Fame - Is it over rated these days ?

Some people obtain fame, others deserve it (Doris Lessing)Being famous used to be worthy of something in my book- It used to relate to the achievement of something be it in the arts , politics, or for a particular talent. Contribution related if you like.Nowadays people are more recognisable for the photo of them with the  latest handbag than a major contribution to society. Who cares about  jordan and peter, and paris hotel woman and their facile so called contributions? How many of us can name the top three scientists in the uk who may find a cure for major disease in our lifetime or the campaigner who has made the biggest contribution to changing the law for the benefit of society in this decade? Who is creating new technology that will change our everyday lives like the dishwasher or the ipod? Come on journalists , Tv producers and the like - get a grip. Why are we a nation obsessed by watching reality tv rather than living in reality? Why the proliferation of tv programmes on police action, dodgy dealers and ex convicts? Why is even Radio 4 becoming a station desperate to escalate and exaggerate rather than report? ( Just listen to the news report and see how the reporting of an item gets distorted between the 7 am news and the 5pm news to hear what I mean).Are we forgetting how to value contribution? Are we losing our civility? Answers on a postcard please.  Off to audition for one of those TV makeover programmes, I hear they can rearrange your mind into a negative voyeur of everyone else's life for a fee....