Traveller113:

While I agree in principle that the media should expose life-threatening conditions in any industry, the sad fact is most general media outlets (my experience is TV and print) have no one permanently assigned to the aviation beat. And in a breaking news situation, the reporter who is assigned more often than not knows nothing about aviation and merely serves to spread misinformation. There was a letter a day or two ago in a broadcast industry newsletter that recounted some of the howlers committed by anchors and reporters in the first hours following the Alaska crash.

Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry at this stuff.