Upon "News ?"

I set my television alarm this morning to wake me up at 7:30. After falling asleep while watching CSI Miami last night, I awoke to the CBS Early Show. With a serious expression on her face, the lead anchor began the first segment back from commercial thusly: "We now return to our breaking coverage of Britney Spears." This was followed by a split screen discussion with a "reporter" from Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, two programs which also run on CBS. The anchor began to tout the merits of CBS' exclusive coverage, all but crowing about their scoop that Dr. Phil McGraw had gone to visit Spears in the hospital.

Now I may not be the most ardent news viewer in the world, preferring SportsCenter to the 6:00 news. However, I can not believe that Britney Spears not only leads off some national news boradcasts, she has become the subject of round-the-clock breaking news coverage. I believe tha the celebrity obsessed news culture dates back to OJ Simpson's trial, and we have been descending the slippery slope ever since.

If you were to ask the average American what story stood out in their minds most from 2007, specifically as it relates to news coverage, I have a feeling that the majority of responses would involve a celebrity. Just thinking back on some of the media storms which were created last year, I can remember

Anna Nicole Smith- her son's death, her own death, the mystery surrounding her daughter's paternity

Paris Hilton- DUI and subsequent 35 second jail stay

Lindsey Lohan- rehab galore

Amy Whinehouse- rehab was missing

Britney Spears- shaves her head, loses her kids to the equally hopeless Kevin Federline, goes to rehab thrice, and her most recent meltdown

Michael Vick- dogfighting scandal


Now there was a lot written about all of these stories, and to use the alien corrolary (visitor to this planet comes down and uses our news media to get a sense of what our country is all about) we would seem to be an oblivious nation, blind to the fact that our currency is devalued, our most utilized resource is wildly overpriced, we are still entrenched in two armed conflicts...etc.
(though I must admit I hate when people drop the "There's a war going on" line when they want to devalue something they are against or don't agree with)