I believe mass media is a much stronger source of influence on society today than it has ever been earlier. Journalists have a power invested in their words that far exceeds that of empty promises made by our elected officials. We read, watch, and listen to the media, especially the tabloids. It is not because we care about or are concerned with the welfare of others or seek informed, accurate knowledge of the events of the day. Most of the time it is simply considered a form of entertainment, despite its often tragic nature. As one reads the tabloids, they can feel themselves being sucked into a vicious vortex of emotional upheaval involving disgust, agitation and excitement. Yet, neither the publishers or the readers seem to be inclined to do anything about what they are writing and reading. With all our disgust, we, the public that has the so-called “inalienable right-to-know the facts” as is so often trumpeted by the media itself, are expected to idly stand by, watch what is happening, and be entertained by it. Consequently, the power of the free press is considered to have thus been exercised.
Whenever someone mentions the freedom of speech or the freedom of the press, it makes me sick, because it hardly exists. In my opinion, if media is free, then it should also generate freedom of thought in the minds of its readers and it should inspire further investigation. It should look at things objectively, let the reader decide what is right and wrong, and not as is so common today, instantly instigate primordial feelings that becloud our vision.
I read an article today analyzing recent cases of child molestation reported by Swedish media. As far as I can tell, the reporter says that newspapers are not taking these incidents seriously; they are choosing to be caught up in a form of excitement; and there is a vital difference between the two angles of looking at the stories. I agree with that analysis. When I look at the front pages of the tabloids with their bold-face headlines and read the articles, all that happens to me is that I am filled with feelings of disgust. I can not say which is more disgusting for me - the actual events of molestation being reported or the manner in which they are being reported.
Obviously, freedom of the press exists in the constitution and we are supposed to whole-heartedly support it, fight for it, and even die for it. However, it is a slap in the face for all those hard-working, self-effacing journalists in non-democratic societies to see how we, the free world, are utilizing and preserving this freedom. We are either filling page upon page with thick-headed celebrities or whenever a real piece of news is reported, we turn it into a sordid kind of voyeurism, while shamelessly putting the victims in a position where everyone can plainly see their suffering. Whenever the tabloids are taken to court for having invaded the boundaries of personal integrity, they quickly refer to the law of freedom of speech, public interest, and even the public’s right to be informed.
The lack of moral and ethical guidelines is a problem that is accentuated not only in the media; it may be also found in most segments of our society. We are restlessly, ceaselessly looking for something for which it is worth living; I think that we should be looking for something for which it is worth dying.

June 2006