Karma is a bitch. I didn’t make that one up, but I love it.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.
Karma is a bitch because, at some point in all of our lives, it bites us. We turn down the ugly kid’s request to be a prom date, then watch as she/he goes with the hottest person in school (while we stay home). We think we found the answers to next week’s test, only to learn the teacher made a new one. We bet on the Titans to beat the Steelers on the tip of a gambler, then find out—last second—that Chris Johnson is out.
Karma.
Karma.
Karma.
This week—right now, actually—karma is having its own special tango with Rupert Murdoch, the eviler than evil owner of much of the world’s media. Obviously, most people here have followed the story of his empire’s partial demise—of taped phone conversations and ins with police and an organization run with the moral fortitude of a pimp wanted for murder. But what brings me the greatest joy—the greatest schadenfreude—is watching Murdoch have the tables turned on him. Suddenly, for the first time, he’s the object of tabloid photographers and vicious rumors; for the first time, he’s the one whose decency is being not merely questioned (it’s always been questioned), but trampled upon like a muddy rag. Watching Murdoch stammer and stumble and hmmm and uhhhhh these last few days has been, well, joyous.
Why? Because he—and he alone—has done more to damage journalism than any person this century. Maybe ever. In the past, it was a journalist’s goal to be fair and unbiased. Was this always attainable? Certainly not—we have have our issues; our biases, our … things. But people tried. I truly believe that: People tried. Under Murdoch’s watch, however, everything changed. These days, media outlets are required to be biased; to exaggerate news and not merely present the facts, but ram them down your throat, colored by opinions and misinformation and, yes, lies. Thanks to Fox News, people turn to TV not to learn, but to be led. The glowing box makes opinions; forces opinions. And, because we’re so friggin’ stupid and desperate for leadership and direction, we listen.
So how will this change things? Hmm … it won’t. Sadly. In the modern era, news cycles go zipping by. Remember Casey Anthony? That was 10 years ago, news-wise. Murdoch is today, but only until Justin Timberlake and JLo start dating.
Sigh.
