News???

There are some things I'm sure I have a genetic predisposion to never understand. You know, Michael Jackson, OJ, teenagers, chemistry, cats, stuff like that. But lately I'm even surprising myself. TV "News".

I'm old. I've already admitted that and I'm OK with it. But the problem is that I seem to remember (always good to qualify the act of remembering) when "news" was stuff like wars, starvation in places like Africa, scientific advancements that - hopefully - would better us, stuff like that. Events that would make a difference in our lives. Events that would one day change our children's lives for better or worse.

Which brings me to what I'll call "reality news". Please someone, anyone, explain to me how a missing teenager in Aruba is more than a mention? How is a missing pregnant woman in small town California a national news story? How does a perverted superstar rate TV coverage for weeks on end? Now, don't get me wrong I understand that to the parents of the missing girl in Aruba or California there is nothing more important. That's as it should be. But a national story that runs seemingly forever, they aren't.

It's also interesting that the only women who turn up missing in the USA are young, white and attractive. If you're old and chubby you're not "news". If you're young and non-white you're not "news". If you're charged with a crime and can't afford a $1,000 per hour lawyer you're not "news". Is there a pattern here? Or am I just overly sensitive? The answer to #1 is probably, the answer to #2 (at least according to Mrs. Coot) is "heh".

Could somebody please start a new cable channel for "reality news". Or maybe "designer news", you could vote on the kind of stories - or specific stories - to air. Michael Jackson could be voted off the island in favor of the Aruba teenager. It'll be a hit. I won't even sue you for stealing my intellectual property. Well, I might not. Depends on who you are and how much money you make with it. OK, I'll probably sue you. But if you contact me, I'll cut you a smokin' deal on licensing.

That would leave the "regular" news shows to do real news. Things like in-depth reports about how the CIA managed to miss the Chinese military build-up. Stuff like some of the good things that are happening in Iraq that you will only find if you read Cherenkoff. Maybe some real meat about the options that my sons should have when they think about saving for their retirement.

News. Information not opinion unless it's labeled opinion. More than one viewpoint without shouting. Absolutely no politicians or academics. Real people with real information and real ideas. Maybe we could be an informed electorate. And for sure the "real news" should run in the same time slots as "reality news"...