The most prominent ethical problem in journalism today is the infiltration of entertainment and popular culture into the news arena. With the emergence of entertainment news shows and the public’s increased interest in the personal lives of public figures, the lines between real news and industry buzz have been blurred. According to Rasmussen Reports, nearly one-third of Americans under the age of 40 say satirical news-oriented television programs like The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are taking the place of traditional news outlets. When talk shows hosted by highly-paid comedians become a news source, there is a serious problem. Distinguishing authentic journalism from pseudo journalism has become increasingly difficult due to the prevalence of mock news shows that are entertainment-focused, gossip-prone and sensationalistic.
The goal of news is to provide the public with meaningful information that enlightens and empowers people to make informed choices. To accomplish this, news outlets must center its content around stories that are newsworthy. Unfortunately, the application of the term is applied much too loosely. Too many stories are featured as newsworthy, when in reality they are nothing but an illustration of bizarre behavior and sophisticated gossip. The news industry must work to distinguish itself from entertainment media and reestablish its reputation as an avenue for accurate information based on reliable sources, sound reporting techniques, whose content is factual and substantive.
A study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University in 2008 found that people who watch fake news shows learn far less about political issues and candidates than people who watch television news shows on networks, such as CNN and NBC. “Both news and entertainment media seem to promote some knowledge gain, but people who are exposed to news gain more factual information and learn more about a wide range of important topics than those exposed to entertainment media,” said Young Mie Kim, co-author of the study and assistant professor of communication at Ohio State.
Entertainment news shows like Extra and Inside Edition project a news-like format, however the content featured hardly qualifies as news. Regular topics include movie and sitcom reviews, the latest fashion trends and quite often the indiscretions of celebrities. During the Tiger Woods scandal in 2009, networks such as CNN and MSNBC provided prolonged coverage of the ordeal. While the story was newsworthy to some extent, traditional news programs provided more coverage than appropriate for news networks. High viewership of such stories may prove there is a considerable audience present, but news organizations must fight the urge to dilute its content to compete with entertainment media.
Legal news shows like Nancy Grace feature newsworthy stories that obtain national attention, however, they are covered with a tabloid-like slant and overzealous tone. As a result, stories are taken out of context and blown out of proportion, making mock news shows like this a platform for sensationalism. Programs like The View use a talk show-like forum where issues of the day are discussed, however, most of the hosts are not professional journalists so their perspectives tend to be opinion-based, rather than founded on sound reporting and research. When substantial guests like President Obama appear, interviews are compromised due to poor training and technique. Programs in this genre also mix newsworthy events, such as the tax-cut debate with tinseltown gossip like Kim Kardashian’s divorce. Citizen journalism, while beneficial in some ways, has also compromised news quality due to “do it yourself” websites, such as YouTube and Wikipedia. Technology now allows people to blog and post videos of anything they find interesting without verifying facts, sources or properly reporting a story. The mix of real news with entertainment chatter is dangerous because it compromises the work of real journalists.
The news landscape has been muddied by a variety of genres that have weakened journalism and its perception by the public. “Audiences are attracted more to entertainment than serious public-affairs reporting, and what’s worse, that they may not even be able to distinguish between the two,” said Jeffrey P. Jones, associate professor and Director of the Institute of Humanities at Old Dominion University. While solid journalism is the goal of most news outlets, ratings and revenue lie at the heart of any business model. Abiding by an ethical model in a revenue-driven media landscape where viewership of entertainment-based shows is in high demand may prove difficult, but its necessary. The role of ethics in journalism depends upon the philosophy and mission of a news organization, and the mindset of management and producers. Whether good or bad, the ethical code of any news organization will determine the quality and caliber of news featured, the direction a network will go in and ultimately its longevity. Implementing high standards will undoubtedly set traditional news networks a part from entertainment media, and position them as the more credible, reliable and respectable news source. -v7
