Why do people outside OZ care about the Oscar trial?

AngieM2 · #1 04/15/14, 07:36 AM

I keep seeing this on and on and on and on.

Why does anyone outside their area or country care? What make it news in America? (Maybe in Canada and Europe, too, but I don't know about there).

So, can you explain why our news is covering it to the point of stupid?

**Tiempo** · #2 04/15/14, 08:02 AM

Because Americans love celebrity and love a scandal.

(It's in South Africa btw

)

AngieM2 · #3 04/15/14, 08:03 AM

Thanks Tiempo for correcting me. I knew that but had soggy brain from too much information.

Like how many days can he cry and say "My Lady"?

I'm sorry for the dead lady and family. The rest, I just don't know.

**Tiempo** · #4 04/15/14, 08:05 AM

I don't watch TV 'news' so I haven't seen much about the trial.

Dixie Bee Acres · #5 04/15/14, 08:08 AM

I have wondered the same thing, Angie, but its south Africa, isn't it?

dkhern · #6 04/15/14, 08:21 AM

if the dont cover fast n furious, nsa, irs, bengazie they have to have some sort of filler

**Tiempo** · #7 04/15/14, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkhern

if the dont cover fast n furious, nsa, irs, bengazie they have to have some sort of filler

It's as simple as giving the public what they want. If they didn't consume it it wouldn't be covered...sadly, the public has an insatiable appetite for the lurid and sensational.

They cover what gets eyeballs because eyeballs = $$$$.

where I want to · #8 04/15/14, 08:46 AM

Well, I'm not interested. Personally, I've always thought that a major consideration in reporting anything is the simplicity ( no research or leg work or thought required) and the proximity of reporters. This has it all- a person who had some fame, everyone confined to one spot (courthouse) for ease of reporting, no deep thought required ( just report obvious) and lots of english speaking reports to contract with.
It's why rural issues hardly hit the news unless really sensational- it's simply easier and cheaper to report from NYC ( West Coast is too late time zone wise) than send a crew to cover elsewhere.

copperkid3 · #9 04/15/14, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiempo

It's as simple as giving the public what they want. If they didn't consume it it wouldn't be covered...sadly, the public has an insatiable appetite for the lurid and sensational.

They cover what gets eyeballs because eyeballs = $$$$.

+ + + + + + +
The media used to give the people what they wanted to hear/see.

That has ALL changed now. They give the people what 'they' want them

to pay attention to . . . and keep them focused on the mudane, instead of

those events that are unfolding about them; which would have a real impact

on their lives and the loss of further liberties. Freedom of the press, was

one of the first casualties in maintaining the usurper's throne in the W.H.

Ardie/WI · #10 04/15/14, 10:05 AM

I have mostly put that trial on my ignore list. I listened to him boo-hoo enough to make me wanna slap him.

**Tiempo** · #11 04/15/14, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

+ + + + + + +
The media used to give the people what they wanted to hear/see.

That has ALL changed now. They give the people what 'they' want them

to pay attention to . . . and keep them focused on the mudane, instead of

those events that are unfolding about them; which would have a real impact

on their lives and the loss of further liberties. Freedom of the press, was

one of the first casualties in maintaining the usurper's throne in the W.H.

If the consumers didn't consume it would stop. You don't have to eat what they feed you and they fail and disappear without you.

Scott SW Ohio · #12 04/15/14, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiempo

Because Americans love celebrity and love a scandal.

I agree. I think that people crave intense emotional experiences but these crop up in our actual lives so rarely that we turn to media sources to fill the void with professional sports, television dramas (including the neverending stream of "trials of the Century") and extended coverage of various crises and disasters. We have become in large part a society of voyeurs and adrenaline junkies.

Me, I just read this forum.

where I want to · #13 04/15/14, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiempo

If the consumers didn't consume it would stop. You don't have to eat what they feed you and they fail and disappear without you.

And just how does one not consume national media? Call all the truck makers advertising to say you changed your mind about buying any vehicle because their advertising appears in connection to this story?
I suppose not clicking on the internet would have some effect but on TV I can't see how you can not consume it. I use the mute on the remote but who ever knows.....

Paumon · #14 04/15/14, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngieM2

I keep seeing this on and on and on and on.

Why does anyone outside their area or country care? What make it news in America? (Maybe in Canada and Europe, too, but I don't know about there).

So, can you explain why our news is covering it to the point of stupid?

I'm speculating here but I think they're covering it so intensively because this court case is a legal first for South Africa. It's the first time in the history of South Africa that a criminal court case has been televised to the S. African public and it's the first time that a S. African trial has gotten so much global attention because the international media is being allowed to show televised parts of daily proceedings to the global community. This one is also a hot topic because it's the murder trial of a nation's 'fallen hero' who killed a celebrity sweetheart and it is chock-a-block full of emotional drama. Oscar Pistorius seems to be playing up the drama to a global audience for all it's worth and is coming across to his audience as someone who is not quite all there in the head. Another thing of interest to western media and firearms enthusiasts is the manner in which the murder happened and the way Pistorius is being portrayed by prosecution as a trigger-happy gun-nut with a blood-lust for violence and for shooting things. Also, it is somewhat different than court cases in western countries because in South Africa they only have judges ruling, they do not have juries (the reason for that is to avoid biased judgements that might occur due to racial prejudice) so the way the daily court proceedings are conducted may be of some interest to western media who are seeing all of this for the very first time.

7thswan · #15 04/15/14, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiempo

Because Americans love celebrity .

(It's in South Africa btw

)

I agree. It's what is so wrong with our Country.

Patchouli · #16 04/15/14, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by copperkid3

+ + + + + + +
The media used to give the people what they wanted to hear/see.

That has ALL changed now. They give the people what 'they' want them

to pay attention to . . . and keep them focused on the mudane, instead of

those events that are unfolding about them; which would have a real impact

on their lives and the loss of further liberties. Freedom of the press, was

one of the first casualties in maintaining the usurper's throne in the W.H.

If that were true then no one would be watching TV. Since they are watching and this trial is quite popular then I would say they are giving the audience exactly what they want. Your taste may differ but it is not in the majority anymore.

Personally I don't bother to watch any news. I look at a couple of different sources on the internet so I can pick what I am interested in and get an in depth look at anything that catches my interest.

Patchouli · #17 04/15/14, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where I want to

And just how does one not consume national media? Call all the truck makers advertising to say you changed your mind about buying any vehicle because their advertising appears in connection to this story?
I suppose not clicking on the internet would have some effect but on TV I can't see how you can not consume it. I use the mute on the remote but who ever knows.....

You can just not have television like me.

Brighton · #18 04/15/14, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by where I want to

And just how does one not consume national media? Call all the truck makers advertising to say you changed your mind about buying any vehicle because their advertising appears in connection to this story?
I suppose not clicking on the internet would have some effect but on TV I can't see how you can not consume it. I use the mute on the remote but who ever knows.....

Myself, I don't have a TV, simple enough.

painterswife · #19 04/15/14, 02:41 PM

I have a TV, I just record and don't watch the commercials. I very seldom watch the news because I have already been updated on the internet. No real need to watch the news channels.

wr · #20 04/15/14, 05:22 PM

I've found it interesting because I'm interested in judicial processes in other countries so it has given me a bit of a look into South Africa's judicial system but I'm not hovering by the TV waiting for updates.

The reason for the m'lady is simply a term of respect toward the judge and she is addressed indirectly through questioning but there is nothing that I have found that indicates that it is intended to be used a few hundred times a day.

I was strongly chastised on another thread for suggesting that the media was taking the fallen hero approach but there was a time when he was on the news in most countries as a feel good story so it stands to reason that the media is going to happily display his fall from grace as well.