Video To Go

The New York Times - Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News
Matt pointed me to this article about the growing trend for government to supply TV outlets with ready-to-air video. It's pretty appalling, both that the government is wasting money on making glossy TV advertisements for promoting policies and that the media has become so lazy it actually uses it. The article is rather misleadingly titled - buried somewhere in the text is an acknowledgement that the practice was widespread in the Clinton administration. Under Bush, 'prepackaged news' has expanded, but it's misleading to say its a 'New Age'. However, the inbuilt bias of the NYT is not at issue here.

Press releases are a normal part of communication between organizations, including goverment, and the press. Sadly, press releases are frequently regurgitated by lazy journalists as 'news' - thats why organizations take the time to make sure they're well written. So what's the big deal - surely video releases are no different? If unscrupulous television producers fail to mention that the clip is government produced (or worse, as the NYT article points out, sometimes even edit out footage where government spokespeople identify themselves as such), why blame the administration?

Well, two things strike me as unacceptable about the practice. First - government produced video constitutes an under-the-table subsidy for television news. Having seen a great deal of television in the last few months as I start working out in the gym, I feel that this medium should not be propped up by taxpayer dollars. News and analysis on TV features either vacuous creeps spouting pointless drivel, or stares obnoxious belligerants screaming at each other from their video interfaces. Either way, its about as substantive as a bowl of ministrone soup.

Secondly, government agencies make these films in the full knowledge that TV has descended to the level where it will occasionally use the footage without attribution. This makes it irresponsible. However strongly a given branch of government thinks its policy to be correct, it needs to acknowledge that this can only be decided by public debate. Plying decadent TV stations with ready-to-air one-sided analysis subverts this principle.

Television is a public tragedy. I have no doubt that if the whole industry collapsed tomorrow, after a short period of disorientation, people would gravitate towards more serious news sources, adopt fruitful and satisfying hobbies, focus more on interpersonal interactions, and be relieved from the crass and unhealthy values promoted by advertising.

You can play a part in promoting this vision of a better future... now available for $14.99 from TV-B-Gone. That's what I call video to go!