For at least four decades, American business media outlets have worshipped billionaires, especially tech geniuses who make it big with their companies and disrupt older, traditional industries (but, also non-tech billionaires like Warren Buffett). And they have also highlighted top performing sports and movies stars earning huge amounts of income (Billionaire lists, Most Powerful lists, Top CEO lists, top paid entertainers/sports stars abound in business media).
No public worship of health care workers/nurses, doctors (unless they created a company that is successful) teachers, people who work at industrial plants that process food, delivery service workers, restaurant workers, grocery store workers, subway and bus workers, sanitation workers, nursing home workers and so on. All largely ignored by business (and general) media because there was no interest in reading their stories among readers/viewers.
Covid-19 has unmasked this “star” focus and shifted the media spotlight to forgotten groups of workers who have all along contributed greatly to our economy and society, but have been ignored because they don’t generate clicks/ad campaigns, high stock prices or large attendance at stadiums, or large audiences on TV/digital streaming services. I never thought I would see a story in the New York Times business section about soup and can manufacturers, but there it was in early May, mentioning places like Hannibal, Missouri, Rolling Meadows, IL and Nichols, NY, hardly bastions of technology start-ups (but I’d bet you they are using some very advanced technologies to make those products). Why the story? Because average people are stocking up on soup and other canned foods during the pandemic.
In a tragedy that will probably end up with close to 100,000 deaths in 4-5 months, more than all the Americans who died in Vietnam over a decade of war, it’s a positive development that the media and public are reconsidering who is important in American society. I don’t foresee business media, post-Covid, creating lists of the top hospital workers in the U.S., or top restaurant workers, or top teachers. Or top mothers and fathers taking on home schooling of their kids, for that matter. That’s not really the media’s job (especially not the business media). But it’s sure nice to think that maybe there is a great reconsideration of how these long-ignored people do contribute mightily to our economy and society.
So, on Fridays at 7 p.m., keep banging those pots and pans for our healthcare workers. They more than deserve it. And maybe we should add other nights for other long-ignored employee groups that play a key role in the economy and our lives.