Media Failure Two-Step

Writing this blog has made me pay more attention to the media than I used to and I've started to notice a pattern; a pattern which I call the media failure two-step. Don't worry, this dance is quite easy to pick up. As a general rule it goes something like this:

Step 1) Cause something (bad) to happen through your reporting.
Step 2) Report on this (bad) thing from the perspective of an innocent bystander.
And then you just repeat indefinitely.

Got it? Need an example? No problem, start with the basic step.

Step 1. Write 10 columns/posts about the latest poll results
Step 2. Write a column/post complaining about how the media has nothing but 'horserace' coverage

Now admittedly, this is a pretty simple dance, what makes it fun is coming up with variations and mixing them in. Try this one:

Step 1: Write a bunch of mindless partisan rants
Step 2: Complain about the low tone of debate

OK, that was another easy one, How about something a little trickier:

Step 1: Constantly criticize all politicians as selfish pigs
Step 2: Wonder why there are so few good people going into politics these days.

See, the possibilities are endless. Changing up the footwork slightly, there are a whole series of informational steps to explore, in which you pause on the first step and simply do nothing before proceeding straight to the second step. For a good example of this, see the two posts I read which triggered this post: these ones from moebiusstripper at Tall, Dark and Mysterious. While apparently not a fan of the dance, he identifies it clearly, quoting Angus Reid as saying about the proposed STV electoral system for B.C.,

"There hasn't been enough media coverage to create a buzz, and even people looking for information might not find enough to make an informed decision."

and noting,

"One wonders if the journalists who find these things out just nod sadly - hmm, not enough media coverage. Crying shame, that, but not much WE can do - and then ferret out another poll about how little the unwashed masses, with their lack of information and access to media coverage, know about stuff."

I invite readers to offer up their own suggestions for variations of the media failure two-step. Please avoid suggestions which involve three steps as these will be covered in a later post on the media failure waltz.*



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* This is a joke, media-failure scenarios suited to other dances are more than welcome, although suggestions for the Tango will be ignored unless submitted twice.