Key Takeaways
- The power of the press has been a significant force in shaping public opinion, particularly in the entertainment industry.
- The rise of social media has shifted the balance of power, allowing celebrities to connect with fans directly and promote their work without the need for traditional media.
- Despite this, many celebrities still recognize the importance of working with journalists and media outlets to generate hype and buzz around their projects.
- The relationship between celebrities and journalists can be complex and often antagonistic, with some celebrities expressing mistrust of the media and others feeling that they are not fairly represented.
- Unbiased and constructive journalism is essential for providing a credible and fair representation of celebrities and their work.
Introduction to the Power of the Press
The power of the press has always been a significant force, perceived as a tool that shapes public opinion and that can set changes in motion. For the longest time, in entertainment industries around the world, members of the media were looked at to deliver authentic reviews, to authoritatively certify ‘hits’ and ‘misses’, and to applaud excellence and critique mediocrity. However, with the rise of social media, the balance of power has shifted, and celebrities can now connect with fans directly and promote their work without the need for traditional media.
The Rise of Social Media
The rise of social media has had a profound impact on the entertainment industry, allowing celebrities to connect with fans directly and promote their work without the need for traditional media. Journalists’ interviews with celebrities were no longer the only way fans could get to know more about their favorite actors. They could connect with stars directly via their social media accounts, and stars no longer needed a newspaper or any other form of media to announce their upcoming projects. They could do so themselves via their personal social media pages. However, this shift has also led to a growing antagonism between celebrities and journalists, with some celebrities expressing mistrust of the media and others feeling that they are not fairly represented.
A Growing Antagonism
The antagonism between celebrities and journalists is particularly focused on the paparazzi, tabloids, and gossip mags with unfiltered opinions. Veteran Bollywood actress Jaya Bachchan recently voiced this prevailing sentiment when she burst out against the paparazzi, criticizing their behavior and questioning their education and qualifications. Her comments led to an uproar amongst India’s paparazzi, with many leading papers and news outlets deciding to boycott the Bachchan family. This incident highlights the complex and often contentious relationship between celebrities and journalists, with both sides feeling that they are not being treated fairly.
Do Stars Still Need the Media?
Despite the rise of social media, many celebrities still recognize the importance of working with journalists and media outlets to generate hype and buzz around their projects. Director and producer Wajahat Rauf points out that even online fluff pieces can help create hype for stars and their forthcoming movies, featuring their pictures on the red carpet and at launch events. Actor and singer Farhan Saeed also notes that he is not very fond of reviews on social media because there are times when he has felt that there is favoritism at play. He prefers to align with portals that he feels will help build awareness and will be honest. This highlights the importance of credible and unbiased journalism in promoting celebrities and their work.
The Need for Promotion
Even the most reticent of stars have been known to change their minds when a project of theirs needs to be promoted, and it is undeniable that stars and journalists can be mutually beneficial. Lately, though, a faction of celebrities is irked by the fact that journalists end up earning substantially from their interactions with stars. Journalists, on the strength of their star-studded networking, may be able to build their clout on Instagram, prompting brands to pay them for collaborations. Celebrity interviews may generate revenue for them on YouTube. Most stars who make appearances on TV talk shows get paid handsomely. This has led some celebrities to become reluctant to meet journalists and give them time, for free, for an article, an Instagram post, or a YouTube interview.
Beyond Public Relations
In a fiercely competitive world rife with egos and personal vendettas, there are celebrities too caught up in their fame to realize the need to be reviewed and interviewed by an unbiased platform. Sure, some journalists break the code of ethics and indulge in favoritism and bribery in order to assert their power and earn a quick buck. But then there are also the few good men — and women — committed to their craft and willing to celebrate it along with those who understand and appreciate it. Unbiased and constructive journalism is essential for providing a credible and fair representation of celebrities and their work. This is particularly important in the entertainment industry, where the line between reality and fiction is often blurred, and the public is eager to know more about their favorite stars.
A Lesson from Bollywood
In famous film lore, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was boycotted by several print publications back in the late ’70s because it was believed he had played a role in the Indian government’s censorship of the media. His name wouldn’t be mentioned when listing the stars in a movie, and his picture would get cropped out from coverage of film-related events. In retaliation, he also decided to ban the press, refusing to give interviews during his heyday as an actor. The rift was finally sorted when he suffered a near-fatal accident in 1982, during the filming of the movie Coolie. He later remembered the time of his media ban as "disheartening". This incident highlights the importance of the media in promoting celebrities and their work, and the need for a mutually beneficial relationship between celebrities and journalists. Stars may be colossally successful, but they can’t go about blowing their own trumpet. They need someone to clap for them, cheer for them — and to tell them when they are at fault. That’s where unbiased, constructive journalism comes in.
