Larry D. Lauer

On a dramatic television program nothing exists outside the widest camera shot. That boundary defines the total universe for that program. And within that boundary the director is in complete control of where your attention is focused.

Now, imagine that the entire planet is that wide shot, and your attention is focused within it every day by someone who is directing your attention. That would mean that the reality TV issue is much bigger than Mr. Trump. When you think about it, many of us really do get most of our news and information from a television, computer or smart phone screen. and it is orchestrated somewhere by the minds of producers who understand exactly what makes moving images so effective.

Well ahead of the recent digital and social media revolution, the television revolution of the late 40’s and 50’s changed most everything… politics, government, religion, and most especially family and individual behaviors. And just maybe the ultimate impact was that many of us unconsciously and over time came to view producer-directed news as harmless daily doses of entertaining reality!

Most educators today accept that the primary learning advantage of TV is more in its ability to engage us in deep cultural and human experiences than to achieve deep and objective factual knowledge. The best education combines various media platforms, each with its own strengths.

There is little doubt that television has a way of imposing its unique nature on its content. It simply prefers drama and conflict. Camera movements, editing, visual effects, and mood-establishing sound, are all tools that can generate excitement and suspense. Too many details become too tedious for contemporary attention spans.

We are already living in an age where our world very likely is becoming known to us much the same way as we process movies? Simply put, without realizing it too many of us are consuming our news as a form of daily entertainment that we erroneously regard as harmless. It’s like getting hooked on competitive fishing when your only fishing experience is in your home on cable TV!