Have any of these reporters considered putting the microphone down

[ticapnews]

and helping?

Seriously. I just saw a report on CNN of a reporter in Mississippi who has driven around and seen people at what's left of their homes, unable to go anywhere because they have no gas and don't know where to go. The anchor asked if the Red Cross was there and the reporter said yes, but they are centralized and can't get the word out that they are there and ready to help. The local authorities are counting on good neighbors to help out. Couldn't the reporter simply tell these people how to get to the Red Cross? Could they maybe give some people a lift in their van (which amazingly hasn't run out of gas in five days even though there's none to be found in the area) or something?

Couldn't the news choppers have helped rescue people in New Orleans rather than just filming the rescues? Martin Savage is great for going to the Convention Center and showing the world what is happening there. He hounded local officials (like a cop in an SUV who just drove past) and in a way he may be responsible for the assistance that is making it in there now. But couldn't he have taken some food in there? Couldn't the reporters bring in some food and water? Couldn't they help evacuate a handful of people who are literally dying before their eyes rather than just filming it?

I understand the story has to be told. God only knows what would have happened to these people if the cameras weren't there to document the situation. But they can do something more.

On Monday morning, before all hell broke loose and it looked like New Orleans had made it, MSNBC ran a feel-good story about a guy who went to the Superdome, but wouldn't go in without his puppy. The MSNBC crew adopted the puppy and let it stay with them so the guy would go inside. They made a difference, if only for one man and his dog.

Multiply this act of kindness by the number of news crews in the area and it wouldn't solve all the problems, but it would make a difference for SOME people.

Is that too much to ask?

[Lerkfish]

1. no, but is it too much to ask for FEMA to actually help instead?

isn't that what they're supposed to do?

you're acting like the reporters are failing to help, but you're straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel.

[MnFats]

3. Media's job is to inform. That's it. And if they'd just do it, dammit

that would be enough for them to earn accolades.

[ticapnews]

5. They are telling the story and it is making a difference...

I know it's FEMA's job, but as we have seen they are taking their sweet time doing it. I'm not blaming the media, I'm just asking if this is something they could consider doing.

If someone is dying in front of you, do you film it or do you help them?

Maybe I am grasping at straws. I have seen so much desperation this week and feel powerless to help. Maybe I just want to think that if I was there I would try to do more. Maybe it isn't possible. Maybe it's wishful thinking. Maybe I just need some sleep.

[Lerkfish]

11. no problem, I can't sleep well, either, my outrage is off the scale.

but I think the reporters have given proof to the lies FEMA and Homeland Security were TRYING to spin. Without them there, I doubt we would have EVER known the truth.
and that put pressure on the president.

[AntiCoup2K4]

2. Not to make excuses for them or anything but.....

...I think it gets caught in a mental conflict between "story of a lifetime" and " what can I do to help". Hell, they may not even be consciously aware of the conflict. I mean, when you get someone like Geraldo Rivera, veteran sleaze peddler, on the virge of tears, it's clearly getting to them.

[fooj]

4. There were two camera men who worked for MSNBC...

those men are also Convention Center heroes. The media is protecting the American People. For the most part, IMO. They seem to have single handedly exposed this horrible group of treasonous thugs. They've MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE, IMO. Thank God.

Peace.

[skids]

6. The reporters are helping.

Several have mentioned giving out what little food and water they had brought in.

As far as telling people how to get to the Red Cross or other important information, well, they could do that if they actually knew, but they don't.

[TreasonousBastard]

7. You don't know what they're doing...

when they're not on the air.

Maybe not much, maybe some do a lot, but their job is not relief, it's reporting.

Reporting on why the people who SHOULD be there doing the rescuing and controlling aren't around.

[roguevalley]

8. they are as traumatized as the people there. Anderson Cooper

helps people when he can. Its overwhelmed all of them in the field and they share bad conditions of living too. Very sad all around.

[Lisa]

9. many of them probably have ...

One of the women working for CNN (not Meserve -- Koch, maybe?) had grown up in a town that was hit hard. She described walking down a destroyed street, and being seized with the urge to "throw down the microphone" and just hand out food and water. She didn't elaborate on what happened after, but from her tone of voice, she may well have tried to do this.

Besides the practical problem of there not being enough to go around (and then her crew wouldn't be able to work, so the information, including messages from survivors, which people were counting on wouldn't be broadcast) -- the media don't necessarily have the equipment and training to rescue people. If they try to do 2 jobs at once, they'll likely end up not doing either successfully.

But I don't envy the choices they probably have to make. I'm not a reporter (someone who's been to journalism school or has experience in this area know more than I do) -- but after talking to some who've worked as field researchers and aid/development workers, many of them have ended up "going over the line" at some time or other and intervening. I wouldn't be surprised if the newspeople we've seen this week, Meserve and Cooper and the others, are criticized by their management and by some colleagues for getting too involved (showing emotions, yelling at high-ranking officials, etc.).

Looking after someone's dog, or (as has happened a few times) calling around to help track down a missing relative, is one thing -- but trying to decide which dying person gets a lift in the helicopter would be wrenching (even physicians trained in triage medicine find that difficult).

[bklyncowgirl]

10. By letting the world know what is happening the reporters are helping.

Without pictures the public would not be irate. President Nero would still be on vacation and that food and water that was delivered yesterday would be sitting in a warehouse.

Now it is essential that they keep it up because now that the emperor has gone home people may assume that the problem is solved.

[OneTwentyoNine]

12. Jesus are you kidding,their helping a HELL of alot more than merely...

passing out some water. Hell,if they weren't in NO Bush would probably still be playing golf.

It might not seem like it but their doing a lot for this disaster...