Why+we+know+what+we+know

The article, “Media Distractions Hurt Real Issues” by John Nichols suggests exactly what the title states; that reports on celebrities and pop culture distract viewers from real news. The article discusses the 2005 Michael Jackson child molestation case. For eighteen months the case was in the headlines and top news. The hype surrounding the case out weighed more important news worthy topics such as electing the President of the united states, issues regarding retirement, and the war in Iraq. As the article states, large media corporations enjoyed reporting on the Michael Jackson case because they did not need to spend hefty amounts of money to follow the case. Instead of having to investigate serious issues the media simply needed to set up camera crews in front of Jackson’s California courthouse. The article goes on to discuss why stories such as these becoming top news affects American’s perception on what and who they should know about. Instead of the media corporation’s spending money to investigate President Bush or the War in Iraq, they chose to report on Michael Jackson. This meant that news companies would not be penalized for trying to uncover the truth, nor would they have to spend or spend large amounts of money in the process. Instead of scrutinizing our government or powerful Wall Street players, the media chose to scrutinize Michael Jackson. Therefore, because the media was scrutinizing Michael Jackson, the American public did so as well. The American elite were happy that Michal Jackson was top news because this meant that they would not be scrutinized by the American public. The article argues that reports on such topics as Michael Jackson molesting children distracts the American public from what they should actually be concerned with. This article was useful because it explained a specific instance where Americans were distracted from real news by something occurring in popular culture. Other helpful articles include: · [] o This article discusses ways in which the media reaches the American public and who influences or chooses what we do and do not know. · [] o This book discusses how to media uses double talk to withhold parts of the truth and how to spot when this is happening. · [] o This site discusses how the media deceives us, why this occurs, and how we can help solve the problem. · [] o This site lists articles and reports on topics that the American public actually should know about. It also lists quotes from respected journalists on topics such as having to change a story for reporting on something or being penalized for uncovering truths. It discusses how it is hard to find actual truths because of the economics of the media and influence of the government.

What a fascinating direction your project is taking, Juliette. I think it's interesting to think of "entertainment news" as a form of propaganda that distracts people from issues that directly affect their financial and personal well-being. I think this is an important topic. Many well known scholars like Robert McChesney and Noam Chomsky have developed arguments that are similar to the point you are making. Do take a look at their books.

But I want you to be aware that some of the sources you are using are themselves advocates with questionable credibility --- some people would consider them to be offering a form of propaganda about the new business. Read reviews of the book, Into the Buzzsaw, which is the print source used by the folks at WantToKnow.Info. to understand why the book is called "uneven." And make sure to look at the critics of these people to see how their work is seen by people who disagree with it.

Please use APA citation for all the materials you use in your work, including web sites. And make sure to distinguish between your own writing and your paraphrasing, summarizing and direct quotation by using internal citation (author, date) to make clear who's saying what. GRADE: B