Is Paris News Media Manipulation?

Anything that has to do with "celebrities" is nothing more than media manipulation.

But the case of Paris and Nicole are different.

One was just morbid curiosity while Paris was actually a test of our judicial system and the very rich vs the regular joe.

That is what got me interested in the media coverage. So perhaps the media was just getting everything it could to get the public hook but I doubt that it was just for manipulation.

The issue was hot not because of paris but because our system of laws was under scrutiny.

Of course it's manipulation. The media decide what's news and what's not and the political agendas of the editorial staffs gets the attention and the proper spin.

In the case of celebrities, frankly, I think it's just ratings and in that sense, we're the one's manipulating the news.

If people would just turn off the TVs and just refuse to watch this drivel, then something else would air.

That's not what happens, though.

Sluts sell.

That's the bottom line--pun intended.

Somehow, the use of the name Paris 'Barf' Hilton and the word 'news' in the same sentence makes me want to commit self flagellation for the act of writing this very sentence.

It is a mark of how low America has allowed itself to fall that it is on 'news' programs in the first place.

Here's a mini-rant: America started it's downhill slide into idiocy when thousands/millions of people became addicted to soap operas. And this Paris H. thing is just the latest symptom of terminal stupidity.

Absolutely, the G8 Summit or I should say the failures of this G8 Summit have taken the back seat to the Paris saga. Even though I am not in the US, I wonder if there has been any developments regarding the lost emails, the sacking and deaths of the Attorneys asscociated with the Whitehouse?

I truly believe it is manipulation. The Paris saga is so oversaturated in the news.

Originally posted by NGC2736
America started it's downhill slide into idiocy when thousands/millions of people became addicted to soap operas. And this Paris H. thing is just the latest symptom of terminal stupidity.

Soap operas date back to the days of radio, so that decline has been a slow one indeed.

I really see what your describing as a symptom of the decline of journalism, which has occurred in my lifetime.

I think that decline became evident in 1968 and has proceeded apace since then, until we have the nonstop garbage broadcast today.

Originally posted by NJE777
Absolutely, the G8 Summit or I should say the failures of this G8 Summit have taken the back seat to the Paris saga. Even though I am not in the US,

I truly believe it is manipulation. The Paris saga is so oversaturated in the news.

Interesting, if I may ask what country are you in?

What is your major source for mainstream television news?

Originally posted by UM_Gazz

Interesting, if I may ask what country are you in?

What is your major source for mainstream television news?

Australia.

Mainly The Australian and ABC online; Radio National

Paris's life is the carrot to millions,it's more productive to enslave with motivation than with fear.So we end up shooting for her wealth,or status(The American dream).We get a few shiny trinkets for our enslavement,maybe a new car and a dog bred to be so weak it needs a nanny.To think she is there to supplant real news is not the story,the story is she is a commercial for enslavement,on the news.

I think part of it may be the "Sequel" addiction.

Eg. You're a movie producer. You have to put a lot of money into a movie to create it, millions, usually.

The only way you get that back is if someone watches it.

The safest way to do this, is to make a sequel, or a clone movie. You already know what sells, so you follow the formula.

The news has gone down the same route.. Their formula tells them that they make money by talking about Paris, etc. What makes their news bad, is that they aren't being journalists, they're being sensationalists.

Really, the news is just Reality TV. You have your bad girls, and your drama, an you package it up and sell it.

Wouldn't it be great if you could put all "Journalists" under review, and rate them, and the ones that failed their yearly review would be forced to state that they're a sensationalist at the start of every broadcast.. or for shows, at the start of every show.

I'd be interested in see a poll as to how many people really care about Britney's dress habits, or Paris's jail time, or some of the many, many other stupid stories that come up on the news. I can't imagine that it's a majority of the people....if it is, we're doomed!!!

the mainstream news, just isn't the news anymore, it's gotten to be a mass of gossip and fillers...with a few tidbits of facts thrown in.

too bad...
I miss the news...

Originally posted by dawnstar
the mainstream news, just isn't the news anymore, it's gotten to be a mass of gossip and fillers...with a few tidbits of facts thrown in.

Excellent description! I agree, mainstream news has become a soap opera.

Originally posted by UM_Gazz

Believe?

Are you suggesting that a person's beliefs can be changed by the media at large?

Of course it can.

Why do you think Bush got initial support for invading Iraq?

The soundbytes were there for the whole damn world to see. The Bush Administration very carefull played the media and used a propagand technique called association by design. He prayed on peoples fears by using 9/11 and terrorism and then he threw Iraq and WMDs in the mix.

And the media swallowed it (maybe even helped create some of it with "expert analysis") and then just repeated it. Over and over. Add the odd carefully fed tidbit in over time as well. Repeat until the association is made. It doesn't matter if its true or not, because by the time it comes to question things its far too late and people are committed.

Originally posted by marg6043


The issue was hot not because of paris but because our system of laws was under scrutiny.

true, the Paris drama becomes a metaphor for our own personal worldviews,

the media is pumping the coverage because it does involve
a 'gut issue'
which is the lowest common denominator or driving force for some individuals,

the Paris drama, Justice & Courts & law enforcement, is not being dispassionately presented by media in an 'academic' theme for discussion...

no the media is pelleting the audience with scenes like Paris being late
for the Court, Paris getting special treatment, Paris getting abnormally reduced incarceration time, Paris this & Paris that,
all intended to incite the excitable, the media is intentionally pushing the buttons of a pretty good section of society....
the ones who are addicted to stimuli

the media is intentionlly stirring up the passions either for or against the 'Paris Hilton-trust fund darling & ameteur porn actress'
...the media is injecting the viewers with their own adrenialan highs,
like the 3 minute boxing rounds,
the spurts of volleys in a heated tennis match,
the super-bowls ebbs & floes,
the media is definitely not 'reporting news' in the Paris drama

Originally posted by St Udio


true, the Paris drama becomes a metaphor for our own personal worldviews,

the media is pumping the coverage because it does involve
a 'gut issue'
Which is the lowest common denominator or driving force for some individuals,

Exactly, this time not only the issue of "Paris the celebrity" was paraded and the "poor rich girl syndrome was exposed" to bring the sympathies of the population that are followers of her, (usually the younger crowd) this was used to give more propaganda to benefit her.

But alas something went very wrong!!!!!!!! Instead of sympathies the media brought awareness of our judicial system and its leniency to celebrity status inmates, so the older crowd, the conservative crowd and even the inmate population reacted very negative to the media coverage.

This was not the intention, I truly believe that in this instance Paris enemy was the media itself.

But as people can see the real issue of our court system and its treatment of celebrities was expose and not in a very nice way.

The intention was to show the “poor rich girls” as a martyr, but actually she became the example that justice should stay blind.

So to me if it was a propaganda diversion from the Paris ordeal it actually turned into lessons from our judicial system.


[edit on 11-6-2007 by marg6043]

Great Topic

I totally agree with the OP on this one. Unfortunetly we live in a society that feeds off of this type of news coverage. We enjoy seeing celebrities fall on their faces, not only does it humanize them, but it also distracts us from our own miserable lives (when I say we I don't mean me )

On a side note, I've met Paris several times. She's about as pleasent as a hernia.

Of course it is.Is this something new?The media for decades has bombarded the public with either violence themed or celebrity tripe to keep attention away from the real issues.ie:wars,economy,jobs,wages,corporate greed,polution and any other concern not listed here.I guess they use the old"out of sight out of mind"theory.

Originally posted by UM_Gazz

Is the news media being manipulated?

Are we being manipulated?

A combination of both?

None of the above?

Media needs ratings.People like this type of news,they discuss about them,they watch them....they enjoy it.Thus,the media accomodates them.

I don't know if we are being manipulated,if some of us just thrive on these stories and ask for them,or if the need has been created by the media over time.
Who was the first,the chicken or the egg ?All this worhtless junk we see nowadays started long time ago,and maybe some of us are addicted to it right now.
I see people all around me discussing to no end all this ridiculuos sutff,but most of them don't know what we celebrate on "Canada's Day"
I think is a combination of both : human nature who probably requires (on some individuals) to be fed with this type of information,and this plays really nice into the game of big media.Make them dumb and submisive...and yes,i do believe that media CAN tell you what to believe in,not only what to buy.

[edit on 11-6-2007 by Bursuc]

[edit on 11-6-2007 by Bursuc]

[edit on 11-6-2007 by Bursuc]

I have heard of the seperation of church and state.
I would love to see a seperation of entertainment vs news

Even the Canadian Newsnet breaks to cover Paris.

Originally posted by neformore
Why do you think Bush got initial support for invading Iraq?

The soundbytes were there for the whole damn world to see. The Bush Administration very carefull played the media and used a propagand technique called association by design. He prayed on peoples fears by using 9/11 and terrorism and then he threw Iraq and WMDs in the mix.

Would you say that the same could be said of the climate of "fear" over Iran's nuclear ambitions?

The very thought that the news media can be used to gain public support for any cause is not surprising or new. But somewhat alarming when one could suggest that this could be use as a vehicle to push forward a war agenda, and even invasion of a country. I rather believe it could also be used to distract people from these very issues as well, using non-event news like Paris Hilton for example. Or quite simply to overshadow more important news topics that can actually have serious impact on global peace, the economy, oil prices etc.

Um_Gazz, I am sure that it is used both ways. Keep everyone sedated until you want a specific response. The media tool is used to it's full potential. People make a profession out of using it.

It is up to us, those awake enough to notice, to try and change this.