Murray Waas: America Mourns With Anderson Cooper

[sweetm2475]

Anderson and CNN could have done a story on mine safety, the lives of miners, and the federal regulations of the agencies involved, weeks ago… months ago… or years ago. But they didn’t and won’t. That takes enterprise and reporting and investigation. Emoting is so much easier, cost-effective, and profitable.

Anderson Cooper and Geraldo Rivera and Bill O’Reilly, of course, also have the opportunity in the future to investigate mine safety, the federal regulation of the mining industry, or even stories about everyday life in today’s Appalachia. But don’t count on it. They will move on to the next tsunami, or hurricane, school shooting, or whatever else-—“on- the- scene” reporting—-in the process making the next mining accident all the more possible. If one does happen, they will be on the scene once again, publicly emoting every last ten-cents-worth of bling-bling emotion.

An iconic moment in television coverage was when Walter Cronkite, tears welling up in his eyes, had to take off his glasses to inform the nation that John F. Kennedy had been pronounced dead. Decades later, the late Peter Jennings, for one brief moment, on Sept. 11th lost his composure, and with tears welling up in his eyes suggested that those watching might want to call their children and see if they were alright. The reason we remember those moments is because it was rare for either anchorman to lose their composure. And we knew that they for real.

Anderson Cooper and Geraldo Rivera and Bill O’Reilly we know not to trust, however. They, too, have emotions, but there is a promiscuity, and dare say, even a vulgarity, to their emotions. Their tears and anger are displayed so frequently and shared with so many that in the end they become meaningless. Their television shows will move somewhere else, and the families of the Sago miners will be alone--or finally left alone--to grieve.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/murray-waas/america-mourns-with-ander_b_13279.html

[Kagemusha]

1. So it's all the media's fault.

That was fast.

[sweetm2475]

2. read the whole blog....maybe then you'll get it

or maybe not:shrug:

[NanceGreggs]

3. After his sterling investigative reporting ...

... during Katrina and the aftermath, it's a shame to have to include Anderson Cooper in this group. But that's where he, unfortuntaley, belongs.

Anderson could have 'written his own ticket' after the ratings he garnered for CNN's coverage in those dark Katrna days. I have no doubt that he could have demanded the freedom to do his own show, in his own way, without interference from the powers-that-be at the network. With visions of higher ratings (i.e. higher revenues for commercial time) dancing in their heads, the CNN execs would undoubtedly have conceded to anything he asked for. They might have regretted it later, but the deed would have been done.

Instead, Anderson went the way of all flesh - he sold the integrity he had so valiantly displayed this past summer, in exchange for being another talking head, babbling on about nothing of consequence the next time disaster struck.

This is sad on so many levels - not the least of which is the loss of an on-air 'journalist' who could have restored the public's faith in the entire genre of TV news.

Rest in Peace, Cooper ... and it's not like you even needed the money.

[sweetm2475]

4. wow - well said

can't think of much to add to that.:hi:

[TomClash]

5. Great stuff nt

[Berry Cool]

6. The point is not so much that the TV media didn't report the mine dangers

way ahead of time. The odds are too great against that ever happening. TV is too visual and immediate and a story on the lack of mine safety in 2005 would not have gone over any better on TV than a story on levee safety in New Orleans in 2004. Unfortunate, but true. That kind of work is best left to newspaper reporters, whose outlets should give them the time and space to devote to these stories even when they are not of immediate concern to most people.

The issue is whether the TV reporters sent to the scene made finding out the facts and conveying the truth their first priority, or allowed themselves to get caught up in the emotions of the moment and believe what they wanted to believe simply because they were surrounded by other people who wanted to believe it and thought they heard it.

The real point to be made is that TV reporting is about more than just being able to feel other people's pain, or their joy, for that matter. It is about doing the uncomfortable and uneasy digging for reliable information. It is not just about hearing church bells ring and seeing people dance and sing and then going with the flow because it is easier and happier than staying sober and saying "We're not sure yet...a lot of people are out here celebrating but we have yet to hear from a reliable source."

But, when we choose our media heroes by merely asking ourselves which ones are the best at emoting, this is what we get.

Emoting is fine...but there has to be more than just that.