Wednesday morning, soon-to-be former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was released from prison in Kansas and returned home where he will serve out the final two months of his 23-month sentence for bankrolling, and participating in, a dog fighting operation in Virginia.
CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, ESPNEWS, and of course every local news crew from Richmond to Washington, were on hand to make sure that we saw Vick return home to Hampton, Va.
The question is this: Is Michael Vick really worth more airtime than President Obama?
Over 200 people were covering Vick’s return home.
I have been covering news on and off for almost 30 years and I am stunned at what passes for news these days.
Tell you what, call me when Vick signs a new NFL contract — which could happen a little later this summer if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell lifts his suspension — but until then, let him alone. He is about as much a news item as Brett Farve getting surgery for his injured arm. Welcome to the instant information age where we live in a churn and burn 24/7/365 news cycle. Most of us have the news scrolling across our computer screens and always in our face.
We will now see Vick get his newspaper, perhaps take a stroll around his yard or maybe toss a football with friends. Meanwhile, news operations will be camped outside his home driving the neighbors crazy and soaking up enough electricity to actually power the entire city of Hampton.
America’s obsession with celebrity has blurred the lines of real news and what passes for news. The 24-hour news networks and tabloid journalism shows like “TMZ” and “Inside Edition” can’t get enough of stories like Vick. He will be in the opening block with Lindsey Lohan and Brittany Spears.
Maybe I am old school when it comes to what constitutes a story, but covering Vick leaving prison is a legit news story. Having news crews camping out on Vick’s lawn for the next two months is not news — it is being lazy. Instead of working on breaking news, doing investigative work, these folks would rather set up outside Vick’s house and talk about what might be going on inside.
I have a remote so I can — and will — turn off the Michael Vick Show for now. Here’s hoping you will too.
Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this! on washingtonexaminer.com.
