It's time for press to take stock of itself on Jon & Kate
In a post Monday night, I suggested that viewers stop watching Jon & Kate Plus 8 if they really want to help the Gosselin kids. With the divorce of these two self-absorbed parents, there is no way for viewers to justify tuning in any longer. It's nothing but debasement and voyeurism from here on out.
But with the show going on hiatus until Aug. 3, let me further suggest that we in the mainstream press also step back, slow down, take stock and try to wean ourselves off the narcotic of Jon & Kate page views unlike anything we've seen since Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy.
I say this after the embarrassing story put out by the Associated Press Tuesday that Jon and Kate Gosselin had been living "separate and apart" for the last two years while acting as if they were living together on their TV show. Had that fact been verified and true, it would have been the basis of a very big TV story -- a story just a few of cuts below the quiz scandals of the 1950s in terms of deception on the part of those who make American television.
But it wasn't verified and true, according to a correction the news service sent out later in the evening saying the couple had been apart only a week or two, according to lawyers involved in filing the very papers the AP cited as evidence for its first report. It appears that even AP, one of the bedrocks of mainstream fact-based journalism, was caught up in the Jon & Kate frenzy of getting it out there first before getting it right. Does anyone in the land of new media know what the word gatekeeper means anymore?
Here's the correction as it appeared on MSNBC's website Tuesday night: ALLENTOWN, Pa. - CORRECTION: The Associated Press sent an earlier version of this story that said Kate and Jon Gosselin had been living “separate and apart” for at least two years. The AP later sent a correction saying this was not true and that the couple had been living apart only for a week or two.
National Public Radio's website, on the other hand, was still running the uncorrected story at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday -- as were many other sites. I suspect the original story will even appear uncorrected in some newspapers Wednesday morning.
As of late Tuesday at any rate, what readers were left with thanks largely to AP was confusion. And that is the very opposite of what the press is supposed to create.
So, let's try to steady ourselves and behave like journalists. If we keep acting like crazed Hollywood gossip columnists from the 1930s, Jon and Kate will keep issuing dueling press releases as they did Tuesday with Kate saying Jon did something so bad over the weekend that she can't live with him anymore, and Jon saying he is "hurt" by the allegation. No specifics or facts, just more innuendo and conflict. It's a game for publicists and silly people addicted to fame -- not journalists. But it will go on and on as long as we keep lapping it up like starving kittens.
There is still much news to report and all kinds of enlightening cultural pieces to be written about the sociology of Jon & Kate and the audience of millions that tuned in to watch it for four full seasons and part of fifth.
The audience size alone warrants coverage and can absolutely serve as a barometer of popular taste -- especially given the fact that the audience plunged from 9.8 million for the season opener on May 25th down to 2.9 in recent weeks. And then came 10.6 million viewers for Monday's show when the divorce was announced. Clearly, a mass audience is reacting to this story -- and doing so in illuminating ways.
I have given TLC the benefit of the doubt in several pieces I have written the last four months about the show. But no more. The channel has already earned its place in TV infamy for its part in pushing this family past the breaking point this year. To now act like it is taking the high road with a six week hiatus is laughable. You can't fix what TLC helped break by turning off the cameras for a few weeks in the summer.
I will write about the show and how the audience reacts to it when it returns. To me, that is news in that it tells us something about who we are as viewers and people.
But I am also going to try and hold myself to a tougher standard as to how often and what I write about Jon & Kate -- even if my web numbers suffer. I haven't yet and I am never going to play the games -- and I use that word kindly -- that some show biz tabloid journalists use in publishing unverified information that barely rises to the level of rumor or gossip.
I hope some of my colleagues will do the same, and that collectively we will come to our senses about how we treat the Jon & Kate story from here on out -- and cover this realm of American culture and life online.
And while I'm hoping, maybe AP will fully explain in coming days how it managed to put out a story with such wide-ranging implications without first having the facts on which it was based nailed down.
Comments
Bravo, Z! This whole show has spiraled out of control. We have forgotten that beyond our popcorn and soda are 8 real life children (not actors) whose lives are being played out (without their consent) on National television. What does that say about us as a society?
...Thanks again for your integrity and sensibility!
Hi Judy, Thanks for the reminder about what we are consuming as entertainment when we watch this show -- and what we are supporting by doing so. Z
Posted by: Judy | June 24, 2009 1:29 AM
Thank you for coming into the light, Z.. I always knew you would find your way.
Maybe in August you can find out why the labor board still has not contacted any of the parties involved concerning the working schedule of the Gosselin children as this "investigation" has yet to begin.
Posted by: Free the Gosselin 8 | June 24, 2009 2:53 AM
They're selling T-Shirt about this fiasco on CafePress. Very Distasteful!
http://www.cafepress.com/harpersink
Posted by: David | June 24, 2009 8:35 AM
I beg you to remember that just because the show is on hiatus, this does not mean the cameras will not be rolling during that time. I've found it common in reporting on this show that journalists do not seem to realize that the filmed footage of the children is from several weeks before the episode airs, while the interview segments are from just days before airing.
Posted by: Concerned | June 24, 2009 8:39 AM
Z, Thanks for reminding readers why you write about these topics. I know that I'm sick of reading and hearing about Jon and Kate. Their lives are a wreck. You are onto something about the audience size. The fact that people even watch this mess is intriguing, yet sad. It says more about where we are as a society. I do not believe that your readership numbers will suffer at all if you pull back a bit, but it would be interesting to find out why people watch.
Posted by: Greg | June 24, 2009 8:59 AM
I think it is heartbreaking to see this family dissove. I have watched from the beginning and saw that Jon and kate once loved each other. I am sure they love their children. Jon sat on that interview couch and said he wasn't quite sure how to take care of the kids and kate was extremely organized and he would be happy to do what he could to help her. And now those same things are what he uses against her. Human nature is fascinating and I think that is what keeps us watching. I just wish they could find their way back to each other, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. So Sad!
Posted by: linda | June 24, 2009 11:52 AM
Please folks, these kids are nothing more than the modern equivalent of the Dionne Quintuplets: with every moment videotaped for the cameras and shown pretty much 24/7 every where.
The show went from being fairly sweet to this train wreck because the parents seem to be greedy. Did they really NEED a 1.1 MILLION mansion? $1,600/day bodyguard for the wife? Will these poor kids ever see a PENNY of the money their childhood's earned?
Not to mention, if we're seeing the birth mother on every magazine and news show or out signing autographs, and the birth father is out drinking - who IS REALLY PARENTING THOSE KIDS? Paid help. Sad, sad, sad. ALL CHILDREN IN ENTERTAINMENT - whether scripted or not - need the SAME compensations across the board in all 50 states - as California enacted, along with a new version of "Coogan's Law" to protect their earnings. FREE THE GOSSELIN EIGHT!!!!
Posted by: Bev Okin-Larkin | June 24, 2009 2:04 PM
I feel so sad for the 8 kids coz im pretty sure they r confused right now. To TLC good job for breaking a Gosselin Family with your Reality Show the kids are the one who suffer this. Now u will hiatus the show for a break????????it makes no sense at all..... You cannot fis the marital problem of Jon & Kate it's already break by your show. Hope the TLC management can sleep good. It's not too late to turn off the camera off from Gosselin Kids before they will have a mental and emotional breakdown. Kate need to look for job and live a simple life not using her kids to make an easy money. The show need to be "STOP".
Posted by: Precious | June 24, 2009 2:49 PM
Okay Z, you asked viewers on Monday to stop watching the show, saying it belittles us all. Yet here we are two days later, and you are still responding to blog posts about Jon & Kate. Face it, you're just as addicted to them as the rest of us. Doctor, heal thyself and STOP IT ALREADY!
Can you clarify what your complaint is -- that I am replying to people who commenting on the blog post? Because if that is your complaint, I'm sorry, I can't help you. I treasure the dialogue with readers and tryu to respond as much as I can at all times of day and night. Thanks. Z
Posted by: AAA | June 24, 2009 3:27 PM
David Zurawik
We are all here complaining about Jon and Kate but now it`s time for action. We must stand up for the kids because no one else seems to be.
I emailed TLC`s viewer relations department and told them I will boycott all TLC shows if they don't cancel Jon and Kate. I also told them that people are more likely to tell 4-5 people of a negative experience then a positive one. I feel so proud of myself that I took action rather than ranting. I even emailed Dr Phil as he's had Kate on his show a couple of time and asked for his help. I believe if we all email TLC to cancel this show are they really going to keep a show on that people are apposed to, certainly not.
So let`s unite David and stand up for the eight little ones and what kind of precedent is this showing for other families of multiples, me being one of them. We need to voice are concerns that kids shouldn't be exploited for any circumstances all for the mighty $$$.
To email TLC go to http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations. It`s a simple process but you have to select Jon and Kate plus 8 show. They will respond back and state that they will send your concerns to the executive. The email that comes back is viewer_relations@discovery.com but the email states they will not respond to the email.
Jon and Kate plus 8 can end if well all take action.
Thanks David for listening
Posted by: Sue | June 24, 2009 3:47 PM
For a few years now I've noticed that AP stories often have minor grammar or usage errors--mistakes that would have been rare to find on the newswire even 10 years ago. Journalists have always obsessed over being "first" but nowadays, it's at the cost of quality. We need to think, "What does it matter if gossipy blogs ABC or 123 are first, if it's likely they're wrong?" I'm still surprised that it was the AP that started the "separated for two years" mis-information cycle. Maybe one of the writers or editors is secretly part of the anti-Gosselin fanatical movement (who are a big part of the web hits and TV ratings boost everyone sees with all things Gosselin).
Posted by: Eydie | June 24, 2009 8:59 PM
Kudos! TLC needs to pull the plug for good and let this family work on their family dynamics. The show is way out of control...the perks and freebies have turned off a lot of faithful viewers. Their marriage fell apart on TV...what kind of effect will it have on the children down the line.
Posted by: Tricia | June 24, 2009 10:22 PM
Excellent article.
However, I beg to differ with the 3rd & 4th paragraph, since today the divorce papers were published and they do indeed state under Count I: Grounds for Divorce, #13--
"At the time of the hearing, Plaintiff will submit an affidavit stating that the parties have lived separate and apart for at least two (2) years."
This would be necessary if Jon were NOT to consent to a No-Fault divorce within 90 days of being served.
IMO, Kate must therefore be prepared to swear in an affidavit that #13 is true if necessary. (Highly doubtful, since they both seem to want a quickie divorce to move on to other lifestyles already in place. Some online attorneys say this can mean no sex and/or sleeping in separate rooms for 2 years.)
PS Y'all, please disregard People Magazine on this subject....IMO they are just mouthpieces for the "Kate's Great" PR spin...TLC 's effort to keep the gravy train running since Kate's WAY on board. No talent schmuck...good luck with that now she's lost her "straight MAN(?)", Jon.
And if they exit the kids to turn it into "Jon & Kate Debate n' Date"...just yucky to yuckier! The poor kids will still be part of that on camera or not.
Please scroll down to Grounds, Item 13: http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_documents/0624_jon_kate_02_wm.pdf
Posted by: Ainsley | June 25, 2009 2:50 AM
Z, thanks for clearing up AP's error about Jon&Kate's lengthy separation.
I have stopped watching the unworthy show since the first show of this season, but keep abreast of the news about Gosselin's situation daily. I don't know why this topic is fascinating to me as their life is in the slow-motion train wreck in last few months. TLC does not care about tv exploitation of 8 children as long as they make decent bucks.
I don't care if TLC is going to make another major announcement on their next show on August 3, but I will keep an eye on their divorce case as what the judge will do with the children. The court has a right to intervene the children if the parents are not fit. The judge can look at their finances to deal with.
Posted by: Greg | June 25, 2009 7:43 AM
I found the New York Times article(or Post) about the AP's error. I would blame on Kate for creating a misunderstanding about the length of separation. She actually checked a box on a divorce paper that they were separated for two years, BUT her lawyer said this week that they were separated for a few weeks. What a confusion. AP did its job at best in this very complicating situation.
Posted by: Greg | June 25, 2009 8:19 AM
If TLC cared about the Gosselin family at all, they would pull the plug on this show. Even though faithful viewers would hate to see it end, I think what they hate more is to see what was a wonderful marriage disintegrate. This is going to have a terrible impact on the kids if they go through with the divorce: http://bit.ly/zKASu
Posted by: Pristy | June 25, 2009 10:30 AM
I guess that it was reported that they were apart for two years because Kate had to mark that box since in Pennsylvania this is a requirement for divorce even though they had no been apart for this amount of time. Z, I think that you have treated them fairly. I can't say that for some of the TV stations. I never read the tabloids, can honestly say I never buy them. My girls and I were very upset that they are divorcing. We watched it from Maumee Bay in fact we missed a nice sunset to go inside. I am not sure why! Maumee Bay was awesome for anyone in the Oregon, Ohio area. Jet sking and the weather was terrific. Worth a visit if you have never been there.
Posted by: Sherry T. | June 25, 2009 2:42 PM
Your comment about whether the media knows the definition of gatekeeper anymore made me laugh. You already know the answer to that one. And yes, I agree that the show was a trainwreck right from the beginning. Good article.
Posted by: Casey | June 26, 2009 10:56 AM
Geeeee, I didn't think they looked that happy in HI. But really, don't we have our own lives to lead?......????
Posted by: divorce | June 27, 2009 11:33 PM
This need to be stopped as these 2 people are living high on the hog @ their childrens expense .........this is crazy!
Posted by: Ursula | July 20, 2009 5:49 PM