Wanted: The Media That We Need

OH SHEESH Y'ALL ITS HALLOWEEN!
*Ahem* that was a rather embarrassing outburst, especially saying it in a squeaky high pitched voice that startled the roommates. but now for the nitty gritty.

After reading blogs (mostly by clicking random links shotgun-style) I've seen that for the most part we all believe that we get the media we want. I too believe that the media does in fact give us what we want, however, the thing we want is to be entertained not informed. We see this during election times, where we reduce complex arguments into soundbites or "zingers" so we can have the Coles notes to eliminate our need to overthink and research. Lauren Stirling (http://lostirling.wordpress.com) says it perfectly.

"how can I not believe that we get the media we want? Without our approval there is no platform for the media. Therefore, we get what we want from the media, not the other way around."

We get exactly what we want! it just doesn't happen to be anything really compelling. we have to actively search it out, our programs are rarely interrupted with a breaking news story. We DO get what we want, just not what we need.

Christina Clark (http://cclark865.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/the-media-we-want/) agrees.

"When we look at an image, we believe it is a snapshot of reality; however, pictures are often edited to portray a certain idea."

We get our thirty seconds of news before someone puts on a squirrel on water skis. We need to have a villain in every aspect of life and a very clear hero or we will flip the channel or page or whatever. Veronica Field tends to agree (http://veronicatmeow.blogspot.ca)

" If the 9 o’clock news reports stuff I don’t care about, stuff that most people don’t care about, their ratings will drop and they will no longer be receiving the money they require to continue reporting on these issues."

We as a mob want to be led to conclusions, we want to grab our pitchforks but I'll be damned if I'm the one to decide who to burn. We need to have things dumbed down to the point of step by step.
 "Why do witches burn?"
"Because they are made of wood."
"How do we tell if shes made of wood?"
"see if she floats"
"What also floats?"
"A duck"
"So if she weighs as much as a duck, then the is made of wood."
"And therefore...."
"SHE'S A WITCH"

Ya.