Has the US media gone overboard with Queen Elizabeth coverage?
There is always too much of a good thing. It is human nature it seems. I think a lot of people who are not even fans of British royalty felt sadness and sympathy when her death was announced last week. But now, many days later, national news coverage of the 10 day "period of mourning" in Britain , is still pretty much an all day affair. The networks are there live for every movement of the casket, the anchors are in awe of the majesty of it all, and we have heard what seems like a thousand times how much the queen was loved and respected by all. Okay, we get it.
What is bugging me though is how much we are hearing about the "duties and responsibilities " of being a member of UK royalty. Charles has mentioned many times in the past week about the terrible burdens he now must endure to do his duty and fulfill his royal responsibilities. Coal miners and airline pilots have duties and responsibilities , not pampered kings.
Tags
Who is online
94 visitors
5 more days until the funeral.
Kudos JR. Well put.
I think the coverage was just about right.
Here was a member of the Royal family who managed to stay out of politics for 70 years and was a model of restraint.
I think the media found an objective story with universal interest.
If people are still watching it, then no- they haven't.
Anyone that doesn't see this is a shift in the world dynamic isn't paying attention. Her death has ramifications far beyond Great Britain; and will be felt for years after in the fallout.
The media shows us what they think their viewers want to see. Either they are wrong and will lose viewer share or blame the US public for the amount of coverage shown.
If you’re watching the 24 hour news networks, I’m not surprised. As far back as Tiananmen Square and the first Gulf War, these networks started to figure out that they could flog the shit out of one story for all day (or all week) and get ratings. They don’t even worry about covering anything else. If you’re actually interested in a variety of news stories, those networks are the last place you should look.
The regular broadcast networks all had it on this morning , bumping their regular programming.
If it’s the actual funeral, and it’s live, I guess I could see it. Otherwise, I don’t know what there is to cover.
Five more days until the funeral.
www.nytimes.com /2022/09/14/us/america-queen-death-royal-family.html
Was Elizabeth the Queen of America? This Week It Seemed Like It.
Michael Levenson 7-9 minutes 9/14/2022
More than two centuries after Americans fought for freedom from the British crown, their descendants are absorbed by the latest chapter in the royal family’s drama.
Sept. 14, 2022, 5:30 a.m. ET
There she was at the N.F.L. season opener on Thursday, her smiling face ringing the giant circular screen just before the Buffalo Bills defeated the defending Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams.
“Today, the world lost a beloved global figure with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II,” the announcer intoned as he implored thousands of cheering football fans to observe a moment of silence.
Brands, too, jumped in to offer condolences. Apple, for one, turned its home page over to a black-and-white photo of the young monarch in a jeweled crown.
“There is nothing more noble than to devote your life to the service of others,” Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, wrote on Twitter , paying tribute to the “life and dedication to duty of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.”
Not even sites of the American Revolution were immune to royal mourning. This week, Old North Church in Boston, where two lanterns were held high in 1775 as a signal from Paul Revere that the British were marching to Lexington and Concord, invited visitors to sign a condolence book for Queen Elizabeth II.
More than two centuries after the United States declared its independence from the British crown, the country was once again consumed with fascination by the royal family after the queen’s death on Thursday.
Nonstop news coverage of the funeral procession and the ascension of King Charles III drew countless Americans into the latest chapter in a centuries-old family drama that has been likened to the longest-running reality show or soap opera on earth.
“I’m already beginning to feel a bit of fatigue myself,” said Arianne Chernock, a professor of history at Boston University and scholar of modern Britain. “But the broader American interest in Queen Elizabeth, and the monarchy generally, is not at all surprising to me.”
This American fascination dates, in fact, to the beginnings of the country, when some of the founders distinguished between their grievances with the British Parliament and King George III, whom they saw as a “benevolent figure,” she said.
Image
When Queen Victoria was crowned in 1838, American newspapers “gobbled it up and couldn’t get enough details,” she said. “The American press was just gaga over the queen.”
In 1860, when Victoria’s son, the future King Edward VII, toured the United States, he was greeted by throngs, including young women hoping to meet the royal bachelor.
And when Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne in 1952, many American women watched with pride, seeing the young monarch as a “deliciously disruptive” figure who was breaking gender norms.
“They loved the fact that Prince Philip, her husband, had to take orders from the queen,” Professor Chernock said. “This was very different from their own households.”
Princess Diana catapulted the family into the modern celebrity era, tapping into notions of beauty, luxury, youth and lavishness, said Cele Otnes, co-author of “Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture.” In February, a poll found that Americans still had a more favorable view of Diana, 25 years after her death in a car crash, than any other member of the British royal family.
“But there is also an element of passion here, too,” Professor Chernock said. “It ties back to the history of the sovereign as father and mother to the nation. At one point, Americans were part of that family and, even though we’ve severed that political tie, I think that affective tie remains.”
Half my ancestors were of British descent, but as an American, I have never been able to relate to this fetish other Americans have for the British royals. Didn’t we found a country and fight two wars against that very concept of government?
It just strikes me as weird, and honestly, vaguely unAmerican.
There are probably multiple reasons for the strong interest:
- American fascination with celebrity
- American fascination with a wealthy lifestyle
- Interest in the historical, traditional aspects
We also have a close and ongoing 'special relationship with the UK" from our founding through support during our Civil War, and allies in WW I, WW II and every conflict we've fought in since less Grenada.
How about all the people who devoted their lives to her and her family?
Breaking News....
Queen Elizabeth is still dead.
I find the article and comments quite amusing. After all, she's not your Queen so why should you give a damn, and in fact why should you give a damn that it's of anyone else's interest? After all, something of this magnitude hasn't happened for 7 decades and probably won't happen again for at least a couple more decades, so why shouldn't the networks milk it? Other people in the world besides your "exceptional" Yankee selves might find all that pageantry, being a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, of enough interest even if it's not their Queen, but especially if it is, provided they're not anti-monarchists.
If I recall, there was 24-hour coverage when JFK was shot. Those of us who don't think "me, me, me" were certainly engaged with their TVs when that happened. I was, and he wasn't MY president. I can STILL see in my mind's eye the exact moment I learned he was shot. I was sitting about half way up the classroom in law school between classes when a fellow student, a big fellow who sported a broad mustache went to the dias and announced "President Kennedy's been shot." I am watching and hearing that very scenario again right this moment. I got on the subway to go to my Toronto home and heard the subway staff talking about it, and when I got there I got in my car and drove back to my parent's home for the weekend, and permanently sat in front of the TV - saw Ruby shoot Oswald when it happened. I watched John-John salute at the funeral. I'm not an American, but I was glued to the TV. I'm not an American but I have never dreamed of bitching about the amount of the coverage it had. But bitching about things is not absent from this site, eh?
The same when 9/11 happened. I had just dropped my wife off at her workplace, was driving back home and when I was in the dip of Mount Pleasant Avenue between Bloor Street and St. Clair Avenue the radio announcement of the first tower being hit was broadcast and when I got home yet again I was glued to the TV - I'm not an American, but I didn't bitch about the amount of the coverage, but bitching about things is not absent from this site, eh?
You should know.
-
I dont see any problem with the UK and Europe having wall to wall coverage of this. I do think to have this be all day long , day after day, on American tv is a bit much. Maybe a lot of Americans wish we never left England.
As far as Kennedy, he was a 45 or 46 year old man who had his brains blown out in a public motorcade by an assassin. Queen Elizabeth is a 96 year old who died peacefully. As news stories go they are hardly the same thing.
You missed the point I made in that her passing and the pageantry attached is a once in a lifetime occurrence and maybe a lot of people all over the world may be interested, and in any event the TV networks make their decisions based on what they consider best, and fortunately they don't ask NT members for advice.
I hate it when anyone’s natural death dominates a 24 hour news cycle. It’s like saying “this is how unimportant you are.” Maybe there should be a 24 hour death news channel for those who are so consumed by other peoples’ demise that they’d be eager to waste their day watching it.
Morning...we in the Great Southern Land don't really mind either way...
We all know where the off switch is, if required..🐨🐨
Well, you know how it is Shona. As Americans say, America is "EXCEPTIONAL", and what's good for General Bullmoose is good for the world.
Yes they're a strange mob at times..🐨🐨
Lol Shona same here in the Great Northern Land, when I don't want to hear about it anymore (several days ago) I simply changed the channel, turned off the radio, didn't read the article, etc. Seemed to be the earsiest solution.
Morning Free...
I will be watching it tomorrow night starts 8pm here to see her majesty's final journey home...
Haven't watched much else of it to be honest...it's on to late as we are 9 hours ahead of the Brits.
I won't be watching as I've lost interest in all this hoopla, but out of idle curiousity what's up tomorrow night that you're going to watch?
If you're 9 hours ahead of the Brits I guess that puts me 7 hours behind. Neat
Morning...it is the final conclusion of the whole mourning funeral process...the last service as the Queen will be reunited with Phillip and thats it...never to be seen again.
So as it is a once in a life time thing I will watch that... mainly out of curiosity and also out of respect...the Queen has done a fantastic job and she will be missed.
You will be about 16 hours behind us depending where you live in the States ..it's already Sunday morning here...
I think I'll want to watch the funeral service. Did you watch Diana's service, where Elton John sang "Candle in the Wind"? Don't know if they'll allow him to sing at this one.
I totally agree shona!
Avo Buzz..yes watched all of Princes Diana's service..
No I doubt very much Elton John will be singing..
With the Queen's final farewell I think it will be very strictly Royal tradition this time...and somehow I think that is most fitting...🥀
Thanks Shona but I don't live in the states I'm Canadian (no difference time zone wise)
Morning..
Ooops sorry Free...ahhh more cousin's across the Pacific...
We ( wife & I ) watched on TV from start of procession to absolute finish. Deeply moved by it all.
My wife ( non white Anglo/Saxon ) burst into tears for 30 mins after I told her of the Queen's passing on the morning news was broken. The Queen was deeply LOVED by many.
Yep stayed up to 2am watching it...
Will have an early night tonight... dragging the eyeballs a bit now...
The Queen will be missed and as the coffin slowly disappeared, really brought it home that was the last to be seen of Her Majesty...
Hello, shona -
I watched it, too. One of the most impressive portions was the Long Walk to Windsor Castle, IMO. From what I read, over 4 billion people from around the world watched the funeral on TV.
Did you see this article about a woman in Australia who made a sand art engraving to honor Queen Elizabeth on Adelaide's Brighton Beach? It was beautiful.
Morning Jasper..yes I did see the sand drawing...an amazing effort...
Yes the long walk was truly that..but no one missed a beat and all went off so well.
A fitting end to a great Monarch.
For anyone who is bored or frustrated with the media coverage, here are some obvious adult options:
Quite simple.
For the past year or two, the Daily Mail UK is one of the online publications I read daily just to see different world news or different slants on world news.
I have found it most interesting to see the power struggles for leadership in their Parliament over the last few months. Their political shenanigans seem to be similar to those in the US, but I am not familiar enough with the players (or playbook) to understand it fully. I do understand enough to know the political power is in Parliament and not the monarchy. There are already rumblings that King Charles III had better keep his feelings about climate change to himself. His job is to be the servant of the government, not its ruler.
I have never paid the Royal Family much attention except when Charles married Diana, and then Diana was killed in the car crash. However, because I have read the Daily Mail UK for many months, I became a fan of the Queen and learned enough about her life to give her diplomatic abilities the utmost respect.
When I read the Queen was under doctor supervision, I turned to Sky News Live to keep updated on the Queen's condition because I suspected the end was near.
I mourn with the people of the world who are paying tribute to a woman they admired and respected.
I rarely watch US news (or much TV for that matter) as I prefer to read the news most of the time, but I am surprised to read that the death of QEII was much more that a blurb to US mainstream media. Is the coverage informed, educational and respectful or slanted anti-monarchy? Understanding the agenda would explain why the Queen's death is receiving this much coverage.
Also, there are many Americans who admire the Queen's love of animals, and some have even met the Queen because of their shared love of animals.
Monty Roberts will be attending the Queen's funeral on Monday.
and
“The Man Who Listens to Horses” has had a well earned, amazing life.
Reminds me of the coverage of the death of Ted Kennedy, Then on NBC, the talking heads included Lester Holt, Savannah Guthrie, Andrea Mitchel Brian Williams, and Tom Brokaw.
Yeah, bet they spent much more time deifying Teddy than they did on Chappaquiddick.
Remember the National Lampoon Ad?
If Ted Kennedy Drove A Volkswagen Beetle , He Would have Been President.
It floats.
The way the body is built, we'd be surprised if it didn't.
The sheet of flat steel that goes underneath every Volkswagen keeps out water, as well as dirt and salt and other nasty things that eat away at the underside of a car. So it's watertight at the bottom.
And everybody knows it's easier to shut the door on a Volkswagen after you've rolled down the window a little. That proves it's practically airtight on top.
If it was a boat, we could call it the Water Bug. But it's not a boat, it's a car.
And, like Mary Jo Kopechne, it's only 99 and 44/100 percent pure.
So it won't stay afloat forever. Just long enough.
If he'd been smart enough to buy a Volkswagen, he'd never would have gotten into hot water.
Ted Kennedy is not the topic.
[deleted]
Yes.
I avoided every bit of the coverage that I could. But unless you hid in your closet this week you were going to learn something about what has gone on.
What I have concluded is that the only one I like out of the whole Royal Family is Harry.
And the way they have jerked around both Harry and Meghan this week leaves little doubt as to who has been at fault with regard to their falling out. (It wasn't their fault.)
Meghan might be a bit of a handful (ya think?) but normal families filled with human beings instead of velociraptors figure out how to make things work despite this or that quirky family member.
The television commentary at the funeral this morning is the most repetitive thing I've ever seen on television. Its mind blowing how often they are repeating the same half dozen themes over and over for hours and hours and hours.
Not sure what commentary you got but ours was brilliant...
[deleted]
[deleted]
Stop trolling
Were you watching the feed off of NBC News? They (Samantha Guthrie and Hoda Kotb) could not stop talking, I guess they are in love with their own voices. The PBS broadcast used a British feed and NO ONE TALKED through most of it. One brief comment as the coffin entered Westminster Abbey, and as it came out. Everything in between was ceremony only, as everyone there was meant to hear it.
I was watching David Muir on ABC
I'm willing to bet he was talking as much as NBC was. I'm very tired of our main-stream media, the national news is more in love with the sound of their own voices than in presenting the news. They all repeat each others themes and statements in an attempt to be witty, but it gets very old and tiring. I watch very little national news any more as it's mostly the talking heads bleating about.
I don't agree that the news went overboard with coverage, she was the longest reigning monarch and the only monarch that most of the British Empire has known. And she did it with grace and candor, maintaining her neutral standings. And from the stories I've read she had an amazing sense of humor. I would have loved to have a cup of coffee with her, she had seen and lived so much.
“…the funeral this morning…”
The difference between a state that has been around for millennia vs. our prepubescent attitudes. There is a place for decorum, for tradition, for reverence, and for succession. Not excusing the excesses of a monarchy, but in appreciation of a life based always on duty and devotion.
I do not object to an elaborate funeral for the queen. My issue is with the incredibly repetitive nature of the television commentary. The first 499 times, over the past 10 days, they talked about what a wonderful person she was were sufficient. The 500th time was a little much.
“My issue is with the incredibly repetitive nature of the television commentary.”
Agreed.
The best moments were when there was no commentary. The Queen’s piper walking down the hall perhaps being the most moving. All in all, the coverage was respectful of the ceremony.
Now, I’m afraid, comes the inevitable endless commentary…
Well done Britain...
You have done Her Majesty and the Commonwealth proud....
Sleep well, your duty is done and we thank you..We will miss you...
🇦🇺🇦🇺🥀🥀🇬🇧🇬🇧
Goodbye, QE2, who was already the Queen of England before I was born and somehow managed to almost outlive me.
And have fun, Britain, being known by your new name, "England."
Keep your English passports up to date so you can visit your friends in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, if you actually have any.
(Oh, wait that part of the story hasn't unfolded yet.)
Yes.
Well, it's all over, now you can have your media back. A once-in-a-lifetime event is done.
Globally, over four billion people chose to watch history being made. I was one of them and learned a lot.
As I have said here numerous times The fact of an elaborate funeral for Queen Elizabeth doesn't bother me. But people who don't seem to realize that for 11 days this was extremely repetitive, well I don't know what to say . I don't know what they were watching
I'm very glad that none of the media repetition bothered you, even though you took the time to seed 3 articles detailing and critiquing the procedures taken to lay Queen Elizabeth to rest.
It's no secret that media in the US also spend exorbitant amounts of time on what they want us to read/watch. I remember that when JFK was assassinated, TV and radio media were non-stop within broadcasting capacities of the time. I even had 3 days off from school (Friday, Monday, Tuesday), although I never learned why school was closed the day after his funeral.
What you don't seem to realize is that for 11 days this comment was extremely repetitive.
It's hard to match wits with you