Did Meghan Shun Kate? Is Prince Harry Unhappy?
Probably Not, But We Can Individually Fight Back Against Bad Journalism
Every day I get tagged in a post or tweet from someone asking if (x) news about Kate Middleton (Princess of Wales) or Prince Harry or Meghan Markle (the Duchess of Sussex) is true. I’m not here to solve British Royal Family-related mysteries like some Frankenstein-esq combobulation of Nancy Drew and Harriet the Spy. Typically there’s no mystery at all. The problem is the state of journalism and a lack of media literacy.
Let’s get Back to Basics, like Christina Aguilera, except I’ve never worn…whatever this is. I’m not shaming X-Tina, I’m just not sure if there’s an apt way to describe upper-thighless…chaps?
There are structural issues in media—consolidation, $$$, etc.—that we can’t change overnight. What can we change? We can change how we individually consume news. Media literacy. It’s a muscle we have to train, but I promise you, once you get good at spotting the bullshit, doom scrolling will not have the same impact on you.
Let’s Start Off Small: Meghan and Kate
What do you mean she didn’t mention her white SIL at an Afro Women and power talk!? This is like saying Kim Kardashian didn’t mention Taylor Swift among her favorite female musicians. Once you read (skim, really) the piece, you realize that Meghan only mentioned her mother and daughter. (Although a list that includes, I don’t know, Maya Angelou, Gloria Steinem, Serena Williams, and Kate Middleton really rolls off the tongue.) Not for nothing, Kate isn’t around Meghan! There was kind of that whole leaving the U.K thing. How can you write articles about the SIL’s not speaking and then this? It is a non-story. Speaking of non-stories…