I’ve been in the business of smashing false idols since 1982, when I published my first article for LA Weekly.
Medical idols, political idols, cultural idols.
This piece offers reasons why. It’s a patchwork quilt of excerpts from past articles, plus new material, including fiction/satire, which by the way is one of the strongest weapons a writer has. And one of the most feared weapons, IF there are still readers who can READ and think.
Here we go.
PART ONE
The elite television news anchor is not a person filled with passion or curiosity. Therefore, the audience doesn’t have to be passionate or filled with curiosity, either.
The anchor is not a demanding voice on the air; therefore, the audience doesn’t have to be demanding.
The anchor isn’t hell-bent on uncovering the truth. For this he substitutes a false dignity. Therefore, the audience can surrender its need to wrestle with the truth and replace that with a false dignity of its own.
The anchor takes propriety to an extreme: it’s unmannerly to look below the surface of things. Therefore, the audience adopts those manners.
On air, the anchor is neutral, a castratus, a eunuch.
This is a time-honored ancient tradition. The eunuch, by his diminished condition, has the trust of the ruler. He guards the emperor’s inner sanctum. He acts as a buffer between his master and the people. He applies the royal seal to official documents.
There are other reasons for “voice-neutrality” of the anchor. It conveys a sense of science. “We did the experiment in the lab and this is how it turned out.” Therefore, the news is objective.
PART TWO
Media are now very serious.