Inspired #1: Sound Bites and the Degradation of Culture

These events at Penn State have created a stirring in the nation that might have opened a Pandora's box of sorts. A coach at Syracuse has been accused of committing sexual acts against a minor just like Jerry Sandusky. What really bothers me is how the media has spun the Penn State scandal into air time for ESPN rather than sparking activism against actions like these taken against children. I recall watching the football game that lead to JoePa's 409th win, and that night came across an article discussing Sandusky. The closeness of the story breakout and this milestone was odd to me, but nonetheless it spread like wildfire. It began with the truth of a former defensive coordinator with 40 counts of child abuse, and it quickly turned into a talk about Joe Paterno. Never mind the District Attorney abandoning the case four years prior, despite have confessions by Sandusky.

Immediately, the media changed the tide of the story to forever envelope the former Penn State coach. Now, I personally think sentiments will soften over time, but still this incident right at the twilight of his career will forever tarnish his old school clean record. In hindsight, it is clear that he should have said something, but to throw the weight of this case on him is wrong. Sound bites to patronage Joe's connection undermines the crimes themselves and shove the victims into a dark corner with no regard given to their plight.

Borschgrave at CSIS remembered how back in 1949 there was a 49 word limit until they were to break into the meat of their news story, showing how journalism began to favor quick news even back then. However,

the proliferation of 24 hour media and especially online media has watered down any real investigative reporting to a mere cloud of speculation and opinions by famous people such as ThtDude342, xOgirlevery1<3xOx, or the insightful Rambo77.

Will news have any meaning in the future? There are many sides to any story, but the news stations filter out only the flashy parts and further add a bias beyond ethical practice. Then they package it in a pretty twenty word highlight reel story at the bottom ticker of the screen. Has our society sped up to the point where people would rather have gossip to speak about than more accurate accounts? Stories like Sandusky's atrocities will not progress true awareness about child abuse, but instead progress the story as Joe's folly. Victims swept under the rug for the sake of TV ratings money and ad revenue. How sad.