Responsibility

One of the hottest topics in international news lately has been the social responsibility of mass media.  A certain tabloid infringed the privacy of countless individuals in the name of news and entertainment, bringing about public outrage worldwide.  While we are right to be upset about such a blatant disregard for human rights, is this really the first time something like this has happened?  Did we bring this upon ourselves without knowing it? prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /

What I mean is that the invasion of individuals’ privacy has long been a common practice of tabloids (one of their major attractions in fact) and has become so through the encouragement of its readers.  Stealing private phone messages, taking pictures of people through their bedroom windows, digging up wedding registration certificates, stalking family members for information on a subject, “creative” journalism, public defamation… you name it, the tabloids have done it.  The major difference between what they’ve always been doing and what they’re being persecuted for now is that the subjects of such invasions are usually celebrities and not ordinary Samaritans.  

By purchasing such content (for whatever reasons), we not only give it value, but encourage its continued procurement.  Perhaps by making this month’s issue of “XX” tabloid a best seller, we are emboldening its writers to tap into our voicemails too.        

J-Wo