FQTV,
The mainstream media isn't butchering it any worse than they routinely butcher everything else they talk about... the news isn't news anymore, it's a mix of rookie reporters overdramatizing stupid stories to try to get their "Big Break" and indifferent, uninformed major news anchors who make millions and so stupid things like ask Dick Cheney what he thinks about the Napster hearings... I can't stand Matt Lauer...
Really, though it ISN'T surprising to me... and that's a little scary. I mean, reporters are humans too, and most of then had to fly to France immediately after the crash to cover the story (imagine THAT mind job if you don't fly much)... but, at the same time, news stations aren't interested in quality so much as sensationalism. By that I mean, in the immediate wake of the crash, no body was showing a d*** bit of useful information, all they did was show that 5 second video clip and slow pans of the crash site... that is not news, that's trying to get the viewer to hang on and watch YOUR station until you actually have something of substance to show him... all the stations do it... that's why the reporters say dumb things like 'reverse thrusters'... they're being told over the wire by their boss to tell the audience a bunch of nothing and make it interesting so that they'll keep watching...
Same as Columbine, same as Waco, same as the Kennedy crash (and when the heck did THAT become national news-worthy??), Princess Di... andonandonandon... news stations are not in the business of waiting until they have all the facts to fully inform the viewer all at once, they can't be. There are many stations out there and news IS A BUSINESS!!
Except the Fox News Channel... i REALLY like the Fox News Channel... most unbiased, balanced news coverage I've ever seen...
ok, I'm done now. that feel much better...
FQTV, sorry this was long, but all these feelings towards newscasting in general keep re-surfacing every time there's a "major" event and everyone rushes to the scene and stands among the rubble to tell us they're now in "such and such a location, standing among the rubble" ... am I the only one that feels this way??
ok, that's enough for now.
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[This message has been edited by Mister Internet (edited 07-27-2000).]