Nowadays, the mass media do not report the news; they make the news. Discuss this with references to recent events.

It is true that there is a tendency for the media to add spices to their stories to make the news more interesting. The media refers to the different means of communication, namely the Internet, television, radio, newspapers and magazines. However recently, the mass media has also resolved to making up the news in order to sell their story. The examples I am going to site are based on recent events. These recent occurrences refer to late happenings in the 21st century.

On 14 March ’07, a report posted on the iNewswire Web site claimed that Hollywood actor Will Ferrell had met with a fatal accident, which had caused his death. Even though the report was taken away quickly, the damage had been done. Some of the public who had read the report actually sent flowers to the supposedly dead actor. Two weeks later, ABC News ran an article clarifying the mistake and reporting that Will Farrel was indeed alive and busy shooting for a movie.

The was also another incident where on 5 April ’07, The Romanian Embassy blamed the BBC for “stage-managing” a report about immigrants living in Hyde Park via the Newsnight reporters. Raduta Matache, the acting Romanian Ambassador, said that it was clear that BBC had set-up the whole thing, resulting in the violation of the ethics of journalism. A spokesman for Hyde Park admitted that people occasionally slept there, but said that there were regular patrols to stop encampments from being set up. Initially, the BBC had said that they were just giving Daniel, a 23-year-old, a small fee for contributing to the Newsnight and had not misled their audience at all. Later the BBC finally admitted to paying Daniel to film his ‘home’ even though he had already got a place in the hostel.

The third incident occurred a few years back in 2003 where the radio station 98.1 KISS in Chattanooga, Tennessee decisively announced that rapper Eminem would be doing a free show in a discount store parking lot. Convinced listeners were so mad at the DJ’s responsible for making the false announcement that they even threatened to harm them. Several police were needed to deal with the huge crowd. Both DJs were later jailed for creating a public nuisance. Even though this was intended as an April fool’s joke, there was no need to create such frenzy.

These are just a few episodes. There have been many more occasions where the media has created the news instead of reporting facts. This could have very serious consequences and the media may even lose the trust of the public if such events continue to occur.

Sources:
http://news.aol.com/entertainment/closeup/deathrumors/_a/have-no-fear-will-ferrell-is-alive-and/20060330085409990001

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/2007/04/did_we_make_it_up.html

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article1615826.ece

http://english.hotnews.ro/BBC-accused-of-false-reporting-on-Romanian-immigrants-articol_44664.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_Fools