Proportion

                We are surrounded by examples of news blown out of proportion (and reactions equally out of proportion).  Much if this so-called ‘news’ spawns from the rumor mill.  Once a slightly interesting yet basic topic comes about, our immediate reaction is to couple the information we have with our imaginations.  As discussed on page 208 of The Elements of Journalism, people’s imaginations were left open to fill the void of the Western side of the country, which produced irrational depictions of Indians, unimaginable amounts of gold and disproportional maps of what was supposedly out there.

                Countless examples of “newsworthy” stories are somewhat sensationalized and blown out of proportion from what the real issue or story is all about or how important it really is (or rather, isn’t).  The following website demonstrates various examples of pointless and out-of-proportion news: http://mjodonnell.webs.com/

                It is extremely important, as a journalist, to get the details of a situation and verify what really happened before semi-sensationalizing the subject.  Otherwise, something so simple could blow up, such as in the following Julian Smith video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty62YzGryU4

                Having said this, we as citizens have a sort of Bill of Rights (page 252 of The Elements of Journalism is where the issue I will be discussing is located).  One such right of the citizen is to proportionality and engagement.  Our “basic dilemma as citizens” is as follows: “we have a need for timely and deep knowledge of important issues and trends in our community, but we lack both the time and the means to access most of this crucial information.”

                As citizens spend less and less time reading the news, what they do receive greatly defines their view of what is happening in the world.  The news that does make it into the limelight needs to be worth a citizen’s valuable time, important, and newsworthy.  While scrolling through my newsfeed on Yahoo!, I do not want to read headlines such as the following: “Taylor Swift’s Adorable PDA Moments”, “Odd Architecture Just for Dogs”, “Giant Tree Even Bigger Than First Thought”, “MLB Star, New Bride Play ‘Trash the Dress’”, and others (http://www.yahoo.com/).  I know these are personal interest stories, but why do they need to take up space on my newsfeed? Are they really newsworthy?

                Responsible journalists must consider what is newsworthy and what is not.  Though many people do seek special interest stories, much of the news that makes its way into the headlines takes up the space that could be occupied by more important news regarding the economy, foreign affairs, and national issues.  Citizens simply do not have enough time to read in depth stories, so the news they do receive should be important and newsworthy.