Staff Editorial: Royal Tell-all reveals Meghan Markle’s hidden struggle and the power of media
It was only recently the Duchess of Sussex opened up about her mental health struggles in an interview with Oprah.
This interview was the first the Sussexes had given since officially breaking away from their royal duties last year.
Meghan Markle opened up to contemplating thoughts of suicide and self-harm – a comment which continued to introduce further concern and conversation regarding the palace.
Both Meghan and Harry went on to discuss their treatment by the royal family, treatment playing a disturbing role in Markle’s mental health and the health of her family.
With the royal family’s refusal to give their son Archie a title and refusal to provide security for the couple and their child Markle’s mental health began to further deplete and division between the families grew. The Sussexes’ views on the royal family’s intentions began to change.
The couple discussed the conversations and concerns that arose in the royal family regarding Markle’s pregnancy. Concerns ranging from security to the couples’ son’s skin being too “dark.”
This comment regarding the royal family’s internalized racism opened further speculation in the family. Is the royal family accepting of people of color, even if it’s unconscious rejection? Did they really accept Markle to begin with?
Prince Harry’s relationship with his father, brother, and grandmother had significantly reduced with his father, Prince Charles, not even taking his calls. They were cut off from the royal family, even financially.
The couple was quick to not only criticize the royal family, but also the British tabloids.
Throughout the interview, Meghan and Harry gave harsh remarks regarding their treatment by the press with claims of the press acting in a racist manner toward Meghan. The press was quick to conclude often throughout the beginning of their marriage and even Meghan’s pregnancy.
Even after the interview, the press didn’t stop.
British tabloids were quick to fire back with headlines arguing Markle’s inculpations. Headlines claiming the interview to be “nauseating,” a “soap opera,” and even accusing Markle of costing Harry his reputation within the royal family.
Even though the media was a source of conflict for Markle’s mental health problems and put a strain between the royal family and the couple, the true source, as the Sussexes revealed, came from within the royal family itself.
The call was coming from inside the house.
Rumors and gossip spread throughout the royal family and eventually infiltrated the British media, leading to exaggeration, false emphasis, and misinformation. It is no surprise situations are twisted and shaped by the media.
Many of us today are familiar with misinformation in the media. The most successful publications today don’t seem to necessarily be the ones focused on reporting the most accurate or correct information. The most successful publications come from “bold”, “surprising”, and “unbelievable” headlines derived from a form of sensationalization.
This sensationalization is a mundane tactic used today by many publications. The idea of reporting and being a source of information to readers is one of the main goals of any publication.
Yes, the intention behind it varies, but the media knows it’s powerful. It knows it has the power to shape the truth, so that’s what it does.
Stories revealing the full truth take time and can get less attention while stories falling into sensationalism give quick, captivating information, even if it is not correct.
As a student newspaper, it’s natural we want others to see our work and spread our stories throughout the community. But even as writers, artists, and editors dedicated to the truth, this trap of sensationalization is one even we can get stuck in.