Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Why we need Clark Kent more than Superman
I've been thinking a lot about the apparent demise of newspapers recently, and have had some sobering conversations with Bob Darden and Carl Hoover (two of my heroes of writing) about this sad topic. The economy right now seems like a bullet headed for the heart of print journalism, and many papers are failing or headed that way.
Unfortunately, the newspaper no longer seems to be a viable financial model, but no other model (internet or otherwise) has arisen that will support active, engaged reporting that fulfills the duties of the fourth estate in our free-speech democracy. I won't recite the ways in which newspapers have addressed hidden problems-- simply citing Watergate does the trick, and that is the tip of the iceberg.
The fact is that Superman may have done more good as Clark Kent than as a superhero, in terms of making the world a better place. Superheroes have two drawbacks: First, they only address short-term problems, often with violence. Second, they are fictional. Print journalists, on the other hand, are more likely to identify a problem and hold it up to public scrutiny, leading to broad and deep societal changes. Print journalists and photographers sold the American public on the value of World Wars I and II, and played a major role in revealing truths in each subsequent conflict, shaping pubic support. Nearly every political scandal in this nation's history was uncovered by print journalists, and they deserve credit for the changes that followed.
A Clark Kent can uncover building code violations and urge reforms that prevent a fire. All Superman can do is save a few people from the flames once the destruction has begun.
I'll take Clark, thanks.
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"All Superman can do is save a few people from the flames once the destruction has begun."
That is "all" he does? Flying directly into a burning building and pick up every person in the building, no matter how many due to his super strength, and fly back out saving them is unimpressive to you? And lest we forget that he is just as likely to use his super breathing to blow the fire out completely, and that isn't enough for you?
So "all" Aquaman does is breathe underwater, control the forces of the ocean, and speak to fish.
"All" Spiderman does is throw webs out of his wrists and fling himself from buidling to building saving the residents of Manhattan.
"All" Keith Richards does is take copious amounts of every drug known to man and still rocks hard every day.
None of these superheroes impresses you?
I'm actually more scared by what happens if Congress decides to "bailout" the newspaper industry than I am if newspapers continue to fold. What kind of news can we expect to get from organizations that are beholden to our government for their very existence?
That is "all" he does? Flying directly into a burning building and pick up every person in the building, no matter how many due to his super strength, and fly back out saving them is unimpressive to you? And lest we forget that he is just as likely to use his super breathing to blow the fire out completely, and that isn't enough for you?
So "all" Aquaman does is breathe underwater, control the forces of the ocean, and speak to fish.
"All" Spiderman does is throw webs out of his wrists and fling himself from buidling to building saving the residents of Manhattan.
"All" Keith Richards does is take copious amounts of every drug known to man and still rocks hard every day.
None of these superheroes impresses you?
I'm actually more scared by what happens if Congress decides to "bailout" the newspaper industry than I am if newspapers continue to fold. What kind of news can we expect to get from organizations that are beholden to our government for their very existence?
# posted by 
: 12:35 PM
: 12:35 PM
Saw "State of Play" this past weekend, and the dire straits in which many newspapers find themselves is a thread running throughout the film - same thing with the fifth season of "The Wire." Pretty good viewing for anybody with an interest in how important a force print journalism can continue to be in an online world.
# posted by : 3:40 PM
: 3:40 PM
While the newspapers may die, the ability to mobilize the public for a cause lives on.
The internet's ability to expose the wrongs of society and affect positive social change is much more powerful than the newspapers' ability ever was.
The problem with the internet is that every act of injustice gets equal time, causing us to realize there are simply too many injustices, and we become apathetic. Everything is important, therefore nothing is important.
The newspaper used to tell us what was important and what we should care about the most by putting it on the front page - in bold - in all caps.
The internet is capable of much more than the newspapers ever were, if it could only prioritize a little better.
The internet's ability to expose the wrongs of society and affect positive social change is much more powerful than the newspapers' ability ever was.
The problem with the internet is that every act of injustice gets equal time, causing us to realize there are simply too many injustices, and we become apathetic. Everything is important, therefore nothing is important.
The newspaper used to tell us what was important and what we should care about the most by putting it on the front page - in bold - in all caps.
The internet is capable of much more than the newspapers ever were, if it could only prioritize a little better.
# posted by : 4:21 PM
: 4:21 PM
I think the problem of the Internet is pedigree. Not that I trust modern journalists any more than I do crazy bloggers. I read an interesting article about how we were returning to the days of the "party press," which I think it basically correct. But internet "press" isn't any better. Often, major journalists have what bloggers lack, which is access.
I think the contributing factor to the downfall of the print industry is their lack of delivery on their fourth estate goals and the way that they're run more as a business than a public service. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing print media go away and every major journalistic source focus on electronic media. Yes, it would necessarily need to be freely available, but you could charge a premium "subscription service" for e-mail delivery, RSS feeds, etc. I would pay for the Times, for example, to be RSS fed to my e-mail every day so I could read it on my iPhone. It's better for the environment and much more portable.
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I think the contributing factor to the downfall of the print industry is their lack of delivery on their fourth estate goals and the way that they're run more as a business than a public service. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing print media go away and every major journalistic source focus on electronic media. Yes, it would necessarily need to be freely available, but you could charge a premium "subscription service" for e-mail delivery, RSS feeds, etc. I would pay for the Times, for example, to be RSS fed to my e-mail every day so I could read it on my iPhone. It's better for the environment and much more portable.
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