Friday, July 9, 2010

Am I the only one who doesn't care where LeBron James plays basketball?

Lots of big things are happening in the world this week. The U.S. Department of Justice is suing Arizona over its new immigration law. Johannes Mehserle was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of Oscar Grant, and 83 people were arrested in Oakland for rioting and looting in the aftermath of the verdict. The oil spill in the Gulf continues to have a growing negative impact on wildlife and commerce in the region. And let's not forget that the economy is still a mess and millions of people are out of work.

In spite of all this, what is the biggest news coming from the media outlets (both traditional and online)?

LeBron James.

When they are not reporting about LeBron's big decision about where to play, they are reporting about the reaction to LeBron's decision.

Don't get me wrong.  I fully understand that professional sports is a business - big business - and that LeBron has a right to make money like any other business person.  I also understand that his decision has some pretty big financial repercussions for a lot of people, especially in Cleveland and Miami.  For that reason, the story is newsworthy. But to what degree? Should it drown out all other news?

I don't think so.  What happened to perspective?

Do writers in all forms of media have an obligation to help the public maintain a sense of perspective or is it all about the money?

Has journalism become a business of information prostitution and are journalists now just media whores writing what sells and ignoring the real news that impacts the greatest number of people?

That's what it looks like to me. I'm disgusted.

I really don't care where LeBron James plays basketball.

I don't care what Lindsay Lohan paints on her nails, either.

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