Obsessed by Scandal

Whilst hoards of people flee the latest breakout of violence in Rwanda and its neighboring countries, to cite just one example, the British media is enraptured by the latest scandal to have arisen within its highest echelons.

Two revered broadcasters, commanders of vast sums for their popular television and radio appearances, have suffered suspension in one case and an obligation to resign in the other, after their uncouth deed enraged and shocked listeners and viewers across the UK.  They overstepped the mark; BBC programmers are said to have encouraged ‘raciness’ in the populist part of the spectrum, which was interpreted as license to leave inappropriate answer phone messages, broadcast live in the making.

A smack on the hand and some sort of retribution for the lapse in concentration perhaps, but the hours of airtime wasted on this event is a shameful indictment on media priorities. The BBC, the epitome of quality broadcasting, is descending into trashy and obsessive analysis of complete unimportance.

Pressure to meet the contemporary public’s apparent thirst for celebrity news is certainly a key factor.  By feeding this pitiful addiction, media corporations are merely worsening a social vice that is rotting the imaginations and wellbeing of the public.

The sooner the BBC and others realizes that it is doing a great disservice, the sooner programmers and editors will change tack and recommence purposeful and meaningful journalism, in news, feature and entertainment. Top journalists are already complaining for the ‘immediacy factor,’ where dispatches are demanded instantaneously.

It may be time to think and let think.  If we want proper news, we’ll have to wait and possibly pay more for it- buy out the junk, in effect.  Celebrity junk-news is only on the bulletin because it makes money.  If we want proper lives, those of us prescient and wise enough to already enjoy our very selves must work to encourage to learn to enjoy their very selves!