Remember when the news was actually news? It seems to me that the word “newsworthy” means nothing today. It amazes me that there are some genuine news stories that need to be reported, but news outlets choose to offer nothing but “fluff.”
If they are not leading off with something geared toward scaring you to death (“Eating _____ could be killing you!”), they are reporting on a story that is days old (“Today we have a new development on the death of Gerald Ford…”). It always baffles me.
Every week I see on Facebook, MSN, or some other “news” outlet something about a new JFK conspiracy or a possible discovery of Amelia Earhart’s plane. If I could actually stomach it, I’d love to sit down and figure out how much time is spent on “fluff” during a 30 minute newscast.
Any time a story starts with, “A Florida man …” I tune out. It has become a joke really. Before writing this, I Googled “Florida man” and this is what came up:
- Florida man wearing Batman pajamas thwarts burglary
- Florida man stands trial for allegedly shooting date after arguing over dinner bill
- Half naked Florida man crashed car into a jail
- Florida man charged for attempting to cross Atlantic in giant hamster wheel
What is in the water down there in Florida!?
What brought about this rant? The fact that a restaurant logo and a celebrity engagement dominated every form of media over the last week or so.
How many times have companies changed logos in the past? Do a search on Burger King – there have been at least 4 logo changes that I remember. I doubt that hurt Whopper sales! I don’t care what the logo looks like. If the food still tastes the same, isn’t that what really matters? People are STILL talking about this … enough already!
Then there is travis and Taylor.
I’m glad that these two have found love together, but I don’t need to hear about it every day. Even before they got engaged, she was all over the TV and monopolizing the play by play of football games. This is NOT news. Way too much time is wasted discussing these two. The sad thing is that it will not stop any time soon. There will be stories about the centerpieces that they picked for the tables, her dress, what color the bridesmaid dresses are, and so on.
Even after the wedding it will continue. You and I will be subject to honeymoon pictures, what was in their hotel room fridge, and weekly updates on their life. Who sleeps on what side of the bed? Who gets to shower first in the morning? Blah Blah Blah!
It is SO annoying to me. What a society we’ve become …
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 
I very nearly wrote a piece on the Cracker Barrel logo a few days ago, but was just too busy. But it’s the dumbest headline story I can remember. I mean – c’mon, they’re not changing the name, they’re not totally making it PC by having a rasta guy in dreadlocks replacing the old guy on the chair, they’re just simplifying it a little . C’mon!? This is news? This is something the president feels he needs to spout off on? It’s dumbfounding. But it’s good for 15 second blurbs that rile people up I guess, who’s gonna watch a 10-minute speech about the prime rate or foreign trade policy when you get this and maybe a car chase that ends in a crash in Arkansas? And Taylor and football dude? Yep- I actually grudgingly admire her for doing her own thing and being a big star in an era where there are few in music, and he’s a football dude. Pretty good I guess, but I’m not a football fan. So, I am not at all unhappy for them and hope they make a go of it, but you’re right. A year from now, we’ll be getting headlines about the type of cotton their wedding tablecloth is made of .It’s BS
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I would rather hear about Cracker Barrel than Swift and whoever!
The Restaurant thing is funny because I’m in that business…as an IT Director not operations but…it’s called not knowing their customer base. Democrats AND Republicans came out and said they didn’t like it… but the funniest thing was that the Steak and Shake guy was giving them hell lol. I enjoyed it! I didn’t mind the president saying something…hell everyone had an opinion.
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Our news is the same here. Either the politicians are hogging with their trivial rhetoric, or the celebrities- and the rest of the air time is devoted to non- news.
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happy for any happy couple getting married and both seem to be nice people and good for them, and really funny to me that people get so upset about a company changing its logo and taking it personally. much bigger things to worry about.
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You are so right Keith it’s either trash, over blown or bad news. I stopped looking at anything from MSN it reminds me of the National Enquirer!
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Which is exactly why I’m proud to be a freelance writer for several hyper-local newspapers — REAL newspapers, with both a print and online presence.
It truly makes my day when a subject — sometimes even 20 years younger than me — is so excited about an article I wrote about them, they are like, “Where can I get the paper?” because they want more than just a mere online link.
No matter what people say — like vinyl records, print will never go out of style. People are too excited about it. So many love to read on the beach, in bed, and not using their phones.
And I take care beyond expectations. I edit all photos. I make sure every subject in photos has their eyes open, that women look as slim as possible, that public figures don’t have a “resting bitch face” but more of a look of authority or importance.
If people would stop paying attention to all the FLUFF and taking time to embrace and share the work of true journalism, FLUFF would fall to the wayside.
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