Royals and American media coverage

[ButteryPuffin]

Saw this cover posted on Twitter and noted that it seems the tabloids do indeed exist in the US (amazing, huh?). This is pretty much what you'd expect from the source, and I think it's pretty deplorable, but I am interested to see how the American media in general cover the presence of the former royals who've now arrived to make their home there. Of course we can discuss their coverage of other Royals too and related topics. All welcome.

Link to cover story - please note I'm not endorsing it, I'm just sharing it:
66.media.tumblr.com/79912301ec9c6e0f2cbf902a7a42a540/da60395e577b1897-aa/s540x810/61af854a1eed0d02b6bfa026133d16f8bdb87f41.jpg

I have just woken up and seen this mathanxiety.

Let me get this straight, help me out here. You are trying to justify an American news channel leading it's international and national coverage with a story about Harry and Megan? Particularly one driven by an on air strop after a royal trip across the global.

Incredible. If that isn't reaching" I don't know what is.

It's not 'an American news channel' if it's a local Chicago affiliate of one of the major broadcasters. If it's not a local Chicago affiliate news station and you're talking about the nationwide broadcaster's half hour after the local news, then you don't need to mention the city where you saw it.

And it's Meghan with an H, not Megan.

To judge by your tone and wording, you seem quite invested in all of this. Any particular reason?

Myimaginarypenguinhasfleas
How many more do you want?
Is there an acceptable number?

Thanks for that headline Winterlife

I think it went wrong afterwards due to the tabloid press making more sales with tales of a royal bust up instead of happy endings and also the undercurrent of racism in this country - it's much easier to claim she made some infringement of royal protocol than to say black people getting uppity are not acceptable.

And 'justify'?

Whatnow?

Where?

This is all very third degree first thing in the morning...

In response to @CanIHaveAPenguinPlease

Myimaginarypenguinhasfleas
How many more do you want?
Is there an acceptable number?

Entirely up to you, mathanxiety. Obviously the more you can quote, the more substance that gives to your assertion.

Lol, are you 'Meghan' or a mate of hers? Not sure why you care I left the 'h' out. Shall we call her Rachel? Or is it Rachael?

The point is of all the stories that could have been selected, based on all the things that were happening in the US let alone internationally, they led on a one about the Sussex's and framed it as Britain's great political crisis. That is trash news and it's hysterical Harry and Megan are trying to make the case their lives will be freer in LA.

Then the news was right back to the local police blotter and fire station activity.

I can't even imagine typing out that ridiculous paragraph on Brexit.

Seriously - and yes I am angry. The absolutely appalling US media coverage has contributed to a very narrow world view in a sizeable population of the world's people. These people vote and elect presidents whose policies have wide ranging consequences beyond the US.

The main news channels people rely on here wherever they live in the UK - BBC, ITV- give the majority of the population a reasonable chance of knowing what is going on in Britain and the world.

Yes channels like PBS have grown and there are pockets of excellent print media you can pay for, Luke here. But so has Fox and the main broadcaster coverage is limited and that is if you can even stomach all the ads.

So, let me get this straight: a "coterie" is nothing to do with being a fashion designer then?

Most of the English Cypriots I know get their news from the times & the bbc - not for nothing are British born Cypriots called BBC’s!! It relates to us as BBCs & also The BBC. I’m sure there are others who read the other papers and get their news from itv but I don’t them.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are 'taking a few months' off before their plans to launch a brand and charity because they 'need a break', a royal expert has claimed

Omid Scoobie (as I call him) in the Mail. But what do they need a break FROM?

Another break? A few months?
Coupled with the publicised financial woes it makes one wonder...

Ok, I am not done with this. Seneca has stated that there is an anti-Meghan coterie trying to push a view that US tabloids are more influential than UK.

1. I have not found any posts pushing this agenda. If not Seneca cannot point to any, they should apologise.

2. I take offence to the term anti-Meghan coterie. There should be an apology for this personal attack.

3. there seem now to be debate on what the influence the US media has compared to the UK one. That is a sensible discussion.

Math, I don’t know if you are posting because you are Seneca’s friend, on behalf of Seneca or if you are Seneca under a different user name, but whatever.

You have provided a lot of information regarding US media. That is a great first step. However, I think we lack publication numbers, absolute and percentage (and same for UK) and also how US people are influenced compared to UK people.

I don’t have the time to do too much work on this, but I did come across a post on the influence topic.

miappi.com/social-media-use-uk-versus-usa/

Based on the link above, I hypothesise that there are cultural differences between the UK and the US in terms of social media use and possibly also traditional media use.

I was watching the queens speech yesterday and the gist I got was that we all have a part to play in fighting the Coronavirus. It could be shelf stacking, food delivery, nhs work, social distancing etc. It will be difficult, but we will get through it and meet again in this world or next. My impression from the Sussex reaction is that it is a mental health crisis and suggestions for how you can tackle this and empower yourself, maybe by train online as a counsellor. I have seen similar differences in the past.

Based on that I hypothesise that there may be a generational difference where the older generation is more about duty whereas the younger generation may be more about personal empowerment.

I further hypothesise that there should be a different media strategy depending on which age bracket and which geographic demographic you are trying to target.

I have seen no evidence of this thoughtful media strategy, especially in terms of targeting the UK demographic. Neither in the Instagram posts, nor in the leaks through friends. I don’t this it is an unreasonable guess that this may play a part in the bad publicity and sentiments towards the Sussexes.

I don’t think that this post is in any way an anti-Meghan post or a racist post.

I am fed up with posters assuming that any negative comment is an anti-Meghan agenda driven by a coterie of uneducated, subconsciously biased people.

Exactly. Time and time again everyone lumped in together. And sneered at.

Maybe she'll come back on today and explain herself. I think she's in the US.

I think it went wrong afterwards due to the tabloid press making more sales with tales of a royal bust up instead of happy endings and also the undercurrent of racism in this country - it's much easier to claim she made some infringement of royal protocol than to say black people getting uppity are not acceptable.

That and the obvious double standard when it came to Meghan. All it takes is pulling up the tabloid press coverage of Kate (or any royal) and of Meghan doing the same thing as evidence.

US tabloid and UK tabloid differences I find interesting. In the US, most celebrity and tabloid news is usually taken with a grain of salt, seen as drivel that people read to pass the time while standing in a queue or to see what nonsense is posted in it for kicks. It’s seen in most cases, for people who get off on unsubstantiated drama because their own lives are boring.

Plus, celebrities in the US imo are quicker to speak out against any lies that effects them negatively, and get the lawyers involved.

Unfortunately when it comes to Harry and Meghan, some US media is using the British tabloids as their source for information, not knowing that their getting their information from the UK equivalent of the National Enquirer.

I do think Harry and Meghan may have a better chance near her mum. If you look at many celebrities living in the States, many of them you don’t hear about unless they are promoting something, did an interview, posted something on social media, had a life change (wedding, baby, break-up etc), or fighting with someone (usually another celebrity). You may see a photo of them doing everyday things, but that is about it.

Math anxiety has been around a long time. I can vouch for her.

However I think she is wrong, certainly on the racism element.

We can each only report on our own experience. However I think there is a general issue of Americans viewing things through their own prism of identity and race politics.

I for one was initially pleased H met M. She seemed to bring a bit more to the table than your standard dim aristo and Harry seemed happy. I wondered about those strange angular poses foes for the camera and the gleaming teeth, and did not particularly like the 50 shades of taupe wardrobe, but I was not particularly invested and did not watch the wedding.

Since then things have got more interesting. I am a planner, and things seem so unplanned. Some of Meghan actions mirror behaviour I have seen within my own family. One of my DC attends the same University that Meghan went to. (He is likely to say “Meghan who” and return to discussions around American and British politics.) I assume we, in part, use soap opera story lines to make sense of real life dilemmas.

As for racism, Mathsanxiety may not understand how divisive the Brexit was. “Racist” was the standard insult levelled at leavers, no matter what reasons or experience some might have. My own view is that there is now a pretty large scale rejection of American identity politics especially around race and gender, largely because most of us want to progress with our lives and get on with our neighbours, colleagues and school mates. Poor Meghan has missed the zeitgeist, and has become exposed as a largely dull, over ambitious bit part actress. I would have no problem with H&M settling in the shires, or even the back woods and leading straightforward constructive lives. They would earn my respect. But no, nothing to admire (or hate) at the moment. It’s all rather sad, and I have no wish to pay for them.

This is condescending too (from mathanxiety) And maybe the UK in general isn't all that important to Chicago or even to the US? Shock, horror, the UK isn't as important in the US as it thinks it is.

"Shock, horror" - what an immature turn of phrase. It's not about the UK thinking it's important to the US; it's about providing news that is happening in the world. Is it any wonder people have the perception of Americans being insular? Of course, not all are; many have a thirst for knowledge but why try to justify the lack of news on Brexit as the UK not being important to Americans, or as important as it thinks it is. Of course it should be of interest to Americans in terms of trade deals; how insular to think it's not important.