"The Ever-Present Shock Factor" - Time Out #168

Many people aren't aware of it, but I was graduated from Oklahoma State University (OSU) with a bachelor's degree in news-editorial journalism.

WHAT was my major??

Yes, dear readers of Our Town and far beyond, I was awarded my degree after only 8 semesters, 1965-69. I previously worked for the Daily O'Collegian, Daily Oklahoman, Tulsa World, and Stillwater News-Press. My university days mentor at OSU was the legendary Dr. Harry Heath. I also took classroom coursework from famous OSU instructor Dr. Walter Ward. Those certainly were memorable years in my young journalism life.

Along with my journalism courses, I also successfully completed the required University of Oklahoma College of Medicine prerequisite courses in Our Town at OSU. In August, 1970, I entered medical school at OU in Oklahoma City, finishing my coursework there in 1974.

Back to my journalism days, including the entire summer of 1968, when I was privileged to work for the huge Oklahoma Publishing Company (Oklahoman, and then-afternoon, Times), I received a wonderful OSU education that was greatly supplemented by my summer internship, and regular correspondence reporting, during my school years, for the Oklahoma City and Tulsa major newspapers.

My instructors, mentors, peers and myself were all very aware of possible sensationalism that could be displayed in writing. I also listened a great deal to daily radio broadcasts, and mostly nightly television broadcasts, both of which rarely featured sensationalism in their news content. Sensationalism was rarely projected in any type of media then; just almost never was done!

Simply put, that was then, and this is now. Wow!

So, when did it all change, please tell?

Well, an argument could be made for the early 1970's, and the winding down of our involvement in the Vietnam Conflict, coupled with our eventual exiting from that troubled area of the world. Also, the Watergate Break In, and, President Richard Nixon's voluntarily resignation, after tremendous external political pressure was exerted on him.

My personal opinion, however, for the starting point of the "Sensational Era of Journalism" began when business mogul Ted Turner began his 24-hour news channel CNN, June 1, 1980. This historic date, marked, in my humble opinion, the absolute fact previously non-newsworthy items suddenly became newsworthy. This was accomplished by elevating the daily non-newsworthy items with super hype (i.e., sensationalism), transforming the mundane happenings into audience-capturing news events. Possibly, some of those newly-elevated news events that were needed to fill each 24-hour news cycle slot, were slightly fabricated? Maybe? Not sure, but a strong maybe??

Fast forward to the advent of more and more personal electronic devices, more and more channels on television, more and more various video/audio options available. With each of these new choices, comes the almighty advertising dollar; totally essential to the ultimate survival of each separate economic product released. Advertising rates are driven by viewer/listener numbers, and the more sensational, the larger the audience numbers, in my estimation.

Several times over the past few years, I have deliberately tuned in various Oklahoma City television stations during their newscasts, to carefully study their content. Most of my observations have shown 10-12 consecutive sensational broadcast stories, totally meant to capture the attention of as many viewers as possible.

These modern-day, relentless outpourings of sensationalism remind me of the age-old story,"The Little Boy Who Cried Wolfe"'. I can't help but believe the ever-present "shock" news factors greatly dull our human emotional senses, day-in and day-out.

As the iconic singers Sonny and Cher stated long ago, "And the beat goes on........"