What I Don’t Like About Today
I wish I had written this.
The Today show bothers me. Most of the time, its really just glorified gossip and sensationalism, but I’ve never been able to put into words what about it really ticks me off. Kevin Guilfoile, Morning News contributor, did that for me. And quite nicely, I might add.
I know its an older editorial, I was browsing around, looking for another installment in The Morning News’ excellent “Recollections Based on the Album…” series when I found Mr. Guilfiole’s ed. Unfortunalty, there are only three parts to the series:
PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love by Claire Miccio
The Pixies Doolittle by Mena G. Trott
Tears for Fears’ Songs From the Big Chair by Joshua Allen
(Doolittle is my favorite.)
The thing about Today, in my mind, is that it goes beyond what is news, and enters a dangerously Geraldo Rivera-esque landscape of tearjerkers and “informative” insider interviews. (“Get the widow on the set!” Ring any bells?)
Early this week, for example, there was a tragedy in Lawrence, Mass, when four children drowned in the Merrimack River after falling through ice. Tragic and horrible. No one would dispute that. It should be reported. No one would dispute that, either. What gets me is that Today, and shows like it, go beyond reporting the story, which is heart-rending in and of itself, and feature important figures in the tragedy of the day, and have them recount their misery on national television. Katie made one of the surviving kids cry for God’s sake. Four of his best friends dead, and shes asking him what it felt like to know that the other kids were drowning all around him. That’s reporting? That’s news? Give me a break.
Today is always on in the morning at our house. The news segments that start each half hour are excellent (way to go, Anne), and many of the features are important and well done. Where Today continuously fails is in this bloodthirst they seem to have for viseral details that translate into ratings.
