Read Part 1: New Governments and Part 2: The Economy and Healthcare

Part 3: Culture and the Media

With the first month of 2010 coming to a close, we’re back to present the final chapter of the Year in Review 2009. Pop culture and the media.

2009 was a year of media frenzies. The White House engaged in a battle against Fox news, which it described as more like “talk-radio” than a news organization. The White House at one point tried to bar Fox from participating in the White House News Pool, comprised of CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox. Such a blatant strike at a news network by the White House (and the president himself) was unprecedented. Not that Fox wasn’t at least partially guilty though. It had fueled right-wing conspiracies like the “birther” movement and its news segments were increasingly obvious in their anti-Obama rhetoric. Fox, in response, explained that its weekday news hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., according to a New York Times piece from October. That means that the following “news” personalities, are, in Fox’s own words, not news:

• Fox and Friends’ Gretchen Carlson, Steve Doocy, and Brian Kilmeade
• Neal Cavuto
• Glenn Beck
• Bill O’Reilly
• Sean Hannity
• Greta van Susternen

Essentially, the only people you ever think of when you think of Fox News are, well, not news. Not that the actual Fox News team is the pinnacle of objectivity either. The feud blew over and Fox’s most famous personalities continue to produce, as the Daily Show’s Jon Stewart described it, their special brand of “opinu-tainment”.

The infamous balloon

CNN had its share of follies in 2009 as well. After news of balloon boy, the 6-year-old child who was thought to be trapped in an airborne balloon, reached CNN, the cable news network ran with this story, covering it extensively for hours. But after the story had taken the top spot on CNN and cameras had followed the balloon to provide live coverage, it was determined that the boy had been hiding in the garage. Weeks later when authorities confirmed the incident had been a hoax, the incident remained an embarrassment for CNN. CNN has also famously relied on Twitter, 3D holograms, and a variety of other technologies that have created more buzz than actual contributions to the quality of CNN programming.

There were other more deserving overnight sensations that rose to stardom in 2009. In January, pilot Sully Sullenberger successfully landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after a flock of geese took out both engines. No one was seriously injured in the emergency landing. Sullenberger and his crew was invited to attend Obama’s inauguration ceremony and was awarded a key to the city of New York among other accolades.

Susan Boyle of Scotland became an instant sensation after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. The juxtaposition of her plain appearance and her powerful singing voice immediately won the hearts of the show’s audience, but more importantly, YouTube. With just over 85 million views, Susan Boyle’s debut is the eight most watched video on YouTube. Her debut album “I Dreamed a Dream” topped the charts in eight countries and sold over 8 million copies worldwide.

But 2009 a lot of celebrities also became even more famous for doing things they probably shouldn’t have. Kanye West jumped in front of Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs, shouting that Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time.” An instant internet meme was born. Kanye was not the only one to interrupt something he probably wishes he hadn’t. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina congressman who shouted “You lie!” during an address by President Obama given to Congress scrambled to justify and later apologize for his outburst.

But, as NPR’s Peter Sagel remarked on Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me, Wilson was not the first South Carolina politician to “inappropriately insert himself somewhere.” South Carolina governor Mark Sanford disappeared for nearly a week in mid-June, during which he claimed he’d been hiking the Appalachian trail. Reporters revealed that Sanford had been in Argentina and publicized his extramarital affairs with his mistress there.

After crashing his car at around 2 am on a November morning, Tiger Woods’ personal life began to unravel in front of the public even more quickly than Sanford’s had. As a result of the incident which was originally deemed an accident and later a domestic dispute, a web of mistresses and affairs were publicized. One woman after another came forward to claim themselves former lovers of Woods. Woods has since been dropped by many of his sponsors, including Accenture, AT&T, Tag Heuer, and Procter & Gamble. Woods was a popular role model both for his success but also for his professionalism. The disgraced golfer has taken an indefinite leave from professional golf to resolve his marital issues.

2009 was also the year of the reappearance of swine flu in humans after an epidemic had killed millions in 1918. Although swine flu was generally less potent than the traditional flu virus, there was no vaccine until recently. Nearly 15,000 people died worldwide of H1N1. People traveling in airports and other public spaces donned face masks, despite little to no evidence that they helped prevent the spread of the flu. With local governments offering free H1N1 vaccinations, incidences of the swine flu have dropped. It’s no longer a pandemic and the fear associated with the strain has faded.

A number of notable individuals passed away in 2009. Michael Jackson, the “King of Pop” died in June at the age of 50. Jackson’s funeral ceremony was viewed by an estimated 31.1 million people. Among other notable deaths in 2009 were TV personality Ed McMahon (86), former CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite (92), TV salesperson Billy Mays (50), Charlie’s Angels star Farah Fawcett (62), and actor Patrick Swayze (57).

2009 was a year of ups and downs—but mostly downs. With turmoil in Washington, greed on Wall Street, and wars in the Middle East, 2009 was, in every possible respect, a recession year. One thing’s for sure: here’s to hoping for a better 2010.

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