If I had more money, I’d like to pay a media clipping and monitoring service to see whose death received more notice and attention during the last two months: Saddam Hussein’s, Gerry Ford’s or Anna Nicole Smith’s. I know who I’d bet on.
Why is this so? I’ve seen a few pundits and bloviaters using this as yet another excuse to bemoan the dumbing-down of America, and the media focusing on the sensational instead of the substantial, etc. etc. These same media outlets, after beating us senseless with every development on this admittedly juicy post-mortem speculation on her cause of death, paternity dispute, inheritance battle and conspiracy theory, then take a step back and ask if their tabloid focus reflects well on themselves.
That always makes me chuckle. But the simple fact is that most people in America know more and care more about Anna Nicole Smith than a former president, and more people in America followed her life and will watch the struggle over her remains than those who know how Saddam Hussein’s capture, trial and death will affect the entire Middle East. Nobody would argue that the Middle East is more important, but most Americans simply can’t or won’t follow those traces. After all, a Playmate of the Year who may have several hundred million dollars is dead.
You may think that sardonic paragraph is an indictment on our celebrity-obsessed culture that values appearance and tabloid news over intelligence and ethical, political debate. You’re probably right. But guess what? That is what most people value. More people watch Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood than Frontline and Meet the Press. I used to say this was wrong and people should be more discriminating. But I sounded like one of those elitists who decry the drop in our moral values while everyone else is drinking the superficial Kool Aid.
So I no longer rail against the masses’ choice in news and entertainment. I merely observe and comment on it. And so do the media. In a perfect world, Frontline and Entertainment Tonight’s ratings would be reversed, but they’re not. The media wouldn’t keep feeding us bland entertainment and trivial news if we were not eating it up in the first place. Why eat your vegetables when candy tastes so sweet?
This is one of those unfortunate facts about how the world works. As much as the elites complain about how the media is dumbing down America, the fact is the media needs to make a buck at the end of the day just like you do. And if smart news and entertainment aren’t selling and the celebrity shows are, what are they gonna do? Gerry Ford’s funeral was televised. Did you watch it? Of course not. But if Anna Nicole Smith’s funeral is televised, and you hear that all the warring paternal suitors, family members and people who want part of her estate would be together, would you be at least a little curious? Of course you would. It could be a train wreck, but it would also be great TV. Just like her many media interviews, Playboy photo spreads and reality show.
RIP Anna Nicole Smith, or whatever your real name was. Your untimely death has showed us what really matters to people after all. And it also proves why the media keeps giving most of us exactly what we want.
More Info:
A similar, though slightly different take from the L.A. Times on how the Internet is telling mainstream media what the public wants
My earlier post on why you can't trust the media
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