(no subject)
When I was a kid (growing up in Canada)I really admired journalists. They were smart. They respectfully asked the tough questions. That takes a lot of courage. They also spoke for people who had no voice or influence. That takes compassion. I think people generally respected them. Two of those journalists went on to become the Governor General of Canada and at the time those choices felt really right to me.
Journalism is so different today. I sometimes wonder if the slide to no-content news began with Geraldo but then remember when David Frost seemed a bit of a joke.
Anyway, trying to watch American news these days just leaves me feeling appalled.
Current event: possible school closures in Austin.
All I hear and see is coverage of people angry with a possible scenario for solving a budget problem. But nobody asks or reports any details about the causes. For example, I hear that there will be anywhere from a 100 to a 110 million dollar shortfall but nobody mentions how this could occur. I had to dig to find out that it is because of budget cuts coming from the state. The emphasis on the protestors is a smoke screen for the real news event. Rick Perry must be made of teflon.
Two other astonishing moments in recent Austin reporting:
1. Local woman gets mugged.
The reporter stands outside her apartment building with a street sign at his back. He says I'm standing outside the home of a local woman who got mugged tonight ....
Wow. Like she hadn't been violated enough. He has to show the whole world her one place of refuge. I bet she felt really safe after that knowing that the mugger and his friends now know where she lives.
2. Fort Hood Shooting.
No offence but if you are a reporter and an event of national interest occurs in your area wouldn't you work really hard to find some news?
What I remember is the local guy standing in front of the entry sign at the base saying stuff like: Well, the leaders of the base are saying that the base is on lockdown and nobody is permitted to use cell phones. Back to you, anchor person ...
The only real news I got was from a CBC podcast where the reporters thought of asking questions like: What is Fort Hood all about (what kind of place is this Fort Hood)? How many people could be expected on the base? Where did the shooting occur? How many people were hurt? Would the soldiers training there have guns of their own? etc etc etc
Bah. I know I kind of sound like one of those old guys shaking his cane at the world. Heh. So be it.
Journalism is so different today. I sometimes wonder if the slide to no-content news began with Geraldo but then remember when David Frost seemed a bit of a joke.
Anyway, trying to watch American news these days just leaves me feeling appalled.
Current event: possible school closures in Austin.
All I hear and see is coverage of people angry with a possible scenario for solving a budget problem. But nobody asks or reports any details about the causes. For example, I hear that there will be anywhere from a 100 to a 110 million dollar shortfall but nobody mentions how this could occur. I had to dig to find out that it is because of budget cuts coming from the state. The emphasis on the protestors is a smoke screen for the real news event. Rick Perry must be made of teflon.
Two other astonishing moments in recent Austin reporting:
1. Local woman gets mugged.
The reporter stands outside her apartment building with a street sign at his back. He says I'm standing outside the home of a local woman who got mugged tonight ....
Wow. Like she hadn't been violated enough. He has to show the whole world her one place of refuge. I bet she felt really safe after that knowing that the mugger and his friends now know where she lives.
2. Fort Hood Shooting.
No offence but if you are a reporter and an event of national interest occurs in your area wouldn't you work really hard to find some news?
What I remember is the local guy standing in front of the entry sign at the base saying stuff like: Well, the leaders of the base are saying that the base is on lockdown and nobody is permitted to use cell phones. Back to you, anchor person ...
The only real news I got was from a CBC podcast where the reporters thought of asking questions like: What is Fort Hood all about (what kind of place is this Fort Hood)? How many people could be expected on the base? Where did the shooting occur? How many people were hurt? Would the soldiers training there have guns of their own? etc etc etc
Bah. I know I kind of sound like one of those old guys shaking his cane at the world. Heh. So be it.