Our Media's Expression at Ferguson
By: Martin Beth Younan
This evening the St Louis County Prosecutor announced the grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the unjust shooting of 15 year-old Michael Brown on August 9th, 2014. Ferguson, Missouri as I type this, is being looted, set afire, and filled with what I imagine are innocent citizens scared that what is happening a few blocks away can get closer, maybe last for a long time. My heart pounds for the innocent as I empathically know that there are children and elders sitting in waiting for the sirens to stop and the smoke to clear.
Although I intend this journal for the examination of writing (and have neglected to post for some time) the compelling images on television news media, and the stream of reports I hear in the background offer an opportunity to examine journalism.
As I watched the CNN coverage of the fires and looting, one female reporter used the term "mayhem", several times. Upon consideration, with all respect and esteem to the education of this journalist, it seemed curious that she did not use the term "anarchy". Mayhem, she repeated. The second time, I could not help but feel she intended, actually, lusted to say anarchy, but repeated the ill adept "mayhem".
Assuredly, wherever anyone falls on the spectrum of paranoia and the attendant conspiracy theory fetish which has become so inherent to geopolitical consciousness, media is the primary mode of dissemination of information, and it fails miserably. The greatest failure is the dependence and grooming of journalists to comply with schema and predetermined approach.
As I watch the rioters, the violence and expletives also get directed toward journalists in the field. "Fuck CNN!" shouts one despairing young man into the camera. The journalist maintains a steady, dismissive tone and as usual persists to perform. Although journalists' mission is to remain somewhat objective, allowing viewers (readers) to determine their bias by affinity/aversion of individuals beliefs, interests, etc... and as the individual passively receives the information as though he is hearing a case in court, many cognitive functions must begin to search.
Former historical events, political beliefs, hopes and suspicions, and fears of social rupture all contend for the prominent reaction. However, most individuals do not necessarily feel compelled to act at all. The usual reaction is "the world is fucked" in not so many words. This denial of accountability and the acceptance of the fuckedness of the world could be very interesting if imaged by fMRI and applied to conditions such as schizophrenia. Schizophrenics could probably benefit from a good shirking of their sense of responsibility.
Reporting current events, and consuming current affairs data can create a grandiose complex of selective myopia and judgment towards the larger image of the world as a place consistently rent with strife and crisis. Losing intimate regard for those we see suffering on T.V. is called "desensitization" and also becoming "jaded".
The opacity of journalists countenance is intentional procedure toward objectivity. Just earlier a CNN reporter was struck on the head with a rock. She maintained neutrality and continued to report in spite of the pain, yet most viewers, I'm sure, wouldn't have minded if she expressed something. The fear of disclosure of individuals seems so invidious among us. From the opacity of government to the jadedness of most Americans, the desire to express, not just the will, is also lost.
By: Martin Beth Younan
This evening the St Louis County Prosecutor announced the grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson for the unjust shooting of 15 year-old Michael Brown on August 9th, 2014. Ferguson, Missouri as I type this, is being looted, set afire, and filled with what I imagine are innocent citizens scared that what is happening a few blocks away can get closer, maybe last for a long time. My heart pounds for the innocent as I empathically know that there are children and elders sitting in waiting for the sirens to stop and the smoke to clear.
Although I intend this journal for the examination of writing (and have neglected to post for some time) the compelling images on television news media, and the stream of reports I hear in the background offer an opportunity to examine journalism.
As I watched the CNN coverage of the fires and looting, one female reporter used the term "mayhem", several times. Upon consideration, with all respect and esteem to the education of this journalist, it seemed curious that she did not use the term "anarchy". Mayhem, she repeated. The second time, I could not help but feel she intended, actually, lusted to say anarchy, but repeated the ill adept "mayhem".
Assuredly, wherever anyone falls on the spectrum of paranoia and the attendant conspiracy theory fetish which has become so inherent to geopolitical consciousness, media is the primary mode of dissemination of information, and it fails miserably. The greatest failure is the dependence and grooming of journalists to comply with schema and predetermined approach.
As I watch the rioters, the violence and expletives also get directed toward journalists in the field. "Fuck CNN!" shouts one despairing young man into the camera. The journalist maintains a steady, dismissive tone and as usual persists to perform. Although journalists' mission is to remain somewhat objective, allowing viewers (readers) to determine their bias by affinity/aversion of individuals beliefs, interests, etc... and as the individual passively receives the information as though he is hearing a case in court, many cognitive functions must begin to search.
Former historical events, political beliefs, hopes and suspicions, and fears of social rupture all contend for the prominent reaction. However, most individuals do not necessarily feel compelled to act at all. The usual reaction is "the world is fucked" in not so many words. This denial of accountability and the acceptance of the fuckedness of the world could be very interesting if imaged by fMRI and applied to conditions such as schizophrenia. Schizophrenics could probably benefit from a good shirking of their sense of responsibility.
Reporting current events, and consuming current affairs data can create a grandiose complex of selective myopia and judgment towards the larger image of the world as a place consistently rent with strife and crisis. Losing intimate regard for those we see suffering on T.V. is called "desensitization" and also becoming "jaded".
The opacity of journalists countenance is intentional procedure toward objectivity. Just earlier a CNN reporter was struck on the head with a rock. She maintained neutrality and continued to report in spite of the pain, yet most viewers, I'm sure, wouldn't have minded if she expressed something. The fear of disclosure of individuals seems so invidious among us. From the opacity of government to the jadedness of most Americans, the desire to express, not just the will, is also lost.
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