Friday, October 30, 2009

Should The News Focus On The World Series?

THE PHILLIES ARE IN THE World Series and nothing else matters in the world, according to the local news media, that is. Newspapers have been packed with baseball news. The top half of every newscast is dedicated to game related stuff.

Is that a problem? It's not like there is an election for a new district attorney coming up, or potential troop escalation in Afghanistan, or a public health care debate, right?

World Series info draws readers and viewers, and people do care. But do the media need to play to the emotions of their audience?

The image above is from 6ABC on the evening that the New York Post ran a cover shot featuring Shane Victorino in a cheerleader's skirt (right). 6ABC retaliated by putting Derek Jeter in a Hawaiian-style skirt.

Is this just good fun or is it a waste of journalistic resources?

7 comments:

Matt Tumasz said...

For something as big as the Phillies being in a World Series, and for a chance to be the first national league team to repeat in over 25 years, i think the constant coverage of the Phillies is justly deserved. Philadelphia is a huge sports town, and we love our teams and it is not everyday that we have a team with a chance to win a world championship, let alone repeat as world champions. Philadelphians want to hear about the Phillies now, so the news will give the people what they want.

Laura Speers said...

I understand that sports are important in Philadelphia, and I think that having a lot of coverage of the World Series is fine as long as it is serious news coverage. I have a problem with both of the pictures with players in skirts. I think that crosses the line from journalism to immature. There are plenty other places one could go to see the opposing team getting mocked; the front page of a newspaper should not be one of them.

Steph Ferretti said...

I definitely agree with what Matt said. This is a very important time for Phillies fans and we are so passionate for our team. We want to know as much as we can during a time like this.

Aleks Molnar said...

Expanding on Matt and Laura's comments, it's good to have something (relatively) positive in the news rather than all the depressing things we'd been stuck with lately: namely the health care debates, shit economy, war in Afghanistan, etc. etc.

I'm irritated the SEPTA strike wasn't covered as well as it should have been, but I say let Philly have it's few days in the sun.

Bwiz said...

Absolutely not sports is news. It might even be one of the most popular news events in most area. At that moment that's all that most natives of the surrounding philadelphia area. Sports is about the only positive news reporting you can find anymore. If sports was not reported on than that newspaper or newscast would find itself in serious trouble.

Wafai Dias said...

It is funny. However, it's like you said George since people care so much about sports we should use that time to add the real issues like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the health care bill, and so much more. I think that for this to be the main focus is insensitive to issues that face us on a daily basis. I don't think that this is a waste of journalistic resources only because a little fun is needed every once in a while.

Anonymous said...

FELICIA TOPSALE SAYS............ Everyone was interested in the world series. Everyone was talking about it when it was happening. Sports really seem to bring the community together and that's what people want to hear about. I think it is a good thing and it is something positve fopr people to watch instead of hearing about depressing things like crimes and the war.