The Media Truth

The buzz for today is that Miss California lost the Miss USA crown because of her answer to a judge’s question.  It has been on national TV, the newspapers, and the internet. You Tube has many choices for you to watch the same video of her answer. 

My question is why did the runner up last year lose?  Did we ask ourselves that question?  Did we really need an answer?  Do we have a competition by competition score card to see where Miss California lost – if indeed she was even really in first place?  Or are they just saying she lost because she was beautiful and should have won if not for that one answer?

And about that answer – did she lose because she stumbled a little with her words or did she lose because she gave an honest answer.  Our country has freedom of speech.  It has been bought and paid for many times, so she has every right to say what she thinks.  Her audience has every right to agree or disagree with her, but they should not ever judge her on what she says.

However, the media has put this on the front pages.  She lost because of her answer.  The media has decided what the truth is and is telling us all what we should believe too.  They are telling us that we do not have the right to say what we truly believe because it‘s not politically correct or because we might lose a crown – or a job – or friends.  How wrong is this? 

If she lost because she spoke her opinion, then shame on the judges and the Miss USA organization should be looking into that.  If she lost because her answer was not coherent, or well-phrased, then the judges were right and the media needs to leave it alone.  If she lost for other reasons, then that’s the way the pageant world works.  But the media should not be making this into more than it is.  What about the winner?  Where are the You Tube videos of her coronation?  Why isn’t she being interviewed on the entertainment websites? 

I’m sure that’s it more than that to the girls who were competing, but to a lot of people in this country, its just a pageant.  But it’s also just an example of what the media does to influence us everyday.  How many other important events happened Sunday that were pushed aside becuase the media could sensationalize this one?  While we are being saturated with this event what world events are going unnoticed?  

We need to be sure we question and look behind the headline.  We need to make sure it is headline worthy or is it just another way for the media to generate income?  Is what the media telling us an unbiased account or have they given us their opinion as fact?  Have the right questions been asked?  Are both side represented?  The public cannot form an intelligent opinion without having the facts from both sides.  No matter what the story, there is more than one side and more than one version – but the truth is somewhere in between.