Sensationalizing Information
Nowadays, information is a valuable asset that most media businesses seek. While individuals prefer to have the facts straight, businesses can sensationalize or depress any data in order to profit from it. It is uncommon to provide complete information. People are always intrigued by a hint of mystery. Occasionally, news can be sensationalized by banking in the name of well-known people. This is the case with the tunnels being built in California. Several people were enthralled by this basic truth because Elon Musk is known for revolutionary ideas. If the digging was done by another person, it won't be as interesting as it is. Thus, the media and all others who are involved in the business of information have taken advantage of this fact and sensationalized the information relayed to the public. This paper would critically analyze how the information regarding the Elon Musk tunnels in California was disseminated to the people and why it was done that way. While the fact is that such event is only local in nature, it seems to have an added global sensation because of the person who commissioned it. It may have add improvements to the world, but one wouldn't really know that unless it is fully disclosed. Through the immense international popularity of Elon Musk, the media have sensationalized the digging of a local tunnel in California in order to cater to a global audience.
Sensationalizing Elon Musk's Involvement
Elon Musk's name is always connected to the many accomplishments he has done not only for America but also for the rest of the world. He is a household name in all parts of the globe and people would always be interested if he is involved with something. One article have literally sensationalized it by using historical accounts regarding the competition of America and Russia on who can bore the deepest hole on the ground (Ou 1). It was even mentioned that such cause may one day lead Musk to a possible journey to the center of the earth (Ou 1). All of these facts are assumptions and are meant to sensationalize the coolness of such feat. The very title of that article was actually related to the branding of Tesla as a cool concept (Ou 1). Through such information, anyone who finds such data cool would surely be enticed to read further. People might get excited by the fact that Elon Musk is digging a hole in the ground without really knowing what it is for. All they know is that the mind behind Paypal, Tesla, and SpaceX is the one commissioning it. A writer for such article could easily take advantage of Musk and his accomplishments. Since he is known for grandiose visions that translated into global sensations, everything he does can be taken as an international event. People are probably looking forward to another feat by Musk that would accomplish something better for all of humanity.
Comparisons to Innovations
For some reason, the digging of the tunnel has been compared to numerous innovations. It is noted that while others took their technology to the skies, Musk was going underground (Ou 1). One might ask what these innovations are. It includes the use of drones for delivery and the creation of hovercrafts which used to be an object of science fiction films. Those things are cool and can really affect humanity. It was mentioned that Uber will have electric hovercrafts and Amazon is working on a drone delivery technology (Ou 1). One may ask why these facts were compared to Elon Musk digging a tunnel in California. It can still be considered a global event because of the commissioner, but why would one compare it to more innovative solutions? Again, we were caught by the sensationalization of facts done by the media.
Adding Mystery to the Tunnel
One may ask what is really inside the tunnel. It can be noted that rocks and soil would be prominent in it. The team in charge of the project actually admitted to some of the problems that include not knowing what they would encounter in the ground (Marshall 1). This fact can be used by the media to add a bit of mystery to the tunnel. While it looks like a grand project, some team members admitted to not knowing what they are doing (Marshall 1). Again, the media capitalized on this statement to add mystery and interest in the tunnel digging in California.
Tunnel as a Solution for Traffic Challenges
The tunnels were being dug to prevent the increasing challenges of traffic in Los Angeles, California (Huff 1). Some proponents say that the project could be a major solution for urban humanity (Marshall 1). While such statement may be sarcastic, it could be noted that it has done its purpose. It was able to sensationalize the tunnel digging as a possible major advancement in humanity. Others argue that it could really be a very good solution that could be done at other parts of the world with the same traffic situation (Marshall 1). However, there are those who defend the fact that there are other possible alternatives in alleviating such condition (Huff 1). Others are actually suggesting better solutions like having people pay for freeway tolls (Huff 1). Such debate has actually created another kind of sensationalism in the global media. Traffic is actually a common problem in the world, especially in third-world countries. Through the debates created by the sensationalism of Musk's tunnels, it actually stirred up into an international event. While others already accept such project as a global one, it is still rooted in the fact that such a solution can only solve traffic in California. We can't take away the fact that other parts of the world would most likely copy the tunnel digging if it will be successful just because it was Elon Musk who commissioned it. However, we can't reject the fact that it was sensationalized in some way in the media. If this solution was done by an unpopular man or a politician in America, the news would most likely stay in the area. Since it was Elon Musk who initiated it, the event became global.
The Media's Motivations
The media relayed the information in that manner to possibly take advantage of the tunnel project being related to the global brand of Elon Musk. By making an article about it and sensationalizing it, they are able to get readers and subscriptions. Magazines and news companies would obviously earn from this. For those who wrote the article on the internet, it is obvious that they are doing it for clicks. Through such action, they can earn through advertisements on their respective websites. The media manipulated information for their own advantage by making it sensational through creating information that would appeal to an international audience. In this case, it does not really matter if Musk is keeping some secrets in the tunnels or not. The fact of the matter is that it is purely hyped to reach a global audience, and it succeeded in catching the eyes of people worldwide.
Works Cited
Huff, Herbie. "There's only one way to fix LA's traffic, and it isn't Elon Musk's tunnels. We need tolls - lots of them" LA Times, 3 Mar 2017, http://www.latimes.com/opinion/livable-city/la-ol-traffic-toll-lane-freeway-20170303-story.html. Accessed 16 Mar 2017.
Marshall, Aarian. "Inside the 'Tunnel' Elon Musk is already digging under Los Angeles" Wired, 30 Jan. 2017, https://www.wired.com/2017/01/inside-tunnel-elon-musk-already-digging-los-angeles/. Accessed 16 Mar 2017.
Ou, Elaine. "Can Elon Musk really make tunnels as cool as Tesla?" AFR, 16 Feb. 2017, http://www.afr.com/technology/can-elon-musk-really-make-tunnels-as-cool-as-tesla-20170215-gudyxs. Accessed 16 Mar 2017.
