Media peeve of the day
I was struck by a radio news report's pithiness this morning:
"DC Resident Joe Bloggs has the same question about the Navy Yard shootings that we all have - Why?"
What a throw-away comment. Not everyone has that question. Or any question. The shooter was crazy - and that'll end the story for most people. If a shred of journalism still existed in the world, it might try to inspire questions.
But if journalism was a 5th grade course, this reporter's "why?" question would've earned a failing grade. If there's a story here, it'll be in a question like, "what service did the shooter feel he was denied from the VA?" or "what do mental health researchers think are the root causes and possible preventative measures for this type of tragedy?"
The reporter's pithy question was followed by an equally useless soundbite from some guy that worked near the shooter's hotel. God, I can't stand that. The "Hey, let's just interview a random bystander about something they have no expertise in, then treat it as news" is a pet peeve of mine.
"DC Resident Joe Bloggs has the same question about the Navy Yard shootings that we all have - Why?"
What a throw-away comment. Not everyone has that question. Or any question. The shooter was crazy - and that'll end the story for most people. If a shred of journalism still existed in the world, it might try to inspire questions.
But if journalism was a 5th grade course, this reporter's "why?" question would've earned a failing grade. If there's a story here, it'll be in a question like, "what service did the shooter feel he was denied from the VA?" or "what do mental health researchers think are the root causes and possible preventative measures for this type of tragedy?"
The reporter's pithy question was followed by an equally useless soundbite from some guy that worked near the shooter's hotel. God, I can't stand that. The "Hey, let's just interview a random bystander about something they have no expertise in, then treat it as news" is a pet peeve of mine.