Attack of the "idiot culture"

Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein says our celebrity-driven news media have fostered an “idiot culture” that devalues public affairs journalism.

This might sound like sour grapes from the old guard, but it’s hard to argue with Mr. Bernstein when this morning's lead headlines on AOL.com are “Which TV shows get hit by strike,” “Katie Holmes runs New York marathon,” and this stunning piece of investigative journalism: “Croc Shoe Fad May Fade.” No, really? Are you sure?

The circulation figures are telling:

People 3.75 million weekly
Newsweek 3.10 million weekly

In that sense, AOL.com’s headlines are right in tune with the pulse of America. The central government of nuclear-armed Pakistan is self-destructing before our eyes? Who cares? Katie finished a marathon!

And if you think “idiot culture” is too harsh a term, then take a look at the comments left by AOL readers after an AOL.com news article. Any article, it doesn’t matter. The level of dialogue, if you could call it that, is third-grade schoolyard, full of bullying taunts, racism and misogyny. The ignorance is blinding, the conversation so degraded as to make contributing to it feel pointless.

Who is responsible for this? We all are. And only we can change it, by demanding better from the media -- and each other.