When I first discovered my assignment for the semester was to examine ABC News, I was immediately interested in seeing how they balanced their content between hard news and entertainment. It pains me to say, but it appears (at least for today's viewing) that a story about a Kate Gosselin temper tantrum is more newsworthy than multiple stories regarding 9/11.
With the 10-year anniversary of such a monumental American moment quickly approaching, I was almost positive that the majority of featured stories on ABC News would be related to Sept. 11, 2001. I was shocked, and a bit disappointed, to find that was not true. I could not believe that ABC was ranking reality shows above such a historic day for our nation.
This disappointment reminded me a lot how the media covered the Royal Wedding. Websites, televisions and radios were plagued with coverage of the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton before, during and after the ceremony. News consumers had to shuffle through thousands pictures of designer hats and dresses to find out anything else that happened on April 29, 2011. That is simply not what journalism was meant to be, and it is appalling. Clearly, the Royal Wedding is more important than anything Kate Gosselin does, but how could any story about her be more newsworthy than the devastation that occurred ten years ago?
I am not accusing ABC News of being unpatriotic or insensitive. However, I do not know one person that would believe a story regarding Kate Gosselin is more important than a deliberate terrorist attacks on this country. Perhaps ABC News and its online editing staff should reevaluate their priorities.
With the 10-year anniversary of such a monumental American moment quickly approaching, I was almost positive that the majority of featured stories on ABC News would be related to Sept. 11, 2001. I was shocked, and a bit disappointed, to find that was not true. I could not believe that ABC was ranking reality shows above such a historic day for our nation.
This disappointment reminded me a lot how the media covered the Royal Wedding. Websites, televisions and radios were plagued with coverage of the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton before, during and after the ceremony. News consumers had to shuffle through thousands pictures of designer hats and dresses to find out anything else that happened on April 29, 2011. That is simply not what journalism was meant to be, and it is appalling. Clearly, the Royal Wedding is more important than anything Kate Gosselin does, but how could any story about her be more newsworthy than the devastation that occurred ten years ago?
I am not accusing ABC News of being unpatriotic or insensitive. However, I do not know one person that would believe a story regarding Kate Gosselin is more important than a deliberate terrorist attacks on this country. Perhaps ABC News and its online editing staff should reevaluate their priorities.