Local News Headlines May Fuel Eating Disorders

The media is are desperate to make money on the web. And web technology allows the media to track viewer trends in a far more sophisticated way than ever before. That combination leads the media to appeal to the very lowest forms of human curiosity. Over on our sister blog,...

By Thomas Francis

May 4, 2010

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The media is are desperate to make money on the web. And web technology allows the media to track viewer trends in a far more sophisticated way than ever before. That combination leads the media to appeal to the very lowest forms of human curiosity. Over on our sister blog, Daily Pulp, Bob Norman is lamenting the new trick being played by the Sun-Sentinel's site: posting a gallery of female inmates who want letters.

But every now and then, the new trends cross with old-fashioned news stories, as you can see above in the screen grab this morning from the local ABC affiliate, WPLG-10. You'll see that the fourth headline down declares that "Technology may fuel eating disorders." A legitimate, newsworthy concern, but the very next headline is: "Florida Bred: Playmates Born in the Sunshine State." A 30-picture online gallery of Barbie Doll-thin, nearly nude women. Basically, the kind of technology that just might fuel eating disorders.

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