The image above lists the “must reads” selected by editors of the Toronto Star. And we need professional journalists to protect us from the shabby standards of bloggers, to provide us with experience and judgment in a saturated media environment? Vital to an informed citizenry (cough cough)…
If you click the image above, you can see a wider screenshot of the newspaper’s landing page. Apparently the most important story in the nation is that a professional golfer plans to golf. Other relevant stories include the travails of a figure skater, and the discovery of a body in a river. The only story with any conceivable sense of public interest concerns yet another automobile recall.
The Star is supposedly one of Canada’s better newspapers, and it does employ some good writers. I suppose the publishers would argue that their emphasis merely reflects their need to attract readers. But if this story selection reflects their opinion of the intelligence and debased values of their readership, what does that say about the likely quality of the journalism? And why, when I can consume idiotic garbage content for free in any number of media (including the free newspapers thrust at me at transit stops)… why would I pay for this?
“And we need professional journalists to protect us from the shabby standards of bloggers, to provide us with experience and judgment in a saturated media environment? Vital to an informed citizenry (cough cough)…”
Touche…lmao
Jeff
The reports of real media’s demise is highly overplayed … I’m not sure about you Canadians, but those are some serious issues! How can you be bent out of shape when there is a story about a serious medical issue, something about the depth of the Venice canals, a story related to the death of a world renowned man, serious animal rights issues, and Michael Jackson. Maybe I’ve been conditioned by the state of affairs in the States’ news, but these seem relatively significant stories. You people are so uptight!
You’re probably right Cole. Your analysis illustrates that my fears of a dumbing down of the reading public are overblown.
And I see the current headline story on The Star homepage is about finding a stolen stroller on Craiglist, I suppose the paper can still do hard-hitting investigative journalism on topics of public interest when it wants to. How could someone blog a story like that?
I’ve been enjoying following CNN’s Gothic horror productions of late. Some good stuff, a steady run of murders, tortures, suspenseful tales. Can’t wait to see if Canada can catch up.