“She was our idol first.”

— The Blade, May 12

What an exhilarating, terrifying time to be Crystal Bowersox.

She stands on the verge of superstardom, with millions of dollars dancing ever closer to her grasp. She follows a trail of No. 1 albums, top 10 songs, Grammys, sold-out concerts and magazine covers blazed by Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry and other “American Idol” graduates. Bowersox, before she has won anything, before a single note for her debut has been recorded, has already morphed from small-town single mom with a guitar to public commodity. That’s accurate, but not fair; “morphed” implies Bowersox has voluntarily engineered the transition, when the truth is it has been out of her control since early March.

Because the Toledo market is starving for a glitzy positive news story, one that boosts civic pride and offers feel-good vibes without a lot of bothersome analysis and research, local media has latched onto Bowersox and initiated her transition from human being to product with efficient speed and alarming enthusiasm. One major exception is WSPD, where hosts Brian Wilson and Fred LeFebvre have used the Bowersox saga as an example of how shiny things distract people from important issues. But even they have softened their tones and become more receptive as the parades and concerts approached.

If The Blade pursued some of its local responsibilities with the desperate zeal it has employed in planting its fading flag in Bowersox’s journey, it would be making room for another Pulitzer or two. During the 12-week run-up to the May 4 primary election, The Blade ran a meager handful of stories on the men and women running for the court of appeals, county commissioner and state seats. It ran more than 150 items mentioning Bowersox (who won one category of the paper’s 2009 Battle of the Bands).

Granted, Bowersox represents the biggest pop culture story to originate in Toledo in a generation, but where is the line drawn between fair coverage (and fair profit) and exploitation when the daily seeks $3,800 per full-page ad for its “Welcome Home Crystal” section? “A portion of the section revenues will be donated to [Juvenile Diabetes Fund],” according to The Blade, which shows its commanders must sense its money grab is open to criticism.

I am not claiming a Toledo Free Press exemption from the bandwagon; it became clear early on that a cover featuring Bowersox was a guaranteed fast mover, and any Web mention of her name drew immediate traffic from around the globe. We published a “Vote for Crystal” insert poster April 18 at near cost, to urge and remind people to vote, vote, vote (and a homecoming wrap this week). That doesn’t make us any cleaner, better or more righteous than The Blade, but when discussing ethics and moral considerations, the shades of grey are important, in the short term and in the long run.

It’s America, and there are dollars to be made; from a business perspective, it is perfectly understandable that once those first drops of blood hit the water, the sharks would start circling.

The one media entity entitled to make all the Bowersox noise it can, FOX Toledo, has been largely frozen out of the promotional bonanza by network rules that strive to keep “American Idol” as fair to its contestants as it can. I know our friends there, some of the most creative and honest the city has to offer, have been handcuffed and frustrated as Bowersox’s march has unfolded.

At some point, all this love and adoration will invert itself; media loves to build up, and media loves to tear down. Tidbit sniffers like People Magazine have historically used local Rosencrantzes and Guildensterns to dig for dirt, and there is no question something from Bowersox’s past will eventually dig itself out of its grave and shamble after her; global fame and fortune does not erase past mistakes, it just increases the number of people willing to expose them for their 30 pieces of silver.

Bowersox’s schedule for her “hometown visit,” named with Toledo in mind although she has been incontrovertibly clear she is from Elliston, would drive many people to a hospital bed. Here, just days before one of the most important singing performances of her life, Bowersox is being asked to perform for television, radio stations, ride in a parade, sing at Downtown’s Levis Square, appear in-store for sponsors, travel to the Ottawa County Fairgrounds for a “Bowerstock” concert, then hustle back to Toledo to sing the National Anthem at the Mud Hens game.

It evokes the manic intensity of “A Hard Day’s Night,” in which The Beatles sprint from one stage to another, from one plane/train/car to another, from one hotel room to another.

And her real journey, the quest to remain above all the hype and exploitation, hasn’t truly started.

Bowersox is a young woman who has surmounted many tougher challenges than anything TMZ has to offer. It will be fascinating to watch her career unfold and to chronicle how much of a role Toledo/Elliston will play in her life.

We celebrate Crystal Bowersox, even as we exploit her. We exploit Crystal Bowersox, even as we celebrate her.

As her fame grows, may we at least keep equilibrium in our efforts, and never let the scales fall out of proportion.

Michael S. Miller is editor in chief of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star.

E-mail: mmiller@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: American Idol, Crystal Bowersox, Lighting The Fuse

This entry was posted on Friday, May 14th, 2010 at 12:00 am and is filed under Lighting The Fuse, Opinion.
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