Comments on: What’s wrong with this picture? http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:53:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: James http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-108 James Fri, 13 Oct 2006 08:33:11 +0000 http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-108 And they've done it again - climate change vs Ken Foley this time: http://www.wonkette.com/politics/newsweek/americans-are-stupid-and-newsweek-intends-to-keep-it-that-way-207197.php And they’ve done it again - climate change vs Ken Foley this time:

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/newsweek/americans-are-stupid-and-newsweek-intends-to-keep-it-that-way-207197.php

]]> By: Linda Griffin http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-107 Linda Griffin Thu, 28 Sep 2006 11:52:31 +0000 http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-107 Interestingly/thankfully, today's Guardian has picked up on this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1882441,00.html In his defence of the publication's differing cover stories, Fareed Zakaria does indeed blame the market. But it still seems to me that Newsweek have blatantly sacrificed something which was supposed to set them apart from the likes of certain upmarket celebrity magazines - afterall, Afghanistan aside, there are many, many more newsworthy and interesting issues happening in the world - and indeed within the US - that people might just want to read about. Yes, we do generally enjoy reading about celebrities, but is that why we buy Newsweek??? Interestingly/thankfully, today’s Guardian has picked up on this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1882441,00.html

In his defence of the publication’s differing cover stories, Fareed Zakaria does indeed blame the market. But it still seems to me that Newsweek have blatantly sacrificed something which was supposed to set them apart from the likes of certain upmarket celebrity magazines - afterall, Afghanistan aside, there are many, many more newsworthy and interesting issues happening in the world - and indeed within the US - that people might just want to read about. Yes, we do generally enjoy reading about celebrities, but is that why we buy Newsweek???

]]> By: James http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-106 James Wed, 27 Sep 2006 08:52:04 +0000 http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-106 Good points, Owen, and thanks for making them. The idealist in me believes that with the power of mass media, and particularly with the inherent credibility of an established title such as Newsweek, comes a certain amount of responsibility. Look at the Bang Bang Club, for example, or the BBC's reporting of the Ethiopian famine of 1984. Of course it's easier to leaf through a magazine full of celeb gossip and fluff pieces than it is to read about war, climate change, famine ... but does this really excuse the media from their obligation to report what's happening out there? Good points, Owen, and thanks for making them.

The idealist in me believes that with the power of mass media, and particularly with the inherent credibility of an established title such as Newsweek, comes a certain amount of responsibility. Look at the Bang Bang Club, for example, or the BBC’s reporting of the Ethiopian famine of 1984.

Of course it’s easier to leaf through a magazine full of celeb gossip and fluff pieces than it is to read about war, climate change, famine … but does this really excuse the media from their obligation to report what’s happening out there?

]]> By: Owen Lystrup http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-105 Owen Lystrup Tue, 26 Sep 2006 21:33:49 +0000 http://jamesbarbour.org/blog/2006/09/26/whats-wrong-with-this-picture/#comment-105 Newsweek did some good studying on markets. The medium must have realized that American's are getting damned tired of hearing about wars and America's role in losing them. Unfortunately, what Newsweek must have found is that people are not only tired of hearing about them, but also are more interested in stars and the news of Hollywood. It's unfortunate, but it's true. However, I think Newsweek should have produced the Afghanistan photo on the cover. I think in this case, the magazine (as it partly should be) was more concerned with selling copies Newsweek did some good studying on markets. The medium must have realized that American’s are getting damned tired of hearing about wars and America’s role in losing them.

Unfortunately, what Newsweek must have found is that people are not only tired of hearing about them, but also are more interested in stars and the news of Hollywood.

It’s unfortunate, but it’s true.

However, I think Newsweek should have produced the Afghanistan photo on the cover. I think in this case, the magazine (as it partly should be) was more concerned with selling copies

]]>