Hardly anything about the news is upbeat anymore. For most of us, reading about the countless bombings, political scandals and dime-a-dozen
social injustices that plague the world today is hardly bearable. Instead, we distract ourselves with anything that doesn’t remind us of just how bleak and ugly the world can really be.
If nothing else, this is a defense mechanism, designed to protect us from driving ourselves mad.
We’ve all got our ways of maintaining our sanity. That’s fine. But when CNN does it?
Last week, CNN had an hour-long special covering its race against Ashton Kutcher to one million Twitter followers. (Yes, Ashton Kutcher. Seriously.) Larry King crouched over the table, expressing his amazement that CNN, a “reputable news source,” had been out-followed by a celebrity.
Meanwhile, a shocking videotape had been leaked, showing one of United Arab Emirates’ prominent and disturbingly powerful prince’s mercilessly torturing a helpless farmer who he had mistakenly thought had “cheated” him.
A news powerhouse like CNN would have the breaking story right away, jumping on the scandal and inciting human rights frenzy among the bleeding hearts. Right?
Not really.
The UAE prince didn’t even make a blip. So insignificant, in fact, that it didn’t even make it onto the ticker.
But never mind that nonsense — CNN has a real life celebrity on the show!
CNN producers knew that no one wants to hear about that silly torture stuff. Especially not anything about how a full 20 minutes of footage showed that the prince went so far as to pour salt into his helpless victim’s bleeding wounds.
He also electrocuted him with a cattle prod and ran him over continually in his luxury Mercedes. The noise of breaking bones was clearly audible, as were the screams of the helpless victim, who cried out continually for mercy.
But that’s not newsworthy. Obviously. It’s far too grim to subject because, of course, Americans are only capable of handling so much. Like little children, they couldn’t possibly be able to handle something as grotesque as torture.
Plus, everyone knows that torture happens every day. There is no reason to expect a noted “reputable news source” like CNN to cover it.
Is it just me, or is this disgusting?
When has it become okay to ignore world issues in place of trivial “news?” Is it really more important that Rihanna may or may not go back to her trashy boyfriend than it is that certain royalty in the Middle East are able to torture anyone they feel deserves it?
Is this what modern journalism has become?
I’m not saying that Americans should make a point to watch each and every newscast about grim world issues. Subjecting your mind constantly to the horrors of the world makes no more sense than to watch videos of traffic accidents before starting up your car.
Nevertheless, we should have the choice.Step it up, CNN. After all, that is what you’re there for.
Add CNN on Twitter at khewell@asu.edu.
