There are several features of the creeping stupidisation of ABC News that shit me to tears. One is - why does Juanita have to stand up now? Are we really to be treated to The Standing-Up News? Another facet that has long bugged the bejeezus out of me is Finance. Dont get me wrong, I think Alan Kohler is hilarious - I just wonder why he gets five nights a week, while Clarke & Dawe only get one? So, in my stupid, blinkered, curmudgeonly way, I often wonder ... WHY is there a discrete Finance section in the ABC 7pm news bulletin? Why is there finance news at all? What purpose does it serve? IMO, none, other than to repeatedly reinforce the notion that the economy is the central thing in life, that gambling with other peoples money in the markets is terribly exciting and important, and that we *need* to know this every day. But really, is it of *any* significance or interest whatsoever to the average viewer? Do we really need a 5-minute nightly roundup of what selected stocks and currencies are doing? Does it provide information we cant get elsewhere? Does the information contained therein really directly affect the average viewer in any material way? My maini objections to the creeping marketisation of news are these 1. We live in the Internet Age. If you, the average viewer, really *need* to know this information, you can get it instantly from the internet. 2. Almost every bit of information presented in a finance report has absolutely no material bearing or effect on, or indeed any interest for, most viewers. And even if the Yen was to put on a sudden spurt tomorrow, Id wager itll have almost ZERO effect on me personally until much later, when, for example, I have to replace my Sony dog-bot and find that the price has gone up due to the rise in the exchange rate. 3. People who actually *need* to know this kind of information, those who work in the sector ... guess what?? THEY ALREADY KNOW IT. In most cases, they knew it yesterday. From what Ive observed of friends who work in the sector, modern technology keeps them instantly up to date with everything they need to know. Do you really think reserve Bank Governor Glenn (Mr Personality) Stevens plops down on his overstuffed ottoman and waits in front of the telly with baited breath to see what wonders Alans Graphs will reveal tonight? Id love to think so ... but, noooooooo ... So ... why is it there, and why is it so prominently and extensively reported on, when knowing that information has ZERO effect on the vast majority of viewers, and when the people who DO need to know, already know it?
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 13:59:02 +0000
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