How About Some Alternative News Programming?
Posted: Thursday, January 22, 2009
by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com
When U.S. Airways Fight 1549 recently went down in the Hudson River, it was big news, as well it should have been. However, like many other major news stories over the past 25+ years, reports of the downed jetliner and the successful rescue of its passengers dominated the news in such way that little else was covered over a period of several days.
With the advent of the 24-hour cable news cycle in the early 1980's, I thought we would actually get some variety in the types of news programming that would be available. Instead, we have gotten more of the same. When a major news event like this occurs, the thinking at CNN, CNBC, Fox News, etc. seems to be that people won't be able to get enough of it.
Therefore, they all focus mainly on that story, putting their special little spin on it and hoping to grab and report tidbits of information about it before the others do. I call this the "me-too-and-hopefully-first-some-of-the-time" mentality and it plagues all the cable news services. Anyway, the frenzy over this kind of a major news story continues until these networks either believe their viewers have grown weary of it or the next big event takes place, whichever comes first.
Just once, I would like to tune in to one of those news channels after some significant event takes place and find a message at the bottom of the screen stating that this channel will not be covering it in any kind of depth because such coverage is readily available elsewhere. Instead, according to message, they will be spending their airtime on the day's other news. Yeah, right – who am I kidding?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Yeah, who are you kidding Terry? I found the coverage crazy as well. I turned the television on the morning after and the first thing I hear is :Hero Over The Hudson" why do they have to be so dramatic over everything? Yes, it was a wonderful story and the Captain did a hell of a job, but believe me, he'll get his rewards in a made for television movie, book deal and appearances. Thank for the article. lolYes, Myla, the American media will never get it. I'm thoroughly convinced it's due to some kind of inferiority complex -- or something. :-)
Hear, hear, Terry. I rarely watch news anymore. They are still covering the Caylee Anthony case from day one to now. Enough that they have driven the Grandfather to the point of suicide. And getting me pretty close. What on earth is the matter with these people?Joel, that's what I've been trying to figure out for the last 25 years. :-)
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