Rumor Paper
Pop Media’s Attitude Toward Rumor
Chapter 11, Page 367
Rumors often begin with simple words such as “did you know” and “guess what I heard.” A rumor is defined as information that is unverified, circulated by people, about things that matter to us (DiFonzo 377). What do rumors consist of? First, rumors are information statements designed to tell us something. Second, rumors are never a simple, private thought; they are circulated by two or more people. Third, these circulated statements are significant to both the teller and those that hear it. They are acts of communication between a particular group. Finally, and most important of all, rumors consist of information that is not validated, as actual news is (DiFonzo 376). Rumors frequently begin with a hint of truth, but facts are not checked, sources are unreliable, and the truth gets lost as the rumor is spread. In this age of pop media, including television, radio, and internet, rumors spread at lightning speed and results are immediate.
In 1969, a young writer named Fred LaBour printed a rumor about Paul McCartney’s death. He became a bit famous because of the rumor and was asked to appear on a television show. His nerves got the best of him and he admitted to the television host that the story was completely fabricated. The host, F. Lee Bailey, replied, “Well, we have an hour of television to do. You are going to have to go along with this” (Glenn 367). Pop media does not care if a rumor is valid, as long as it tells a good story and creates publicity.
Gregory Rodriguez states in his article, “Truth is in the Ear of the Beholder” that “rumors and conspiracy theories can only thrive in the minds of people who are predisposed to believe them” (347). People tend to believe things that agree with a viewpoint, meet wants and needs, and follow particular beliefs and biases. Every rumor has a target audience and pop media has a way to reach each and every one of them.
Robert Knapp says, in his article “A
Chapter 11, Page 367
Rumors often begin with simple words such as “did you know” and “guess what I heard.” A rumor is defined as information that is unverified, circulated by people, about things that matter to us (DiFonzo 377). What do rumors consist of? First, rumors are information statements designed to tell us something. Second, rumors are never a simple, private thought; they are circulated by two or more people. Third, these circulated statements are significant to both the teller and those that hear it. They are acts of communication between a particular group. Finally, and most important of all, rumors consist of information that is not validated, as actual news is (DiFonzo 376). Rumors frequently begin with a hint of truth, but facts are not checked, sources are unreliable, and the truth gets lost as the rumor is spread. In this age of pop media, including television, radio, and internet, rumors spread at lightning speed and results are immediate.
In 1969, a young writer named Fred LaBour printed a rumor about Paul McCartney’s death. He became a bit famous because of the rumor and was asked to appear on a television show. His nerves got the best of him and he admitted to the television host that the story was completely fabricated. The host, F. Lee Bailey, replied, “Well, we have an hour of television to do. You are going to have to go along with this” (Glenn 367). Pop media does not care if a rumor is valid, as long as it tells a good story and creates publicity.
Gregory Rodriguez states in his article, “Truth is in the Ear of the Beholder” that “rumors and conspiracy theories can only thrive in the minds of people who are predisposed to believe them” (347). People tend to believe things that agree with a viewpoint, meet wants and needs, and follow particular beliefs and biases. Every rumor has a target audience and pop media has a way to reach each and every one of them.
Robert Knapp says, in his article “A
Cited: DiFonzo, Nicholas. “How Rumors Help Us Make Sense of an Uncertain World.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 375-86. Print. Freedman Samuel G. “In Untruths About Obama, Echoes of a Distant Time.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 369-86. Print. Glenn, Alan. “Paul is Dead!” (said Fred). Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 363-67. Print. Knapp, Robert. “A Psychology of Rumor.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 360-62. Print. Mikkelson, Barbara and David. “Tastes Like Chicken.” Snopes.com. Web. 20 Feb. 2013. Peters, Jeremy W. “A Lie Races Across Twitter Before the Truth Can Boot Up.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 37173-62. Print. Salmans, Sandra. “Fighting that Old Devil Rumor.” Writing and Reading Across the Curriculum. (2013): 356-59. Print.