Media caters to the public by providing political, cultural and social
news and developments in the society through newspapers and coverages.
Yellow Journalism refers to the sensational news items, sometimes
factual and at other times not. They concentrate on segments of society
where glamour and glitz is a part of life and a sustaining influence.
The lives of the rich, famous and beautiful are a subject of curiosity
to the common man in his deary day to day existence. Celebrities being
what they are and conscious of their fame, sometimes live in such a way
as to attract attention. In today's world these people are the heroes
and heroines and are observed and idolised. Sensational views on these
people are printed and photographed. Their lives are followed avidly by
the general public. The photographers and the news men who propound
yellow journalism are called "paparazzi" ,which is an Italian term and
used in derogatory manner by the day to day India.
Some of the most hunted of these modern day icons were Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Amitabh Bachan etc and the most tragic of them are Britain's princess Diana. Every aspect of their lives, nuances of expression and behaviour are talked about. Photographs taken with scintillating news helps sell copies of lesser known newspapers and builds up curiosity for more. The photographers are paid heavily for their efforts and they in turn spurred on by the money become more aggressive. In the case of Princess Diana their aggressiveness resulted in her tragic death in a car accident presumably trying to outrun the photographers. Her untimely death and the inconsolable loss to her two children sparkled off worldwide sadness and anger at these mercenaries.
But it will not be fair to blame all these newspapers and journalists alone. It is the public who thirst for such news and pay money to read gossip magazines and items that create the paparazzi and yellow journalism. Hence indirectly the public at large are also to blame. If the need for such sleazy news and photographers decline journalism can stick to providing useful and current news.
Some of the most hunted of these modern day icons were Jacqueline Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Amitabh Bachan etc and the most tragic of them are Britain's princess Diana. Every aspect of their lives, nuances of expression and behaviour are talked about. Photographs taken with scintillating news helps sell copies of lesser known newspapers and builds up curiosity for more. The photographers are paid heavily for their efforts and they in turn spurred on by the money become more aggressive. In the case of Princess Diana their aggressiveness resulted in her tragic death in a car accident presumably trying to outrun the photographers. Her untimely death and the inconsolable loss to her two children sparkled off worldwide sadness and anger at these mercenaries.
But it will not be fair to blame all these newspapers and journalists alone. It is the public who thirst for such news and pay money to read gossip magazines and items that create the paparazzi and yellow journalism. Hence indirectly the public at large are also to blame. If the need for such sleazy news and photographers decline journalism can stick to providing useful and current news.
S. Bhagavathy of XI - B
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