Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

SENSATIONALISM

OK, hands up, I surrender – you win. My suggestion 3 weeks ago that the bombed out Charles Cross Church might be demolished or moved has gone down like a lead balloon. This half-baked hare-brained ridiculous idea (whatever was I thinking of?) has provoked a massive response, almost entirely negative. I have been deluged with letters, e-mails and personal approaches suggesting that this was not the smartest idea since sliced bread. I have even met the last person who was baptised in that church before Hitler’s bombers did their work. She was not amused.

I have learnt 3 things from this. Usually my wife reads my articles before they go to print and for reasons unknown this vital safeguard did not happen that week. Never again.

Second, I already knew how attached Plymothians are to our turbulent but cherished history. This was a timely reminder.

Third, and here is the subject for this week, if you want to make a splash: be controversial. No wonder our national media has become so sensationalist: it sells. I sometimes wonder when I read reports in the national press about issues of which I have first hand experience. Were the journalists at the same meeting? Did they read a different document? Have I missed something in the translation? More often than not every possible opportunity is taken to exaggerate and push the boundaries of truthfulness to the limit to spice up and sensationalise. Readers react to being incensed rather than mildly interested; outraged rather than intellectually stimulated. It sells.

I read the opinion of columnists and ask: can they really believe that, with such excessive passion? Can any one person on the planet really hold all of these views with such unblinking vehemence? Probably not, but it sells.

To captivate the reader’s interest ever more titillating angles must be found. Papers outdo each other to be more and more provocative. The consumer gets used to one level of half-truths and embellishments and so a harder version must be served up. Even governments and political parties get caught up in the downward spiral to spin and go over the top. Is any of this a problem?
Yes because this is a dangerous slippery slope. Ultimately all objectivity gets left behind. Wisdom and balance get left on the shelf, and we end up with…well our current national media!
It sells, but is it any way to run a country?

posted by Nigel on Wednesday, July 02, 2003