In the middle of the 20th century, media houses believed that providing news was a public service. The news was not expected to prioritise entertainment but bring true narratives to the audiences. In today’s time, however, the majority of the people believe that the media is biased and just caters to the entertainment needs of the society. However, it can be contended that media today comes in diverse forms and it depends on which media is being consumed. Mainstream media, para-journalism and introduction of new media all prioritise truth or entertainment based on what is preferred and serves the desires of the target audience.
Mainstream media at times does obscure the facts but it cannot be said that the media does it just for entertainment value. At times mainstream media does give more time to telecast or publish entertainment news rather than news that deals with issues that affect the public. For example, many newspapers today publish news related to lifestyle or the relationship status of celebrities whilst ignoring social issues. Newspapers like The Independent publish news of squirrels storing walnuts in cars or the Straits Times publishing news of TV celebrities getting engaged and married shows that the media today only tries to entertain people. Often, the media also uses sensationalism to sell its stories but that does not mean that entertainment is prioritised and truth completely ignored. In fact, there have been instances where media professionals have tried to bring truth to the forefront. For example, newspapers like the New York Times and The Washington Post have always tried to report honestly and present news as it is. It can be said however that the media tries to fulfil their own agendas and mainstream media prioritizes entertainment and truth based on the agendas they want to fulfil.
Parajournalism, however, does try to present their own opinions on the matter instead of preventing the truth. It can thus be said that this form of news does prioritise entertainment over truth. For example, tabloids like the Sun and the Mirror UK always present news that is pointless but piques the interest of the public. The Sun, for example, gives intense coverage to the royal family from what they wore to what they ate. Similar is the case with NY Post which showcases news about celebrities’ lifestyles and what they wore at the red carpet. This evidently shows that parajournalism in the form of tabloids show little effort in publishing news that is relevant to social issues and of importance. Rather they are obsessed with featuring news which is trivial and frivolous. Unlike mainstream media which tries to fulfil their own political agendas, parajournalists completely obscure the truth to gain readership by publishing baseless gossip. Thus, it can be said that such forms of media prioritise entertainment over truth.
With the advent of technology people, today have access to new media. New media through interaction and debate leads to debunking of myths and prioritizes truth over entertainment. An example of this can be Wikileaks and new whistle-blower website Distributed Denial of Secrets. These websites have insisted on transparency and present truth that would otherwise remain hidden. However, social media which is included under the term can be held responsible for prioritising entertainment over the truth. For example, many websites like Facebook and Instagram based on algorithms showcase posts and news based on the preferences of the individual. A Pew research study also proved that websites like Facebook only show posts that align with the user’s view on the issue. However, new media is a broad term and which platform prioritises truth over entertainment depends on the type of new media being used.
In conclusion, it can be said that not all forms of media prioritise entertainment over truth because it serves the bottom line of the company. Entertainment value is prioritised by some types of media but there are other forms that believe in promoting the truth. In the end, it is totally dependent on the readers what type of media they like to consume. Truth has to be analysed and accepted. It cannot be blindly accepted or for that matter, expect it to come without cost.