I’ll get straight to the point.
Disclaimer: So that my comments will not be taken out of context, I must point out that there are some very honorable and disciplined people who work for the news outlets. But, just like firefighters and cops, the bad ones spoil it for the good ones.
To those “good” journalists, I will simply say: Welcome to our world!
I think that it is a sad day in our country when a story involving a world famous golfer http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577325,00.html and his car accident and insinuations that it was caused by a jealous wife over an extra-marital affair is gaining more coverage than the execution of four police officers from Lakewood, Washington http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577325,00.html.
Why is that?
My theory is that, for some twisted reason, the news media has taken it upon themselves to declare and anoint themselves as the moral compass and judge of the people whom they proclaim as newsworthy.
I can guarantee you that if there was word that four police officers had been over-zealous with an arrest and there were claims of brutality, the media and their leading and speculative questions would come in rapid fire succession. The TV networks including cable would be flush with stories from people who know one of the police officers, to a former teacher of one of them, to a former wife of one of them to the guy at the convenience store who gives them free coffee and doughnuts (That’s another exclusive). The suspect is out, has retained attorney and we now go live to Geraldo Rivera standing by.
They also seem to have a particular zest for destroying our heroes or at the very least, people held in high regard by millions of fans from around the world. The media will just as dutifully come out swinging like Rocky Balboa caught by a swarm of bees against anyone foolish enough to attack THEIR heroes, however. It appears to me that there aren’t many of them left either.
Has anyone else noticed that lately, the news media has been driving criminal investigations? Has anyone else noticed that many of the cases are being tried in the news media? Have you noticed that police are getting blasted with compromising questions and are again blasted if they don’t answer them? Apparently, the news media believes that a criminal is too busy killing and running to watch TV-i.e. the news conferences, where the wrong question might tip law enforcement’s hand, thereby giving the criminal an advantage.
Where was it ever written that ALL information could be freely obtained with a request? When did the sliding scale slide so far to the left that it now compromises on-going criminal investigations and military strategies in two wars? Anymore; the enemy needs only to watch CBS, CNN, MSNBC or NBC to know what’s coming.
The media has somehow confused our right to know with their need for a story. You only need to watch an impromptu news conference and their rudeness towards the people at the microphones to know that they will stop at nothing to get what they want. Even if it includes filling in the blanks or at its very worst; making it up all together.
And on a day when we are begging for information on the four slain heroes from Lakewood, Washington, the news media are tripping over themselves trying to destroy someone who is hero to many kids in this world.
Yeah; I don’t like to use that word, “hero” to describe a professional athlete, but Tiger Woods is not your typical professional athlete. It is as if some in the news media can’t stand the fact that he is so good at what he does, is a very intelligent businessman, is married to one of the world’s most beautiful women and is a billionaire already. There HAS to be more to the story and the media will not rest until they get it.
In the meantime, a police department that has never had a line of duty death is reeling from four on the same day. Families are without their loved ones. A community is living in fear. At this writing, the suspect has not been captured. But that’s OK; we need to find out why Tiger won’t talk to the police about his fender bender.
I can’t speak for the rest of you, but I am not comfortable with someone else deciding what is and isn’t newsworthy. Are you OK with someone who is willing to sell out for an interview with the White House dinner crashers, the balloon hoax, the Runaway Bride and Jon and Kate? No thanks.
The news media should have enough respect for the consumers to know that we can read all about Tiger’s problems in the next issue of you name it, but right now, it should be in everyone’s hearts and minds that there are four families without their loved ones, a community without four of their finest and a scumbag who perpetrated this heinous crime that is still on the loose.
And nothing else is newsworthy at the moment.
Please take a moment to remember these fine law enforcement officers, their families, police department and their community of Lakewood.
TCSS.
This article is protected by federal copyright laws under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and cannot be re-produced in any form without the expressed written permission of Art Goodrich aka ChiefReason.
Also on Chief Reason …
- Giving Thanks by Giving Back – November 22, 2009
Notice also that the main networks have ignored the leaked emails that demonstrate much of the global warming science is padded to meet the agenda of the scientists. Another case of the media deciding what is and isn’t important.
One reason I rarely rely on the mainstream media for news any more.
Incompetence and bias seem not be the rule, not the exception.
I was interviewed by Slate Magazine the other day, over what I initially thought was an article about the proper way for bystanders to stabilize accident victims until EMS arrives.
Turns out they wanted my perspective on what I thought Elin Woods should have done at Tiger’s wreck, and whether I found her story plausible.