What do you think when you read the sign "Free Hugs?" These young French schoolgirls at Versailles were offering hugs to anyone who asked. They were not being provocative; they were getting involved in their community. On a cold, windy afternoon after school, they spent their time trying to cheer up others.
And what do you think when you look at this photo? Beneath the real Eiffel Tower, this creative young boy had his camera zoomed in on a miniature Eiffel Tower, with family member's feet in the background. He was viewing his surroundings through a unique perspective. How you view each of these photos is - bien sur -dependent upon your own perspective.
"In the news" is the Sunday Scribblings prompt. I've spent most of my life covering the news via radio, television, newspapers and now online. And who, what, where, when and why (and sometimes how) is the mantra of every journalist for every story we cover. We have to consider two sides to every story, then put the facts out there for readers to draw their own conclusions. Being objective is drilled into our heads in journalism school. We don't editorialise unless we're writing an op-ed (opinion piece or editorial) piece.
When I write a newspaper or magazine article, it's my duty to present the facts. It's not my role to tell you what to think about those facts; that's your prerogative. Most of us are familiar with the expression "ignorance is bliss." Yet ignorance can be dangerous. And there's no excuse for it, with multiple news sources available 24/7 around the globe.
The United States and Great Britain once were countries of activists, movers and shakers. I am dismayed with the current social and political climate that seems driven by fascination with news "lite" and celebrity escapades. While we're being "entertained" by Lindsay Lohan's latest woes or some starlet's unlikely romance, what's happening to our energy resources? Where are funds designated for education being channeled? What has happened to arts and music programs in our schools? Is anyone crying foul as the infrastructure collapses around us?
Frankly, I am shocked at the amount of apathy in Western countries and how few people bother to register complaints, much less protest the status quo, either by speaking out or via the ballot box. How can people spend more time deciding what barbeque grill to buy than determining whether or not their children have safe drinking water or adequate health care?
Our responsibility to ourselves and to future generations is to make informed decisions - not let someone else tell us what to think. Lots of lies and "spin" cloud the atmosphere. Not long ago one young blogger sent me an email saying she realises she needs to become aware of issues at the polls, for her children's sake. Well, yes, you do. And whether or not we have children, how can we not pay attention to events that ultimately will affect us and everyone we know? We are connected, like it or not. John Donne wrote that "no man is an island, entire unto himself." In this vast global village, never has that been more true.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that given a government without newspapers or newspapers without government, he'd choose the latter. If we ignore the news and don't try to affect change, we deserve the government we get.
Right this minute there are numerous journalists around the world risking their lives to find the truth. Many have died or been seriously wounded in this quest. As I write this, BBC reporter Alan Johnston is still missing, nearly a month after he disappeared in Gaza. Stay informed: read the news and ask questions!
Love your blog. I made kind of the same comment as this in my "Presigame" blog post yesterday. Anyway, good to know there's a kindred spirit in town!
Posted by: Polly | 14 April 2007 at 22:36
Great post, Tara.
I try my best to keep up with the news using a variety of sources and media. Your blog is definitely on the list as one of the news sources that makes me think about the world and my role in it. You always present such great stories and opinion pieces. Thank you!
Posted by: Ali la Loca | 09 April 2007 at 10:44
When I saw your photos, I thought your post would be lighthearted and entertaining -- which it was, but further on you touched on a subject that everyone should be aware of. I couldn't agree more: the first responsibility of a citizen in a democracy is to stay informed and ensure that your information is reliable and unbiased.
Posted by: bonggamom | 09 April 2007 at 05:59
Tara,
I could not agree more. I hate watching the news and all the interest in what is happening to celebrities. I enjoyed your photos.
Posted by: Jone | 09 April 2007 at 05:40
Tara — Yes, yes, yes! You are so right on. These younger generations must be taught (somehow) about the media, its spin, and a supposedly participatory democracy...without this, I don't know what will happen to the world's freedoms.
Posted by: KG | 09 April 2007 at 03:46
Tara,
Yet again your intelligent, no-nonsense look at our world has given us much to consider. I very much agree with what rel had to say and with megan's comment also. (Because you are such a good reader and commenter/or(?) on the blogs of others, almost all of us read yours regularly it seems and want to comment. Sometimes, I read enough of them to decide that everything I wanted to say to you at least 5 or 6 others have already said, so I skip it that time. Other times, like tonight, I read one or 2 specific ones that say so much what I wanted to say that I try to remember those specific names, beyond 2 or 3, I can't retain them long enough to get to my own comment.)
There was one extra thing I wanted to say that I didn't see in others comments--tho' I did eventually begin skipping them---you emphasized how important it is that journalists be taught to present news impartially so as to let readers reach their own conclusions. You seem to be excellent about that and your photographs so often add extra perspective that is also impartial. Sadly, though, I feel that many so called journalists, especially in television and radio, place NO value at all on impartiality. I get so very tired of having only one side of the issue presented or, worse yet, being told exactly what it means and what I should think about it. I feel like I may be becoming quite biased myself, in the opposite direction, because I feel I am not being allowed to see the full picture or make my own well-informed decisions.
Thank you for the well-informed, worldly views you share with us weekly.
Posted by: sundaycynce | 09 April 2007 at 01:19
This has got to be one of my all time thinking posts of all from you Tara* Those kids give me lots of hope tho, they seem to know exactly what the world needs* sick and tired of all celebrity crap....wish more people would not buy into the load of shit they pedal, quit paying money to see and read about it & demand MORE real rather then the fluff, get interested and involved...before it is indeed in their front yards.
Posted by: berrie | 08 April 2007 at 23:27
As awalys, you are a light that stimulates our brains, Tara. Great job.
I feel we have become just too cozy in the west. Just too sure of our place, and comfort. We take our lifestyle and blessings for granted, and think nothing can ever happen to them. That is why people don't seem to care about the things that matter-- be it the war that hardly seems to touch most people, or the illegal immigration issue in some states, or violence being perpetrated against women and children all over the world. They don't see it in their own front yards, and so they think about what Paris Hilton is doing, or how some playboy model died. That is more fun, don't you know?
And so I fall back on my cynical idea that we are witnessing the fall of Rome. I'm not sure what will happen next in our great civilizations, if people don't wake the hell up.
:)
Posted by: Amber | 08 April 2007 at 22:34
I realize now that we also deserve the type of news that we get. we decry all the sensationalism but avidly read the latest gossip columns...I do anyway.
Thought provoking post, thank you.
Posted by: homeinkabul | 08 April 2007 at 20:15
Thoughtful comments. thanks for sharing them. I believe there are skillful and committed journalists at work doing what they love. I don't believe they're much in the public focus these days. It takes some extra effort to track them down and then follow them. Thanks for reminding me to make the effort.
Posted by: Megan | 08 April 2007 at 20:05
Thoughtful comments. thanks for sharing them. I believe there are skillful and committed journalists at work doing what they love. I don't believe they're much in the public focus these days. It takes some extra effort to track them down and then follow them. Thanks for reminding me to make the effort.
Posted by: Megan | 08 April 2007 at 20:04
I didn't that journalist was still missing! That is news. You are still a journalist at heart. Non-bias and informative and newsworthy, something I have been missing in the news for quite sometime.
Posted by: Jennifer | 08 April 2007 at 19:10
I love this post!
The information, the pics...love the girls giving free hugs!
It's true...journalism has taken on a new and sad image for some people.
Some people think that if they're up on Brittany Spears having hair or not, then they're up on current events!!
Posted by: bohemian mom | 08 April 2007 at 14:58
Good post! I feel the exact same way. I think celebrity gossip, like all of the Anna Nicole stuff, gets ratings and readers. So I applaud those journalists who keep looking for the story under the surface.
Posted by: January | 08 April 2007 at 14:47
Tara,
By and large journalism is not what it used to be. I don't know if the populace has been dumbed down and the journalists are responding to that, or if the corporate owners and the advertising dollars have forced journalists to be more entertaining than informative.
It seems that the general public would prefer a life of mediocrity rather than anger the "powers" that be. Karl Marx called religion the "opium of the masses," Today I believe you could substitute the word media for religion.
Schools no longer teach civics and social responsibility, they leave it up the society and realty TV to do that job. And, they have!
You are the rare journalist who today rallies against the injustices of the world today. I hope you will persevere.
rel
Posted by: rel | 08 April 2007 at 10:43
I love the mini-Eiffel Tower shot! That kid will go far! My news comes off the internet, and it is really sad that celebrities get more news coverage than Alan Johnston, Darfur, or even the UN's fastest processed Convention in history (for rights of people with disabilities)! Great post!
Posted by: khambagirl | 08 April 2007 at 05:12
In the Western Hemisphere we do spend too little time caring about the world and the shape it is in, both for ecology and for each individual person! I know I speak out frequently and most people think I'm nuts, but then that is nothing new.
I love the free hugs things. Several people claim to have started it (including some people I worked for at one time!) and I don't care who started it, I just think it is a great thing. We need more 'touch' of one another in our lives. I also loved the photo of the young man with the unique perspective.
Posted by: Mary | 08 April 2007 at 02:48
Apapthy is the correct word here these days... and it's appalling. It's that kind of thinking that we have no power, but we do. Like those little girls, we have the power to change the world, with just a hug!
Great work, Tara...
Posted by: Regina Clare Jane | 08 April 2007 at 01:11
Am so loving that kid taking a shot of the mini Eiffel Tower!
Of course it is impossible to write anything without including your point of view, the things you include, the things you leave out all betray what you think about a certain thing. But I agree that good journalists will aim to be objective. Although I could have screamed watching Channel 4 new last night (which is usually a more indepth look at the news) and the news reader literally put the word torture into the mouth of one of the navy officers released from Iran.
Anyway, I digress. Your dedication to the truth and to keeping your readers informed and aware of the world we live in, is as always a great inspiration and joy to read.
Posted by: Kamsin | 08 April 2007 at 00:37
Again, an awesome post!! Wasn't it Einstein who said never to stop questioning--he called curiosity "holy" as well. I hate the whole celeb gossip trend. People my age barely know any news outside of Hollywood and their own private day-to-day gossip. Hollywood goss is totally distracting people from other, REAL issues. www.glossedover.com has good examples of how magazines stress on the most unimportant, silly things...and get people interested in it.
Posted by: [a} | 08 April 2007 at 00:28
Thank you so much for deciding to respond to this topic. You had so much of value to say.
Posted by: Deb G | 08 April 2007 at 00:12
I second everything you have said. The apathy in my country is appalling but the media moguls (not the journalists) must take some blame as celebrity hits the headlines almost daily when terrible things are happening all over the world and under our very noses.
Those young girls offering hugs to their community instead of reading Hello Magazine and the young boy taking an innovative picture instead of sitting at his Play Station are the sort of young people the world badly needs.
Posted by: Di Overton | 07 April 2007 at 21:57
Tara you truly are a gift to the world!!!
It is quite disgusting to realize the headlines of our life often revolve around overzealous over indulged teenagers posing as adults while they live in the lime light. I ask myself often where the truth of our lives ranks as it does not appear to make the news too often.
XO
Kristen
Posted by: kristen robinson | 07 April 2007 at 20:38
I applaud the schoolgirls, and the boy shows great talent: The future looks better with them in it.
What you say about the news exactly true. It's a conversation I have with other journalists here. Our newspapers are not so craven as TV news, which I don't think is "news"; even the TV anchors refer to it as a "show." For years, I've noticed that they WHY is missing. So much reporting leaves gaps and leaves me hanging or wanting to shout "WHY?? Ask them why? I want to know why?"
So I don't watch news shows anymore; instead, I read the news.
xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 07 April 2007 at 20:02
And this is what makes YOU such a treasure in our community. Much peace, love, questioning and awareness ... JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 07 April 2007 at 19:59
thanks for your fascinating thoughts about news publication. I also worked at a paper for many years; initially on the advertising side - then later into marketing the paper which resided more on the editorial side of the paper. What an eye opening experience in many respects; advertisers who feel they own the paper as they feel they are paying for the lion's share of the price of publication; owners of the paper who bought the paper in order to slant the news in thier personal political direction; editors who really want to produce the type of work that they were educated in creating fairly.
Thank goodness for blogs where these issues do not shape what is placed within a post.
Posted by: AscenderRisesAbove | 07 April 2007 at 19:03
tara, I always enjoy your posts. Very informative. Keep up with it.
I do hate it when journalists make the news h sensational rather than giving true versions. We want hard facts and can draw our own conclusions.
Posted by: gautami | 07 April 2007 at 18:16
I wholeheartedly agree with you! I am so incredibly disgusted with celeb 'news' and all the idiotic headlines like who is flashing their privates and who is in rehab...who's cheating..WHO CARES? sorry..It is a big pet peeve of mine...EVERYONE ought to be watching Planet Earth! What a series! Anyhooo.. If you go to Savannah,,you must trip on over to Charleston!
Posted by: pam aries | 07 April 2007 at 17:43
I love that the idea of giving hugs away is spreading all over the world. And that young boy is going to go far if he holds on to the unique perspective he is bringing to life now at such an early age.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 07 April 2007 at 17:40
T,
I love your perspective on this. For me, it has become very difficult to sort "truth" from "slant"...so much so that I am on the brink of giving up. Your reminder that "no man is an island" is very timely. I shall continue to plod through the BS to glean enough information to be current in the hope that I can find something inspiring me to contribute to the betterment for our fellow inhabitants...
...but it sure seems harder to get there.
Posted by: nutster | 07 April 2007 at 17:39
The small town stories I do for our local paper are in the style of "narrative journalism," where you do inject yourself in the telling of the story and write more in a literary style. I was reading about this recently and was surprised to discover that in the early days of journalism it was more the norm.
I love the photos.
Posted by: colleen | 07 April 2007 at 17:37
Hello Paris,
Thank you so much for dropping by & I hope we'll visit each other often and not just for Sunday Scribblings. I really enjoyed reading this post. You sound very intelligent and also upbeat about life...wanting to be pushed further ahead from where your boundaries already stretch.
You bring up interesting pointers about the movers and shakers bit. That's true. The world really needs a happy motivation doesn't it. And celebrities don't quite fit the bill. :-)
Posted by: susan abraham | 07 April 2007 at 17:37
Thanks Tara for stopping by and commenting. I hope you understand that my characters are sarcastic. I hope to get more serious with this venue, I like your reporting very much, I learn something every time I come here.
Rose
xo
Tara responds:
Yes, I know your characters were sarcastic. Sadly, too many "real life" newscasters are not that different than your characters.
Posted by: Rose Dewy Knickers | 07 April 2007 at 16:53
Well said, and written. My particular bug bear is "Fox "News"". I've only had access to it since we got Sky. And the approach to issues leaves me either laughing or ranting at the tv, or wanting to get up a petition to ban it in Europe, but what then of my belief in freedom of speech?
Your Jefferson quote reminds me of one from Ralph Waldo Emerson, "...and that the form of government that prevails, is the expression of what cultivation exists in the population that permits it".
And heres hoping that Alan Johnston will be released, soon.
Posted by: aineliva | 07 April 2007 at 16:48
I love the "free hugs" video and this photo -
I am a "huggy" girl - and sort of feel sad to be in a
culture not so cuddly -
so here is a cyber-hug for you Tara!
Posted by: sophie | 07 April 2007 at 16:27
I am also appalled at the way celebrity gossip has worked its way into the news.
Posted by: deirdre | 07 April 2007 at 16:23