By Katherine Heaviside
PR people like me are among the most critical news consumers. Now that Labor Day has just passed, and everyone is getting back to business, it’s time to bring on some real news.
Hallelujah!
If you were among those who read the paper this weekend, you might have seen the article, “Last meals for convicts found to be unhealthy.” It reported the shocking revelation that convicts in their last hours are skipping healthy fare like low-cal salad dressings and simple broiled salmon and instead opting for artery-clogging fatty steaks and French fries. Really, can you blame them?
The endless assessments of Clint Eastwood talking to a chair were impossible to miss. I guess depending on your political persuasion, it was either an embarrassment for the Republican Party or brilliant. But, hand it to the savvy person (a Democratic communications strategist, perhaps), who suggested Betty White as the perfect foil to Dirty Harry.
Then there’s poor Russell Crowe, who gets the incompetent navigator award for getting lost kayaking on Huntington Bay. How do you do that? I live and kayak on Huntington Bay and it seems that you could just drift with the tide and bump into land wherever you turn. But, that doesn’t even rise to the level of say, Snookie’s new baby, for juicy celebrity gossip.
Labor Day weekend press is a reminder that sensational, silly, shocking and scandalous trivia gets pretty old, pretty fast. I, for one, think it’s more engaging to consume news that raises your hackles and propels you to action than to wallow in celebrity voyeurism.
So, bring on the real news! Oh, and is anyone interested in lobbying for kayaking directional signs?
You should watch the interview that Leo Laporte did with Ryan Holiday who wrote the book "Trust me, I'm Lying" which talks about the manipulation of media to push agendas, movies, books etc.... http://twit.tv/show/triangulation/67