Stage Lighting

As stage lighting is important to film and the theatre so too is the focus of the media on events. When the media continue to focus their ellipsoidal reflector spotlights on personalities not deserving of primary attention at any time, they demean the readers and consumers of media. Caricature personae that stand out in the performance such as the Glenn Becks, the Bachmann/Pawlentys, and the Harry Reids should be dimmed and working aspects of government and political momentum should be brightened, either by increasing the ambient flood illumination on the rest of the cast, or by simply turning off the focused lamps.

Every time one of these people who lack fact checking is reported on, it is as if handing the microphone over to an interupting P. Diddy, taking away from history that could have been. There are plenty of sane, well-spoken actors who could be given their due time, but the media is not responsible enough to gather those. The media does not report on the content of meetings about the deficit, just regurgitates soundbites. Where is the article about... if you want to reach an agreement between bills in the House and the Senate, how about trying to bring a LAPTOP or a CLERK with a LAPTOP to work out the rearrangement. Even an actual pad of paper would help. None of the outlets report how the meeting was obviously just set up for continued posturing. "See, they won't budge."

Especially in need of some stage lighting apprenticeship is the public radio stations. They eagerly give just as much airtime to the whackjobs and vomit mouths, supporting. They snidely report the soundsbites as in-depth as a microfilm, then tell you how they report all the news and convey a valuable service. Nevermind in-depth comparison - oh this soundbite from personality X sounds the opposite of what this person said on this date. Or, we'll report what the spokespeople comment without going back and holding them accountable when they were clearly lying to attempt damage control.