Just My Two Cents » In Search of Responsible Broadcasting Pt. 3

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October 23, 2008

In Search of Responsible Broadcasting Pt. 3

Media Driven Frenzy

H.G. Wells — War of the Worlds — The Possible First Media Driven Frenzy

In 1896, H.G. Wells released his science fiction novel describing an invasion of England by aliens from Mars. This sci-fi classic of course went on to inspire a number of movies, radio dramas, comic book adaptations and even a TV series based on the story. Just last year the TV series Cold Case worked a story line about an unsolved murder that took place during the famed 1938 radio broadcast of the story. Of course that broadcast caused mass hysteria as many believed what they were hearing on the radio, was actually taking place.

American Radio Drama - Causes Media Driven Frenzy

Performed as a Halloween episode on October 30, 1938 and aired over the WABC Radio Network, The War of the Worlds was an episode of the American radio drama series Mercury Theatre on the Air. The classic book, turned into a classic radio broadcast, was directed and narrated by Orson Welles. The first two thirds of the 60 minute show was presented as a series of simulated news bulletins about aliens from Mars invading the world. One would wonder how such a broadcast could send people into a frenzy. After all, it’s radio, where’s the announcer giving us the time check and weather? The Mercury Theatre on the Air ran without commercial breaks. If people tuned in late, they missed Orson Welles reminding people they were tuned to the Mercury Theatre on the Air and what they were about to hear was an adaptation of the H.G. Wells book, The War of the Worlds. As a result, some who missed the announcement, thought it was all for real.

Some fled their homes, while others listened in terror.

In 1938, the news-bulletin format show was described as cruelly deceptive by newspapers and public figures. Those in the news business in that day were very upset that the sacred world of news, was used as a tool for entertainment. After all, news is not supposed to be entertaining. When people hear news bulletins and news stories from so-called reporters on the scene, they believe what they hear is true! The responsible broadcasting outcry in 1938 condemned Orson Welles and those involved with the hoax and wanted them removed from the air. Of course that didn’t happen and now the 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds with Orson Welles is considered a classic, which in turn launched Welles to fame.

These Days News Is Synonymous With Entertainment

My oh my how the times have changed. In 1938 it was called deceptive broadcasting. Using news as entertainment to cause a public frenzy. These days, it seems the only thing some media outlets know how to do is cause a frenzy. The screamers on the right and the left get their listeners all wound up. They march, they make phone calls, they boycott, and they bully. Within a matter of moments, it seems a non-issue can turn into the most important thing since sliced bread. The only thing that needs to happen is for the media to get a hold of a story, spin it out of control, and cause panic in society.

For example, much of the financial crisis panic was driven by a media frenzy. At every corner many in the media declared, “They sky is falling the sky is falling?” In the end, the sky didn’t fall. Many went into panic mode. As they sold off everything they had in the market, the market in turn started falling. This makes perfect sense. If people are pulling out of the market, it has no where to go, but down. The media told us we were all heading for a meltdown. Such reporting sent panic throughout the nation.

In the political world we see the media driven frenzy almost every day. In this sound-bite world we live in, we’re constantly hearing, in many cases, out of context comments from political candidates. However, it gets worse, as the media driven frenzy is even telling us already that McCain is the loser and Obama is the winner.

Wait a minute! I didn’t think election day was until November 4?

The media driven frenzy is actually attempting to tell the public whom they should vote for. According to the media, those who would even think about voting for Senator McCain should just not bother voting. After all, the media is already crowning Senator Obama as the winner. The frenzy is rising to very loud levels that Senator Obama is the man for the job. Now, on top of that, the media is starting yet another frenzy agenda. This time they’re perpetuating a story that there will be long lines at the polls this year. While this may be true, the way some media outlets are covering the story, it’s almost like their trying to scare people away from voting in November. After all, the story declares — Long lines, long waits, and not enough voting machines! — When the media screams that long and loud enough, a frenzied response is sure to follow.

So, just how should we respond to the current media driven frenzy days we live in today? While we can’t live in a bubble ignoring the news going on around us, we need to find balance. The sad thing is, we’re hard pressed to find balanced coverage of the news. As a result, we need to discover how to sort through the frenzy, and find the calm. In the end of course, we need to start standing up and call out for responsible broadcasting. In 1938 Orson Welles and his crew were called out for being cruelly deceptive.

Maybe it’s time some of us started calling out those in the news media today as cruel and deceptive.