Sticks of Fire: a Tampa blog

Judy wanted to know why the papers and tv stations are all agog about the Jessica Sierra story. The media will claim that the public wants to know. I think the media as a whole truly believe that the public is really interested in the trials and tribulations of celebrity.

We ain’t got no movie stars or world-touring musicians or even Elijah Dukes hanging out around here no more. We do have three professional teams of rich athletes. Go ahead and throw in local celebrities such as TV News Anchors, and maybe a couple of Radio DJs, and that’s about it. But athletes aren’t outed cuz it may affect a reporter’s future ability to get a quote. And those news anchors are given the benefit of “professional courtesy.” So along with a has-been wrestler guy and his family of misfit wanna-bes, we get breathless reports on some poor, young, nobody who’s only claim to fame is that she was on a GAME SHOW.

And this story had the added elements of racial slurs and bargaining with sex acts - juicy stuff. All of this in a market with 2 dailies, a daily tabloid, and four or five tv news gatherers, and you can see why it becomes a fiasco.

It’s certainly tabloid stuff. But is it news? Is it journalism? Is it important? The Tampa Police Department issued a news release about it, but I am guess that this is not the first time that an intoxicated person under arrest would offer anything they could to be let go. However, according to an online search of TPD communications, it’s the very first time a TPD press release said a detainee offered “sexual favors” for his or her release. Perhaps policy is to issue a release only when the tradeoff is denied. Anyway, it’s obvious that TPD communications knew the papers would love the story.

But it doesn’t take much journalism to read a press release, grab a copy of the police report, get the statement from the girl’s attorney, and then publish the details. You could have done that yourself.

On the other hand, some folks think that the newspapers didn’t go far enough. Media critic Wayne Garcia complains that the newspapers did not offer enough titillating details, and flat out accuses both newspapers of censorship. (Note to Wayne: It would be news if they DIDN’T redact the offensive words.) This is from someone who has complained that journalism should not aim for the lowest common denominator. Maybe he just wanted to publish all the dirty words himself.

As much as I hate to admit it, I suppose that a well known celebrity getting arrested qualifies as news. But I’m tired of the tabloid mentality that is forced upon us. Wouldn’t it be nice if at least one of the two dailies began to put these stories inside? Can we leave the front page for important news? And although I can’t guarantee it, if citizens see that you understand them, can explain what they need to know, that you care about them and the city they live in, and stop treating them like lemmings, it might actually lead to a better and better-informed community.

Wait. Lemme read that last sentence again.

Nevermind.

I should have just published the dirty words too.

Previously: st pete times: celebreality trumps election

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