that he is either gay and/or an aggressive womanizer.
It may not be the most imortant story we’ll cover this week. But it certainly seems to be something within the scope of our journalism mission that readers are interested in.
>What amazes me is the way in which people zero in on stories they dislike and ignore everything else in the newspaper that day and that week.
Which is, of course, not what I did. I believe if you look at the posts before and after this one, I reported on other stories, and in both, I linked to your newspaper’s website.
>The fact is, on the same day that we had the Crist story — which didn’t even run on our front page or as a featured centerpiece story in our local news section — we had front page stories on efforts by counties to resist state propert tax cuts, efforts by the Buccaneers hold onto $12-million in taxpayer money provided for a practice facility they already seem to have built, and Rudy Guiliani’s attempt to focus his presidential campaign on Florida.
Sure, and if you read my comment, I didn’t say there was no coverage of other important stories. I said we needed more of it. I also didn’t say the St. Pete Times was the big offender, nor did I single you out. What I said was that “our media” had a problem with too much coverage of a nonstory. This was the most widely-reported story of the day and it was reported as “news.” This didn’t appear in the entertainment section or the gossip column or on your blog (that you linked to above), it appeared on your news blog and in your local section. To me, that’s a problem, regardless of how many people read it.
I know the St. Pete Times is in existence to make a profit, but that isn’t particularly important to me. The reason the media has First Amendment protection is because we, the citizens, need the media to give us the information we need to make wise decisions, politically and otherwise. If reporting on things like this (and Britney and Anna Nicole, etc.) are really what the people want, then why is it that traditional media — even good ones, which I think the St. Pete Times usually is — is declining drastically in circulation? Why is it that companies like yours are doing everything they can to find alternative ways to attract readers (online, blogs, etc.). You may disagree, but I think it’s because people want more. And in Florida, it is clear, that people need more.
Ken-
Lighten up, dude. We need to be making good connections with MSM people, not attacking them. If there is “more to do” that just makes the blogger’s job easier.
Also, considering the rumors about Charlie being gay, the possibility of a girlfriend is newsworthy, at least to me. Considering her background though, she seems like a convenient beard and doesn’t prove anything either way.
People are always going to gossip, it’s in our genes.
Actually, Ken, the St. Petersburg Times is owned by the non-profit Poynter Institute. It is, in fact, not in business to make money. That is part of the reason they continue to have some of the best reporters and writers in the industry.
I totally disagree with their politics, especially some editors… and some of that naturally comes through in their reporting. But they are some of the best professional journalists working today.
>Also, considering the rumors about Charlie being gay, the possibility of a girlfriend is newsworthy, at least to me.
Like I said above, maybe in an entertainment page or a gossip column, not on a news page.
>People are always going to gossip, it’s in our genes.
I don’t buy this one at all. It’s something that people like to do, it isn’t something they have to do.
Too many voters in Florida have no idea what is going on with state/local government. It’s because of reporting like this. I can’t lighten up on that one.
>Actually, Ken, the St. Petersburg Times is owned by the non-profit Poynter Institute. It is, in fact, not in business to make money.
Thanks, Jim, I didn’t know that. That supports my argument even more. If they aren’t in the business of making a profit, then there really is no legitimate reason to be reporting such fluff. The media leads the opinions of citizens. If they report fluff, that’s what citizens think and talk about. If they report real news, the same is true.
>That is part of the reason they continue to have some of the best reporters and writers in the industry.
I agree. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t do better.
I do want to echo a bit what Jim has just said. The St. Petersburg Times, despite some flaws (hey, we all have them), is one of the best newspapers around largely because its run by a nonprofit. I really wish most of our newspapers would follow that lead, our democracy would be SO much better off for it.
Haha…Gossip! As trivial as it might seem, is really an important part of society. After reading a book called “Law as Culture: An Invitation” by Lawrence Rosen, I will always “see” gossip in a different light. Rosen states: “Gossip, as various scholars have noted, is not mere backbiting: It articlulates group standards, cast up group leaders, established group boundaries, socializes newcomers to group history and traditions, and signifies personal inclusion (p. 17)” I never knew that it was that important. Who knew?