So.  It’s summer.  It’s hot outside, but that’s to be expected.  Because it’s summer, you see.  Our side of the planet is tilted more towards the sun, resulting in more direct sunlight and higher temperatures.  Later this year, our side of the planet is expected to tilt away from the sun, thus cooling things down.  

But that won’t sell newspapers.  Oh, no.  Here’s what you’ll read on the front page:

OMG IT’S EFFING HOT WERE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!11

Why the panic?  Because it’s the media’s job to scare you.  It’s not their job to give you information.  It’s not their job to be calm or objective.  Whatever gave you that damned silly idea?

No, they are out to scare us.  You see, they figured something out after 9-11 (and possibly earlier than that).  When we’re scared, we turn to the Big Media outlets not only for information, but for advice.  We were so scared after the terrorist attacks that we would listen to anyone, assuming that they knew more about the situation than we did.  Big Media caught onto this.  Their ratings were higher than they had probably ever been.  They were selling more magazines and newspapers.  And that is the bottom line of any business.  Think about it.  If things were peachy keen all over, would you even need to buy a newspaper or watch the news?  

Now I’m not saying that there isn’t some validity to the things they report.  There has to be, or else it would be an outright lie which could send many people to jail.  I’m saying that they word things a certain way in order to illicit fear, shock and/or awe.  Sensationalism has replaced journalism.  Don’t believe me?  Let’s look at the top three Big Media websites on the heat wave story.

All of the following info comes from the August, 3 2006 editions.  Between 11-11:30 AM.

CNN claims to be the most trusted name in news (in America, at least).  Their website headline regarding the matter reads: “Triple Digit Torture.”  Catchy title, no?  Doesn’t it just “pop?”  Upon reading those words, one automatically conjures up mental images of absolute misery as New Yorkers collapse in the streets by the hundreds, reaching up their beleaguered hands over their eyes in a vain effort to gain reprieve from the oppressive sun.  Millions upon millions drop like flies.  Vultures circle overhead.  All are clamoring for a solution.  That is, until President Bush tries to come up with one and is immediately criticized.  

Fox News claims to be “Fair and Balanced.”  Their headline reads: “Eastern Heatwave Causes Record Demand for Electricity; 13 people killed.”  On the surface, this seems to be better: we have more actual information.  Also, it looks to be presented in a calm, matter-of-fact way.  But let’s look closer.  “13 People Killed.”  Yes, it’s a sad fact that heatwaves claim lives, but look at the verb they used, “killed.”  Maybe I’m wrong here, but “killing” something is a conscious decision.  It’s as if the heat were some sort of monster roaming the East Coast of the United States and indiscriminately munching on the townsfolk.  Sorry, Fox.  You too, are a graduate of the school of sensationalism.

So what are we to do about news organizations that would rather frighten than inform us?  I would say, watch or read just enough to get the information itself and change it right before the talking head come on to pontificate and opine through their pasty pie holes about how bad off the world is right now.  Sure, we’ve got some troubles.  But we all need to get on the same page before we can fix them.  

And there’s nothing Big Media would like less.