I don't know about that, however I do think that the media focus too much on unimportant "feel-good" or "slacktivism" content, and not enough on the things that really matter. Mass media is the way that the majority of the population learn about current affairs. One might almost say that they have a responsibility to report on important current affairs, controversies etc. But they know they'll get more views/shares/likes if they post articles about the latest viral sensation instead of about (for example) the latest developments regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership. More views means more ad revenue, etc. Capitalism at its finest.
And to a degree, I think that sites like Snapzu, Reddit, Imgur etc can be similar. Users will tend to post the things that they know will get upvoted, and right now that's Cecil. And even if someone does post the important articles, it will be buried to a degree under the other content. Those who are looking for that content will find it and discuss it, but it won't necessarily achieve the exposure that its importance deserves (in the eyes of the person posting it).
And what if a traditional media outlet does decide to exert editorial control and write about matters like the TPP or other world events on their front page? Suddenly they're "using their platform to push an agenda". Sites know they can't win, so they choose not to play and they tend to post banal, lowest-denominator articles that keep their viewers happy.
Maybe I'm being a little extreme with my examples here, but the point I'm trying to make is that I don't think the media are deliberately trying to hide "something more important" from us. They just know that their readers/viewers are going to be more interested in Cecil than the "more important" story.
How is Cecil's story not important? It's the perfect storm of events that lead to finally resulting in the public to take notice about the corruption, and continued systematic termination and general lack of care for the wildlife currently gravely endangered and on the verge of extinction by poaching for money and hunting for sport. Not to mention the large scale loss of wild habitat and the continued squabbles between wild animals and new residents.
The story not once made any reference to being more important than other events and or world issues. The public is reacting with rage and anger because for the last 100+ years we have been trying to stop this shit from happening and yet some rich dentist from the US gets caught red handed, literally with blood on his hands. Having said that, he's not some first timer getting excited about the hunt, hes a professional big game hunter that took down other big animals in his quest to have the worlds coolest man cave. So I'm sorry, but it's hard to believe that he didn't realize what they were doing was illegal. Strapping a piece of meat to the back bumper of a Jeep? For fuck's sake, common! I'm sure at one point he asked why the hell they need to do this, its NOT his first time. He then had 40 hours while the animal was suffering to stop the hunt and report those actions, what does he do instead? Kills the lion, takes it's head, while his "totally legal" team tries to destroy the GPS collar.
I think that once we start rating stories on the matter of importance and arguing about their right to enter the public eye we are no better than one-upping each other and turning this into a world wide dick measuring contest (sorry for being vulgar) for journalists and their critics.
Thank you! The tone of the article is grating. Yes, there are all sorts of bad things in the world that are not getting the level of attention that some folks, including myself, think is warranted. Does that mean we should all give the lion killer a pass? Because this particular event doesn't meet their burden of proof of being worth their attention?
I can only hope Cecil's death will fuel some change and ultimately spare lives of other endangered animals. That's the only good thing that can come out of this, and articles like "shut up about it already" try to take that away too.
I don't know about that, however I do think that the media focus too much on unimportant "feel-good" or "slacktivism" content, and not enough on the things that really matter. Mass media is the way that the majority of the population learn about current affairs. One might almost say that they have a responsibility to report on important current affairs, controversies etc. But they know they'll get more views/shares/likes if they post articles about the latest viral sensation instead of about (for example) the latest developments regarding the Trans-Pacific Partnership. More views means more ad revenue, etc. Capitalism at its finest.
And to a degree, I think that sites like Snapzu, Reddit, Imgur etc can be similar. Users will tend to post the things that they know will get upvoted, and right now that's Cecil. And even if someone does post the important articles, it will be buried to a degree under the other content. Those who are looking for that content will find it and discuss it, but it won't necessarily achieve the exposure that its importance deserves (in the eyes of the person posting it).
And what if a traditional media outlet does decide to exert editorial control and write about matters like the TPP or other world events on their front page? Suddenly they're "using their platform to push an agenda". Sites know they can't win, so they choose not to play and they tend to post banal, lowest-denominator articles that keep their viewers happy.
Maybe I'm being a little extreme with my examples here, but the point I'm trying to make is that I don't think the media are deliberately trying to hide "something more important" from us. They just know that their readers/viewers are going to be more interested in Cecil than the "more important" story.
OK, wait a minute, lets back up a little.
How is Cecil's story not important? It's the perfect storm of events that lead to finally resulting in the public to take notice about the corruption, and continued systematic termination and general lack of care for the wildlife currently gravely endangered and on the verge of extinction by poaching for money and hunting for sport. Not to mention the large scale loss of wild habitat and the continued squabbles between wild animals and new residents.
The story not once made any reference to being more important than other events and or world issues. The public is reacting with rage and anger because for the last 100+ years we have been trying to stop this shit from happening and yet some rich dentist from the US gets caught red handed, literally with blood on his hands. Having said that, he's not some first timer getting excited about the hunt, hes a professional big game hunter that took down other big animals in his quest to have the worlds coolest man cave. So I'm sorry, but it's hard to believe that he didn't realize what they were doing was illegal. Strapping a piece of meat to the back bumper of a Jeep? For fuck's sake, common! I'm sure at one point he asked why the hell they need to do this, its NOT his first time. He then had 40 hours while the animal was suffering to stop the hunt and report those actions, what does he do instead? Kills the lion, takes it's head, while his "totally legal" team tries to destroy the GPS collar.
I think that once we start rating stories on the matter of importance and arguing about their right to enter the public eye we are no better than one-upping each other and turning this into a world wide dick measuring contest (sorry for being vulgar) for journalists and their critics.
Thank you! The tone of the article is grating. Yes, there are all sorts of bad things in the world that are not getting the level of attention that some folks, including myself, think is warranted. Does that mean we should all give the lion killer a pass? Because this particular event doesn't meet their burden of proof of being worth their attention?
I can only hope Cecil's death will fuel some change and ultimately spare lives of other endangered animals. That's the only good thing that can come out of this, and articles like "shut up about it already" try to take that away too.