	Bob Hostetler > Writing

If Today’s News Media Had Covered the Story. . .

by Bob Hostetler

Maybe it’s more noticeable due to the rise of the blogging phenomenon. Or maybe our perspective is distorted by of the right-wing hosts who dominate talk radio. Or it could be that the once-mainstream media has changed so drastically in the last thirty years or so. Maybe it’s all three. But news coverage in the American media does seem to be quantifiably different these days from coverage in the past.

If today’s news media had covered the American War for Independence, for instance, can anyone doubt that the headlines would have been: “Quagmire in Valley Forge,” and “Lawmakers: Pull Troops Out Now?” Newspapers in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia would have run such stories as, “Poll: 60% Say Nation Going Wrong Direction,” “Poll: George W’s War Most Unpopular Yet,” and “Poll: Majority Want U.S. Out of New England.”

Reports on the drafting of the new American nation’s Constitution in 1787 would have revolved not around the text, nor the document’s importance. Instead, citizens would have awakened to such headlines as, “Polls Show 40% Not Happy with Constitution,” and “Constitution Ratified: Congress Dodges Hot-Button Issues.”

If today’s news media had been around in 1871, the headlines could have been: “Chicago Burns: Experts Blame Global Warming.” And, in 1912: “Titanic Sinks: Environmental Nightmare!” And in 1953, the report would have been: “Everest Conquered: Wildlife Affected.”

In 1929, the headline “Stock Market Crashes,” would have added, “President Was Golfing.” And, in 1934, we would have seen: “Hitler Becomes Dictator; Administration Fails to Prevent It.” And, in 1936: “War of the Worlds Creates Panic; President Not Informed Till Morning.”

Election coverage would have been different, too. Headlines in March 1933 would have proclaimed, “Roosevelt Inaugurated; Nation Divided.” In 1936: “Roosevelt Re-elected Despite Rumors of Infidelity.” And, in 1940: “Roosevelt Wins Third Term; Specter of ‘Imperial Presidency’ Raised.” And in 1944: “Roosevelt’s Presidency Most Secretive Ever.”

If today’s news media had covered World War II, the headlines would have announced:

“Japan Bombs Pearl Harbor: Why Do They Hate Us?”

“Secret Program Breaks Nazi Codes,”

“D-Day: 2,500 Allied Dead in One Day,”

“War in Europe Ends; No WMD Found,”

“Atomic Bomb Dropped; Protestors Call Truman the Real Terrorist.”

The postwar reconstruction probably would have produced headlines like, “Germany Worse Off Than Under Hitler,” and “U.S. More Unpopular Than Ever in Japan.”

The headline, “Korea Armistice Signed” in 1953 would have added the line, “President Was Golfing.” The coverage in 1955 might still have trumpeted, “Salk Serum Whips Polio,” but would have been careful to add “President Blamed for Shortage.” In 1961, “Eichmann Sentenced” would have added, “Verdict Won’t Affect War on Nazism.” And the coverage of the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations might well have included “Assassin Driven to Desperation by President’s Divisive Policies” and “Assassinations Will Continue Until Understanding Spreads.”

Today’s news media probably would have covered the first moon landing differently, too. Instead of “Man Walks on Moon,” the story might have been, “Activists Protest Males-Only Moon Landing.” And the election of Pope John Paul I in 1978 would have been announced, “New Pope ‘Too Catholic,’ Say Some.” And, in 1986, we might have seen: “Space Shuttle Explodes; President Was Napping.”

Some will point out that simplicity, objectivity, and moral clarity had a relatively short run in American journalism. That much is true. Still, the lack of such things in today’s news coverage does get tiring. . . and may explain the precipitous decline in the fortunes and influence of the once-mainstream media.

This article appeared in the July 9, 2006, edition of the Hamilton Journal-News.

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