BCT Editorial – 1/9/06

This page was last updated on January 9, 2006.

Sober reflection; Editorial; Beaver County Times; January 9, 2006.

Despite the editorial title and the leadoff sentence, this editorial is about blaming cable news for the Tallmansville reporting screwup. Note the use of “they” throughout the editorial in reference to “the media.” Does the Times not consider itself part of the “old media?”

As in a previous article on this subject, the editorial accepts no responsibility for the erroneous reporting.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“Media should focus on how it reported Tallmansville tragedy

“This should be a time of sober reflection for the U.S. media.

“The false report that 12 miners had survived the methane explosion at the Sago Mine in Tallmansville, W.Va., was an embarrassment that will not fade from the public’s psyche for a long time.

“Let’s be upfront, though. The media were not wrong in reporting what they were told. Most stories had sources, and the awful mistake was corrected as soon as it was learned that the miners were dead.”

[RWC] Shouldn’t “they” be “we?”

“For that reason, the media don’t need to spend much time studying the news stories that came out in the early morning hours last Wednesday. They were doing their jobs.

“However, how they reported the tragedy - before, during and after - should be the real issue.

“Although sensationalism and mistakes caused by immediacy have always been part of reporting, the personalization of the news in the last few decades has compounded the problem. Today, news, especially in regard to the 24-7 cable infotainment shows, is as much about the people reporting the news as it is the news itself.”

[RWC] Thus begins the latest Times rant regarding cable news.

“Look at the media response to last week’s mining disaster. The cable networks rushed their satellite dishes and on-air personalities to the town, where they breathlessly told people over and over again what little they knew, or, even worse, turned to speculation to fill air time (and to justify their presence there).

“The most absurd example of this is reporters who stand in front of cameras - or try to - to tell viewers how bad a hurricane is. (It’s hard to suppress a cheer when one of them takes a tumble.)

“Media personalities blur the line, thrusting themselves into the story by reporting not just what is taking place but their reactions to it. These types aren’t judged by the quality of their reporting; it’s their looks and ability to connect with viewers that gets them on the air and keeps them there.”

[RWC] Regarding the blurring the line comment, what a crock! So-called reporters – whether print, radio, or TV – have been injecting personal reactions into alleged news stories probably since the first newspaper was published. Have not Times editors been reading the stories written by their own staff reporters?

“Instead of sending a reporter, cameraman, etc. to issue reports, events like the mining disaster become set production pieces to feature the network’s stars.”

[RWC] I can’t speak for all cable news networks, but FNC didn’t send “network stars” to West Virginia. The on-site reporting was performed by a couple of guys who normally do field reporting. I recall the same was true for the local TV stations.

“Meanwhile, the victims, their families, their friends and their community became mere props for the media to use for background.”

[RWC] Uh, the Times used a photo (prop?) of “the victims, their families, their friends” on its front page under the headline “12 alive.”

“To their shame, the old media - the networks and print media - allow this tail to wag the dog. So as not to be scooped, they camped out in Tallmansville in numbers that were not justified by the story. In fact, we’d be willing to bet that members of the media probably outnumbered the 400 or so residents of the town by a wide margin.”

[RWC] Here it is. 24-7 cable infotainment shows are to blame for the Times publishing an erroneous story.

“It’s a sad commentary on the state of the media that a false news show like Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’ provides more insight into and perspective on the events of the day than the professionals do. That’s what the media should really be concerned about.”

[RWC] As long as the Times refers to “the media” as “they” instead of “we,” it will remain in denial.