Thursday, May 24, 2012

The News

While I lived in Ecuador, I was exposed to the news Hispanic style. That would be a mix of the nightly news and the tabloid Enquirer being given equal weight. At the time, the feature story was about the "chupa cabra", literally translated means sucks goats. Hey, I didn't name it!
Anyway, the story went that this unknown and elusive animal (eyewitnesses described it as a alien looking creature) was sucking the life out of farm animals, and even, (gasp of horror) a human. I was married at the time and we sat around with my in-laws watching this story.
My reaction: "Yeah right. This is news?"
Their reaction: "How dreadful! I wonder what it is?"

Needless to say, my husband and I got on the subject of the news and I argued that in the States we would never broadcast such fodder.
Years later, we were watching the news in the States, and they featured a story of a mama duck and ducklings being trapped on a highway. Don't worry, the police went out, stopped traffic, and there was a happy ending. My husband, however, was outraged that this made national news.

To be honest, he had a point in some respects. Having lived here and in S. America, the news does seem to be catered to the American public. There are a LOT of world events that we don't know about that maybe we should. It's mostly U.S. events or world events as they affect the U.S.

I, personally, would like a little more meat on the bone the media sends us. Give it to me straight and don't sugar coat it. Although I don't mind the cute duck stories once in awhile either.

What do you think?

20 comments:

  1. I rarely watch the news because they give just enough of the story to get you interested before moving on to the next. News stories aren't news anymore, they are blurbs.

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    1. I think it's geared towards our short attention span society, but I agree with you. What else bugs me is when they cover something like crazy, and then nothing. It leaves me wondering what happened.

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  2. Honey, I like the feel-good, human-interest type stories, which is why I subscribe to my local paper. I rarely watch the news, but I'll click on a cute Yahoo story in a heartbeat. :)

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    1. I'm obsessed with gloom and doom. I think it goes with my Chicken Little persona.

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  3. We get our news by listening to the radio and it seems to be a lot more serious and informative. It's less about fashion and frill and more, well...news. More "meat" as you put it. (:

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    1. I could do without the fashion segments too. That's interesting that you get the news by radio. I listened to the news by radio in Ecuador too. In fact, that was how I found out what was happening in Rwanda.

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  4. Ugh! I try and ignore the news as much as possible! I don't do well hearing the tragic things that go on around us... though there is benefits to knowing things... still, it's HARD. :)

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    1. It can be too much, I agree. I seem to have developed a high tolerance level though.

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  5. I try to avoid watching the news--but I do enjoy those duck stories whenever they come around :)
    That turtle was a gift.

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    1. That seems to be the general view, but I'm surprised. I grew up with my parents religiously watching the nightly news and my dad in his armchair on Sundays with the newspaper. I thought everyone did that! I guess not. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, but I'm not quite sure what you meant about the turtle. :)

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  6. I would, too. We get a lot of fluff. I had hopes when CNN started. Now we just get the same fluff over and over and over.

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    1. Right? The first five minutes are about all that matter. The rest is, like you said, fluff. Thanks for joining my blog and stopping by.

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  7. I rarely watch the news. They only share what they want you to know.

    Chupa cabra sounds much better that the interpertaion. I have seen many shows on this mysterious beast.

    Thanks for stopping by and visiting.

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    1. So you've heard about it too? I saw something years later on Discovery or Natl Geo (can't remember which) and they investigated it. The conclusion was that the farm animals were sick, but the farmers didn't want that to get out because people wouldn't buy the meat. Nice, hey?

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  8. We tend to get a lot of world news in Australia. It might be because we are so physically isolated that we want to know what's going on overseas. Not sure, it's just a theory of mine ;)

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    1. I miss getting broader world news. My husband still checks the news on the internet from the Hispanic media.

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  9. the duck story may not be "news" but I think we need to hear the good stuff, too. I know people are doing bad things all the time but I'd also like to hear about the folks doing good things.

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    1. It does make the bad stuff easier to take. No need to be gloom and doom ALL the time! Thanks for commenting!

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  10. The BBC are awful when it comes to the news. They should just rename the channel "You will get so depressed watching us you'll be needing anti-depressants" channel.

    When I watched the news this morning it was on the following: racist chanting at the Dutch training session in Poland, the potential civil war in Syria, the weather in Britain (we're obsessed with the weather although it is pretty awful right now) and forced marriages being made illegal.

    It depends what day it is. Most of the news in the past year is about the Arab Spring, economic problems and the Leveson inquiry.

    I don't really mind the gloomy news but cute duck news would be cute.

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    1. Yes, I'd have to agree with you. I don't think I'd want only depressing stories all the time. That's for commenting and joining my blog.

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