The Balloon Boy and the Decline of the American Mind
If you were looking for any news on health care reform, Afghanistan or the President's trip to New Orleans on television yesterday afternoon or most of last evening, you were out of luck. Everything else was pushed aside by the story of the 6 year old balloon boy, Falcon, flying over Colorado in his dad's big helium balloon. Of course, he wasn't actually the balloon boy. Turns out he was the garage boy because when the balloon took off he climbed up into the rafters of his garage and hid in a box. Or, as it may be turning out, (see this update from the New York Times) maybe his dad told him to go hide in the box so they could gin up a media frenzy and regain some of the glory that the whole family was wrapped in when they appeared a few years ago in the reality TV show, Wife Swap.
So, it's not every day that you have the possibility of a six year old flying along at 10,000 feet in a balloon. I can see why the cable news channels might run that live. But wall to wall for three hours and then for lots and lots of time after the boy was found OK? Why would they do that? Two words - great video. Anytime you've got footage of a giant Jiffy Pop bag sailing across the sky, you've got great video. Let's run it on a continuous loop!
Much as I was after a quick trip to Canada earlier this year, I'm suffering from a case of reimmersion into the American pop news media following a four day trip to London earlier this week. Whether it's the BBC, ITV or even the SkyNews Sports channel, there's one word for the Brits' approach to TV news - sedate. No swooshing graphics, gee whiz maps or sound effects. Just people talking about what's going on. That's talking and not shouting or interrupting. A big part of the Sunday morning news shows there consist of the broadcasters sitting together with stacks of newspapers on the tables and floors, reading and commenting on the news of the week.
One thing I've noticed about my British friends over the years is that they all seem incredibly well informed about what's going on in the world. They usually have an informed point of view on what's going on in China or Africa or Eastern Europe or just about anywhere. Now I think I understand why. They grew up with print and broadcast media that actually cover those stories and, as such, they developed a knowledge of and curiosity for what's going on in the rest of the world. I'm not saying that there isn't any lowest common denominator media in Britain. It seems like at any given time of day there is a Ricki Lake or Sally Jesse Raphael type talk show on TV. (The most popular of these appears to be a British hybrid of Dr. Phil and Jerry Springer called The Jeremy Kyle Show. Truly awful stuff based on the five minutes I was able to withstand.) My observation, though, is that thoughtful and serious news coverage and conversation seems to be easier to come by in the UK.
So, what does any of this mean for leaders? I'd relate it to one of the basic laws of computer programming - garbage in, garbage out. We need to be careful and aware of the information diet we're feeding ourselves. The good stuff is out there, we just have to look for it (with the Internet, it's easier than ever). I think the other thing we have to do is watch out for getting sucked into the noise machine. I don't realize how easy it is for that to happen until I'm away from it for awhile and come back to it.
We've got a lot of serious work to do in the United States. Approaching that work from a thoughtful rather than a frantic state of mind will be an important determinant of how successful we are. If you're a leader who wants to make a difference, please don't let the balloon boy stories bombard your brain. Feed your mind with important and useful things.
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Executive coach Scott Eblin’s goal is to help you succeed at the next level of leadership. Throughout the week, he’ll offer his take on the leadership lessons in the news and his advice on your most pressing leadership questions. A former government executive, Scott is a graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and is the author of The Next Level: What Insiders Know About Executive Success.
Why should the American mind experience a decline look at the state of the or should I say the lack of a mind over the last eight years in the federal government at the Oval Office.
Dahhuh Posted Saturday, October 17, 2009 5:38 PMOk, smarty pants... then where are all these good news sites in the US?
Xeifrank Posted Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:54 AMXei
Great point! I believe too much useless news is, at best, entertainment or a distraction, at worst, a vice. It prevents us from thinking deeply about some serious challenges we face nationally.
Dan Callahan Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 9:08 AMActually, I missed the whole story. I saw the TV on in someone's office after the balloon was on the ground w/a bunch of responders verifying no one was in the balloon. My initial thought, what a waste of time. Once again the media trying to sensationalize the public mind...what next, routine weekly USCG exercises on the Potomac making national news?
MPI Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 9:18 AMAMEN!!! Let's save the screaming heads for sports events and start demanding better news coverage by refusing to watch any channel or read any blog/paper that doesn't heed the standards of objective, fact-based journalism.
Laura B Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 9:20 AMUnfortunately, it seems much of the media style in the USA is influenced (driven even) by the channels owned by a certain Australian, whose son is now attacking the BBC.
The presence of the BBC, in spite of its faults, has been a bastion against the trash that this man's organization creates and promulgates wherever he operates.
It is now the case in the US media that perhaps the most trusted commentator on current affairs is Jon Stewart (the only one who is prepared to take on Fox, MSNBC and the rest).
And I say that with tongue only partially in cheek.
Michael Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 9:47 AMThis is why I hate reality TV show, I just wish all you people would just stop watching them.
John Jira Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 10:32 AMUnfortunately, I watched a little of the 'live' balloon coverage and was quickly dismayed at the media attention afforded this puny vehicle. It should have been realized from the start that this balloon had neither the capacity nor capability to lift a fifty pound load. But, all the news channels had shifted their entire attention to the spectical unfolding before them. News commentators, with their expert authorities, were busy filling air time with speculation and drival commentary. Media outlets were dismayed at the realization of an empty balloon and sought out another twist to the story, demanding attention from the Heele's. Another reality news story for the sorid couch potato.
Balloon Boy was a shameful example of news media's demand for viral stories to encompass viewers in meaningless triva while news that needs to be heard goes by the wayside.
Garbage in - garbage out and recently, the news channels have been nothing more than garbage!
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MLBerry Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:07 AMTis but entertainment for the masses, if ya want real news ya have to look for it yourselves!
iggy Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:22 AMReal news invloves, real reporters, and that costs money! Pretty talking heads spewing what they are told to say, don't cost half as much, AND the majority of listeners EAT IT UP LIKE REAL NEWS!!!!
The reason they jumped on this is for the carnage. People wont admit it but they are sick in the head! It wasnt the concern for the boys safety. The media was waiting for the kid to plummit to the ground right there on national TV. then they would have told you how tragic it all is. get a grip they air this crap because people eat it up. Very few people go to a NASCAR race for the great competition they go for the fire and the wreck who's fooling who here. The typical American is a POSER a FAKE a PHONEY
LC Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:14 PMgo to church on Sunday to was their sins and put people in the street and unemployment Monday, complain about unemployment yet check their stocks from a foriegn company they own, thats the society thats been created folks get over it or change it.
I'm so glad we now have a President who is very in tune to his hollywood TV status so we can continue to get pure reality TV. Did he ever join the Actor's Union?
JDS Posted Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:16 PMI actually enjoyed something different for once. save all the robbing, killing and other sad scary news for another time. WE need some amusing stories instead of the dread of war etc.
so what ! Posted Wednesday, October 21, 2009 8:57 AM