or anyone else’s life. They are a simply a time filler during a slow news day. These are simply a method of attracting the attention of the public so that they will watch that stations news show. The topics presented on the typical news program fall into two basic categories: “real news” and the “pseudo-event” (Boorstin). The real news items are the days (note worthy) current events: murders, carjacking, newly discovered toxic dumpsites, governmental scandals, and so on. The real news also occasionally includes human-interest stories. For example, the television media recently gave substantial coverage to the man who drove his lawn tractor hundreds of miles to see his ailing brother. After first hundred miles you would think that one of the news vans would have offered him a ride. Even thought real news is derived from actual events, all of the real news topics are reported because of their entertainment value. Thus, a real event, such as a shoplifter injuring a guard while being detained may not be reported. On the other hand the news media would feast if something special happens. For example, if the shoplifter was a minority and he died while being detained. The story is even better if it is in a city with a history of bad racial relation. Of course, the news would not report that the suspect had attacked the guards, sending two of them to the hospital. The news media main concern is only to produce a hot the story, not to portray the truth. Pseudo-events are the created new items. They are interviews with politicians, special reports (... that may save your life, tune in tonight for the complete story) and other events planed for the sole purpose of being reported and generating an audience. One of my favorite pseudo-events is the “Hall Of Shame”. Some hall of shame topics have been, city workers loafing, judges who speed, and even auto shops that overcharge. Wow, how enlightening! ...
