After several long hours of research, I’ve decided I can barely tell the difference between gossip and news anymore. I mean, there is some information which is obviously news, such as school being closed due to snow or the results of the Olympics, but I think we’re approaching a point in which news and gossip are slowly blending. At least, on the Internet that is. Sure, you can always count on The Stute to bring you reliable information, but the line between relevant and entertaining has changed for me.
One of the stories I’ve been following recently is about Rachel Canning, an 18-year-old who left her parent’s home in November, and is currently suing them for the remainder of her high-school tuition and further support into college. The exact nature of the case is a tad fuzzy, but it appears that after a dispute about house rules, Canning left her parent’s home and has been living with a friend while still attending high school.
As per typical legal affairs, both sides are making stronger claims than strictly necessary. The parents’ lawyer claims that their daughter is constantly disobedient and voluntarily left when given the opportunity, whereas Canning’s lawyer claims the parents failed to provide a stable environment for the girl emotionally. Canning’s lawyer also claims that she does not have adequate funds to support her high school and college expenses, and that her parents evicted her for not following house rules, which qualifies as abandonment. As of the time of writing, the judge for the case has not made any rulings, fearing setting a legal precedent which would allow “12-year-olds to sue for an Xbox,” or “13-year-olds to sue for an iPhone.”
The story is, naturally, of interest to students and parents. The outcome of the case is also important because in court, all is based on previous legal cases. But realistically, the story is entertainment. Any good news story is overhyped and mentions different details depending on how the media wants the story to sound. In some versions, some media refers to Canning as “a high school honor student and cheerleader,” while others say she’s simply “18-year-old Rachel Canning.” Some stories cite that she’s been living with a friend whose father is paying for the court proceedings. Others omit this in favor of mentioning Canning’s past eating disorder, or reminding people that her father is Lincoln Park Police Chief Sean Canning.
In my opinion, news is telling people the facts. Selecting facts that seem to tell a better story is gossiping. And while I acknowledge that I write for a newspaper, I always do my best to report all of the important facts I can find.
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