I don't know who had more media play these past couple of weeks, Pope Francis and King Iggy (aka Jerome Iginla, former Calgary Flame). Being neither Catholic nor Calgarian, I'm rather indifferent. (I say that as reverently as possible, as I do have a love for God and hockey—and in that order, by the way.)
In the former, it was the pope did this, the pope did that; he was here, he was there; he bent down, he stood up. You'd think we were talking about Justin Bieber and his pet monkey. Somewhere in the media frenzy there was a novelty angle that Pope Francis was the first pontiff from South America, followed by the intrigue of a humble pope who paid his own hotel room.
And that's news?
Then there was the Calgary Flames-to-Boston Bruins, er, Pittsburgh Penguins trade, in which the veteran winger was traded for two prospects, a draft pick, and a bag of pucks (just kidding). Miss Iggy (just a shot at those who denigrate two of the best NHL players, the Sedin “Sisters”) was virtually eulogized and feted for his years spent in a Flames uniform. Just for the record, he will make more money in this strike-shortened season than most of us will earn in a lifetime. And with the way Pittsburgh is loading up, there is a very good chance he will finally win the coveted grail of hockey, the Stanley Cup.
So that's news, too?
But while we're parked here between the pontiff and the player, let's talk about a study in contrasts! We have the spiritual leader of the Catholic world, versus one of the obvious leaders in the hockey world; we have poverty versus wealth; and we have someone chosen because he still has some life in him, and the other one because, well, he too still has some life left in him—even though they are probably 40 years apart.
In the days after Pope Francis was chosen, I still had to feed the cows, wash the dishes, run a classroom, etc. Ditto for the days after Jerome was sent packing to Pittsburgh: I still put my shoes on one foot at a time, still had to face full day of demands of the day, still had the answer the phone.
Nothing really changed significantly for me, and quite possibly for millions of other common people who call this planet home.
You might have gathered by now that this column is not so much about Pope Francis or Jerome Iginla. Rather, it's about what the media considers news. And in the case of these two gentlemen, their promotions were newsworthy—just not that newsworthy.
While I am a columnist-blogger-writer, I really do not consider myself a journalist, per se. What I do here on this page is on a week-by-week basis, not a daily occupation—a contractor, not a media employee, if you will. So when I speak of the media, I speak in the third person, using terms like “them” and “they”--not “us” and “we.”
Media relations, however, have always intrigued me and I sometimes consider myself a failed broadcaster (spoken), even a failed journalist (written). In other words, those are jobs I would have really enjoyed. Teaching has been great, and I feel very much at home in a classroom, but sometimes I think coulda, woulda, shoulda...
Those are the days I want to make a difference, via the news we hear and read. And that's why I tend to get quite critical of the news we hear and read—this newspaper notwithstanding. I am targeting the major media outlets, Canada- and worldwide.
It seems every time I pick up a paper or read the Internet, the news is gloomy, sensational, or edgy. Okay, that sells copies, and copies sell advertising, and advertising takes care of the overhead. No real problem with that model, so far.
My main beef with the media is regarding the constructiveness of the news. Do we ever read about the good things going on all over Africa? No. Do we ever hear of those celebrity couples that are staying together? Hardly. Do we ever see stories about the financial successes of the small businesses, and their immeasurable contribution to the economy? Rarely.
No one—at least not at this laptop—is suggesting we stick our collective heads in the sand and ignore the dangers of a teetering world economy that is out of control, of racial tension that won't go away, of a health and education crisis that will come to a head sooner rather than later. No, I am simply calling for little balance in the content, that's all.
I say—and hopefully, you say—that we report all news honestly and accurately. I am simply suggesting that we look for really good news stories that could fill our pages and screens. And if that includes articles about a brand-new pontiff or a brand-new Penguin, so be it.
Let's just hear more about the successes of the everyday working class man or woman. Let's get more items of interest that give us a fresh perspective, courage, hope, and energy.
Maybe even a good story about the holy grail, no matter what shape it comes in.
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