RIP Anthony Bourdain: Media, Suicide, Fred Rogers

The CNN coverage referred to the Decedant's media footprint in (successful white) American media, his backstory as a chef, referred to the existance of a 10-year old daughter, bore praise from other media people, referred to the recent Kate Spade suicide, and ended with the toll-free suicide hotline and an exhortation to call for help. It's a cliche'd format.

No mention of the CDC report that suicide is up 20% in America since 1999. Or to put it another way, suicide is up since the Internet.

More sensationalized reporting driven by money, on a topic known for contagious deaths after explicit reporting. The similarities of Bordain's story to the recently bruited Spade story are non-trivial.

The media cycle will continue, generating clicks and eyeballs and money without regard to the impact on the audience, the dependants, or the trauma to those involved. We will revisit his Pittsburgh work. What would Fred Rogers have said about Bordain's demise? I think it would be along these lines:

"Anthony Bordain, a celebrity raconteur, died June 7th; rest in peace." Fred Rogers