I want to point out, briefly I hope, something that has been bothering me for the past few months. At work, I use CNN.com as my homepage. I figure that's a good way to get a glimpse of the news, see if anything important is going on in the world, each time I get on the web, whether it be to do some research or check my email.
I've been using CNN.com as a primary news source for years now (I don't know exactly how long). In the beginning, they used a red, "Breaking News" banner across the top of the screen only for truly important, world changing events, i.e., "U.S. Drops First Bombs in Iraq" or "Four Explosions Rock London Tube", etc. Recently, however, I've noticed how CNN is using that coveted, red, "Breaking News" banner just to get attention for any old crap. Today's shocking, world-changing news: "'Brokeback Mountain' leads Academy Awards field with eight nominations, including best picture". Well stop the effin' presses. Is that really breaking news? Think before you put that banner up there CNN: do I need to stop what I'm doing to learn about some great world tragedy/happening? Also, is that more important than the lead headline (today, Coretta Scott King's death)?
Today's example is just one of what are now several, weekly, non-stories that CNN touts as "Breaking News". It's ridiculous and sensationalist and it pisses me off. I expect that red banner to be something important. I've been meaning to say something about it. Does anyone else feel this way, or has anyone else noticed this trend? Am I crazy? I'll write something more interesting next time, I swear, I just had to get this off my manly chest.
Update: This, on the otherhand, is most definitely deserving of a "Breaking News" label.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
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4 comments:
That's not exactly true about Camp Lo. Those of us in the know are aware of some happenings. I don't want to get into it now though.
Glad you're back BrownBear, this site was missing some bitterness.
Of course, Brownbear posts at nearly a quarter after hate. Why the hostility?
I actually prefer to use a fancy-looking site that lets me choose both subject AND country (not Iceland, though) of what it shows me, in color intensity related to how new the headline is.
That's a pretty cool news site Optimus, although you'd need a double monitor to be able to read some of it. Especially once you add more than one country.
BrownBear always posts at a quarter past hate. Any earlier, and his port wouldn't be properly aged.
i like how the size of the box tells you how important it is. sort of reminds me of milliondollarhomepage.com
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