In a time when the media takes a great deal of blame for nearly everything it does, it's important to look objectively at the situation and try to find something the media is doing right.
Take the recent story of bride-to-be Jennifer Wilbanks, a.k.a. "the runaway bride." Wilbanks sent the nation into a search frenzy after she was reported missing days before her wedding.
Although her tale of being kidnapped was later found to be false, it was a believable tale. But the only person at fault for Wilbanks' untimely disappearance was the bride-to-be herself. Yes, she faked her kidnapping, causing panic for her family, stress in the eyes of millions of Americans and thousands of dollars worth of police resources (and taxpayer money) to be wasted.
Immediately following the news of her embarrassing status, critical eyes fell upon the nation's media outlets. How could the media have been so stupid? Why did it flash this woman's picture all over the nation when she wasn't in any real danger?
But here's where the media did its job. Logically, there's a better chance of finding someone if more people know the person is missing. Sometimes all it takes is a photo in a newspaper or on the evening news to get the word out to the right people.
It's not fair to blame media outlets for making a big fuss over a woman who might have been in horrible danger. It is, however, fair to blame the woman for her own irresponsible actions, but it's important to point out that Wilbanks is neither the first person to get cold feet before a wedding, nor the first person to fake their own kidnapping.
That said, a new wave of merchandise capitalizing on Wilbanks' colossal mistake proves the media's fixation with the runaway bride wasn't completely unwarranted. The American people have literally eaten up Wilbanks' error in judgment. Pappy's Peppers in Lawrenceville, Ga. has sold more than 10 cases of its newest habanero condiment, aptly named "Jennifer's High Tailin' Hot Sauce."
As Runaway Bride action figures and a piece of toast carved with Wilbanks' image are being sold on eBay for $15,400, maybe the media isn't entirely unjust in its obsession with the story.
Many Americans are in love with other peoples' hardships (i.e. talk shows and reality TV), not to mention an obsession for useless crap. The media started out doing its job - making the nation aware of a woman who could have been in danger.
It's likely Wilbanks' story would have fallen to the wayside had it not been a slow news day, but after she was found, the media followed through on another one of its responsibilities - catering to its audience.
