September 29, 2017

Will soft news save the news?

Smack in the middle of front page of the NYT website is the most absurdly soft-news set of headlines I have ever seen:



I believe this is a reaction to Donald Trump.

I'm feeling vaguely insulted by the phrase "Smarter Living," because how dumb am I supposed to be to need information on these subjects — one of which is too stupid to want to know about and the other of which is too ridiculously obvious to not to know already?

31 comments:

Ann Althouse said...

But let me know if people start putting eyelash extensions on their babies.

James said...

Gives you an idea of what the NYT thinks of it's audience.

Sebastian said...

"I'm feeling vaguely insulted by the phrase "Smarter Living," because how dumb am I supposed to be" No, you're not supposed to be dumb. You're just supposed to be, wait, what's the word, cis female? Your umbrage is their business model.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Anyone else notice local TV news is this way, too. Coddling, preaching. Do-gooder, emotionalism... instead of news.

Media hide and mask all democrat corruption, hype and lie about any (R), then slide into the soft stuff - "experts now say that holding your baby on the left side of your breast will help baby become more self-sufficient as an adult." nonsense..
There's always some "expert" that was pulled out of someones ass.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

Certainly, The NYT cannot discuss the Menendez corruption trial.

Certainly, not on the front page.

The Bergall said...

Independent thinking is hard...........

Do they actually read / believe this gibberish?

Bob Boyd said...

The strong emotional reaction to this headline has me wondering, could Althouse be struggling with acknowledging to herself that she is maybe just a little bit eyelash extension curious?

exhelodrvr1 said...

Well, the majority of their "hard news" stories about Trump end up being proven false, or significantly exaggerated, which has further injured their already low credibility. Which eventually has an economic impact. Unfortunately for the Times, they will probably never be able to regain the trust of conservatives, and if they start reporting "hard news" honestly, they will lose the left. So they are probably desperate.

Brookzene said...

I'm feeling vaguely insulted by the phrase "Smarter Living,"

America the aggrieved.

Laslo Spatula said...

"Why a Baby's Connection With a Parent Matters"

What an adorable baby.

What an adorable white baby.

White baby White baby White baby.

New York Times: Smarter Living: White Baby.

We get it, NYT.

I am Laslo.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The word "Expert" is an Orwellian Hillary word. Rigorously reject it.

Amadeus 48 said...

Here is the media game plan for covering a corruption trial involving a Democrat official such as Menendez. The steps outlined are to be taken as needed:
--Don't identify the official as a Democrat.
--Misidentify him or her as a Republican. (correction to be published either (1) never or (2) a minimum of ten days later).
--Devote one sixth of the space to the scandal that would be accorded to a Republican.
--Upon conviction, write editorials denouncing both parties and the Tea Party. If a Republican is also involved, denounce the GOP as the party of the rich and well-connected. Never, under any circumstances, condemn the Democrat Party alone.
--Follow-up pieces focus on the personal tragedy of this public official who wanted to do so much good, but was destroyed by the system. Focus on the pain his or her family feels, particularly children up to the age of 35. (see Chelsea Clinton). Never, under any circumstances, operate from the premise that the Democrat politician is a cheap crook who robbed the people.
--Repeat as needed.

Amadeus 48 said...

The NYT is headed for an omnibus story about the advantages of eyelash extensions as an aid to baby bonding.

Bob Boyd said...

From the look on the baby's face it's just been handed off to the nanny.
They should do a piece on why a parent's connection to the nanny matters. Paying for your nanny's eyelash extensions can be a good start.

Paddy O said...

Why is parent/baby bonding too stupid a topic to want to know about?

Caligula said...

Well, "soft news" like this does naturally segue into advertising (stuff for baby, cosmetics, etc.). And while the NYT seems to prioritize its political mission above profit maximization, it is still a business and presumably prefers profitability to bankruptcy?

Wince said...

Amadeus 48 said...
The NYT is headed for an omnibus story about the advantages of eyelash extensions as an aid to baby bonding.

You're freaking me out. I'm recalling a long faded memory of my mother holding me and tickling me with her eyelashes on my cheek and neck.

I think I'm going to cry. Seriously.

Fernandinande said...

Babies prefer the terry-cloth mother even though the wire mother has food.

Todd said...

one of which is too stupid to want to know about and the other of which is too ridiculously obvious to not to know already

Apparently the NYT really knows their average reader...

buwaya said...

Perhaps the purpose of the ads is somewhat subliminal.
Democrats are finally figuring out that they need to start breeding Democrats, hence Democrat women get a bit of suggestive influence to get to work on this. Eyelash extensions are a proxy message to try make themselves look good to males, and the baby, of course, is obvious. The words are irrelevant.

buwaya said...

I wonder what would happen if all the womens magazines and websites had a baby picture week. Would there be a measurable effect on births 9-12 months later?

Nonapod said...

Interesting theory, buwaya. But I don't know if the upperclass white liberal birthrate will improve much as a result of a few subliminal messages. It brings to mind the intro to idiocracy. Perhaps these critters need to be put on the endangered species list.

Michael said...

You're awfully cranky this morning! But yes, "smarter living" is annoying. From the same people (or class of people) that brought you smart diplomacy and smarter health care. How come all this smarter stuff never turns out to be, well, smarter?

Matt Sablan said...

Surely there must be some middle ground for day time news between feel good soft news and "So, how's the plastic surgery feel?"

Christy said...

My last few experiences clicking on soft news links at the NYT have been to thinly disguised advertisements. The last was in the food section wherein I learned of a specific model of a specific brand of a pressure cooker to allow me to get formerly 3 hour meals on the table in 45 minutes. The NYT is desperate for revenue.

Martin said...

Ah, but if you are a 27-year old reporter who literally knows nothing, as Ben Rhodes described them, you may care deeply about eyelashes, and the idea that babies need parents would be very radical after a lifetime of indoctrination to believe the opposite.

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n.n said...

The NYT is trolling with an advertisement for a baby's elevator speech, which will determine if her life is Planned or spared. It's a critical moment where a connection between a woman and her baby is formed, that will decide her Posterity's viability.

Darrell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Darrell said...

Now the Cubans are trying to corrupt US elections.