One more post about the "Airport Journalism" in Haiti

[annabanana]

I became aware of the syndrome during the coverage of Hurricane Ike in '08 when Galveston was slammed. The most vulnerable and hardest hit area was the Bolivar Peninsula, yet the footage did not reach us during the height of the crisis - even from helicopter perspective.

Journalists not being allowed into areas "for their own safety" is NOT a status quo that we ought to support. If the talent chooses not to get up close and personal with the mess, that should be understood to be their (or their bosses) choice. And it should be reported as such.

An apparent assent to orders by military or civilian control authorities shouldn't be the default understanding.

[WillowTree]

1. Yeah. Because the locals & emergency workers/don't have enough to do...

.....that they should have to go after some reporter or camera handler who's gotten injured or trapped somewhere.

[lapfog_1]

9. No, if they decide to go and put themselves in danger

that's their decision to make. We need the press to be able to go and do whatever they want, otherwise we won't know what actually happened. If there are riots or shootings or military repression in the aftermath of the disaster, I want the news folks to report it. If they get killed in the process, they join a long list of such heroic journalists. We needn't worry about rescuing them and nobody should be preventing them from doing their job.

[malaise]

2. Anderson Cooper put NBC to shame last night

He arrived early and went on the street all day so he had real video to show at night when the rest of them were huddled together afraid of their own shadows.

[Callalily]

3. Yes, I watched his reporting.

But I hope (and really doubt) that he did not put any rescue workers in harms way.

[malaise]

5. He was looking for rescue workers n/t

[Fleshdancer]

4. Cooper seems to really thrive in this type of reporting

He has the courage to go into areas that others seem afraid of, and the compassion to connect with the people he talks to. He won me over during Katrina.

[malaise]

6. It's what he does best

In all other situations he is tres ordinary.

[tavalon]

7. I completely agree

I forget how good he is in these situations until these situations come up.

[annabanana]

8. Well, ..

I think he's kind of cute on New Year's Eve.. all blushing and everything.

[malaise]

13. LOL

:D

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

18. Reports are that Kathy Griffin has been banned from CNN....

:rofl:

[formercia]

12. Like War Correspondents.

A few go out in the field and put themselves in harm's way. Some just hang around bars listening for sea stories.

[stray cat]

10. I haven't risked my life lately working - have you?

I don't even go into some parts of the inner city at night and chat with people.

[annabanana]

17. No. But I am not a journalist working for a NEWS outfit. . . n/t

[Baclava]

11. What a ridiculous thread. Who made you director of "journalist" operations?

Maybe the limited supply of vehicles there should be used by rescue workers first, not film crews. Just a thought.

Who says survivors scrambling for their lives want cameras shoved in their faces while they lie bleeding anyway?

Just so you can sit on your couch and enjoy the show while stuffing your face with cheezy poofs?


Get the fuck outta here.

[Bragi]

14. Bullshit

Showing the effects of a disaster, and how it is unfolding, is what I want media to do. The by-product is that people then understand what is happening, and are motivated to contribute to help the victims.

In this case, CNN has kicked ass and done a spectacularly good job. I thought Anderson Cooper was particularly good, as was Dr. Gupta (?).

As for sucking up resources that otherwise would be used for rescue operations, gimme a break. Outfits like CNN move into these kind of situations with all the equipment they need to do their jobs.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

16. Absolutely

This is what the media is for and may have a direct result of helping the people of Haiti. If people can see for themselves the destruction maybe they will be more motivated to donate. It has a direct result.

[Baclava]

20. I'll raise your bullshit with another bullshit.

News crews land with their own vehicles now? They came by helicopter from the D.R.


I doubt they can just plunk down their credit cards and get a rental SUV at the airport.
They're using whatever rides of opportunity they can get just now.

I think everyone has done a great job so far - the pictures are getting out, they're doing their job.


sorry if you want them scrambling through rubble just to sex up your reality show

[Bragi]

22. I didn't see much vehicular traffic, did you?

From what I could see on CNN, their crews were mostly on foot, not in vehicles. This probably had to do with the fact that the roads in the worst effected area are all blocked with debris.

As for this being a "reality show" I disagree. They are simply showing the terrible reality on the ground.

I'm no patsy when it comes to critiquing media, but far as I'm concerned, CNN is doing a terrific job in Haiti.

[Baclava]

23. I'm not critiquing the media - just take your pics and stay outta the way

I'm thinking about this from the rescue/recovery angle on the ground.
It's going to be a madhouse at the airport.

The logistics of getting rescuers and their equipment to the people in need come first, that's all.

I agree - CNN has done a great job.

[annabanana]

15. What do you think the purpose of Journalism is?

~ no need to be crude ~

[Baclava]

21. This is a rescue mission! Not a journalism class.

So some reporters have to just sit around and wait at the airport, big deal.

The people we are bringing to save lives come first.

[customerserviceguy]

19. When the kind of mentality you describe goes to its ultimate lengths

then you get Kim Jung Il posing for photo ops with Bill Clinton.

All these reporters who think they're Lois Lane with Superman coming to the rescue are just fools.

[GeorgeGist]

24. Have no fear ...

Brian will tell US how wonderful WE are.

[Berry Cool]

25. I guess journalists at a disaster scene can do no right in some people's eyes.

Or, if they can, they have to do it just the way someone sitting at home thinks they should, or else.

If they stay at the airport because they're not allowed to go in the field, they're wimps and prima donnas. If they go out in the field, they're phony saviors playacting at heroism or prima donnas using resources that should be used for other things. If they don't go to the scene at all but just report from a distance at an anchor desk, they're wimps and prima donnas.

Oh well.