Web Exclusives | October 12, 2005 Web Wire Editor’s Note |
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| Written by Josh Nathan-Kazis | |||||
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Scariest Week Ever This has been one of the more terrifying weeks in recent memory. Between the hurricane-induced mudslides in Guatemala, the earthquake that killed 20,000 people in South Asia, the suicide bombings in Bali, the swarms of North Africans throwing themselves against barb wire fences in last ditch attempts to enter the Spanish colony of Melilla, and the dire warnings about the impending avian flu pandemic sure to kill 50 million people within five years, anyone watching CNN for more than two minutes was sure to come away thinking that the world was nearing its end. Of course, this entire year has been monumentally scary. The devastation caused by the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina, the tsunami, and terrorist bombings in London mix in our news media with increasingly frantic tales of impending doom in the form of the melting icecaps and loose nukes. A person could be forgiven for running to the nearest fallout shelter and hunkering down for a few decades, until this all blows over. Recent developments, however, have led me to wonder whether all this concern is justified. On October 6th, the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, held a dramatic news conference in which he revealed that a terror threat against the New York City transit system of unparalleled specificity had been uncovered. Since then, the subways have been swarming with police, and security has been elevated to uncomfortable levels. In the days after the warnings were issued, a few small voices began to question the timing of the announcement. On October 7th, in CBS News’ blog, “The Public Eye,” Craig Crawford wrote: “Yesterday we heard about possible attacks in New York just hours after the President delivered a tough-talking speech about the dangers we face from terrorists. And the subway story stepped on breaking news that White House political boss Karl Rove would again testify to a Grand Jury. How convenient!” Crawford went on to remind readers of other, similarly convenient terror threats, writing, “Most memorable was the time last summer when we heard warnings of terror attacks on the East Coast – announced just as the Democrats wrapped up their national convention in Boston and sent presidential nominee John Kerry on the road for what they hoped would be a high-profile launch of his general election campaign.” Beyond underlining once again the moral degradation of our current administration, this crass manipulation of public sentiment shows us exactly how susceptible the news media is to manipulation. In the case of the political use of terror threats, the media has been manipulated by the Bush Administration. Maybe we should consider the possibility that, in the case of the litany of crises that I listed a moment ago, the media is being manipulated by other forces. This is not to say that people are not dying in Pakistan or Guatemala or Louisiana. But, in a year when a number of unquestionably major disasters have occurred, maybe the advertisers have been awakened to the advertising potential offered by such events. When bad things happen, we watch CNN, or Fox, or MSNBC, much more frequently than when everything’s peachy. So maybe the world isn’t ending. Maybe Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner have both realized that things will go better for them if they make us believe that it is. What, then, is a forward thinking young college student to do? Four words: Screw the mainstream media. Not literally, of course. But turn off CNN, and pick up your favorite alternative publication. Don’t have a favorite? Allow me to suggest the New Voices Web Wire. The following are four excellent stories edited with no eye towards large-scale manipulation. If you like what you see, order a free subscription to the New Voices Magazine Interested in writing for the Web Wire? We print profiles, exposés, interviews, editorials, and new-journalism style first person freak-outs (on occasion). The only guideline is that articles be of interest to Jewish college students. We work closely with our writers, and can offer all sorts of support, including story topics and well-timed compliments. Many are needed, so don't hesitate to respond.
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