Nuance and the Media

As a media researcher, the unfortunate death of Robin Williams should have been right in my wheelhouse.  It had all the makings of an interesting case study: mental illness, the culture of celebrity, the media's love for soft news, and celebrities thinking they are scientists/healthcare professionals.

But instead, I was left feeling cold. Not only because I often feel diminished by the death of any true talent but I knew that once the media heard that he had early-onset Parkinson's disease, there the story would begin and end.

The American media does not do nuance well--is not sexy to create a picture of the comedian as a complex individual who eventually lost his battle with mental illness. Is much easier to create a causal relationship between the disease many do not understand and the decision to take one's own life.

Whatever reason or reasons that Mr. Williams had for ending his own life is his personal choice. But for those who are agenda setters and media producers, let's be smarter about our conclusions. As members of the media, there should be a sense of both responsibility and discretion.  I am quite aware that nuance doesn't play well in print, video, and soundbite; but I would like to occasionally be surprised by an editorial choice or perspective of a talking head.

Mr. Williams entertained and inspired millions of people over his career. Robin was a complicated man and his life and subsequent death deserve better than the coverage they have received. Let's hold our media accountable--we need to stop thinking of stories in 30 second packages and instead report on life as it is, complicated.