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August 29, 2006
Katrina and Media Cliches
I was awake early this morning, and made the mistake of watching the beginning of NBC's "Today" show. Mawkish sentimentality was the order of the day - there's a "somber anniversary" to commemorate, so the media has to descend upon a "city that's rebuilding" after such a "horrible tragedy." But there are "signs of hope" in every rebuilt house, because those houses are evidence of "rebuilt lives."
After a few minutes of watching three journalists trying to out-cliche one another, I switched it to CBS.
Harry Smith was standing in front of a downed tree.
And he was saying the exact same things as the NBC reporters. Same phrases, same inflection, same open shirt and partially rolled-up sleeves as Brian Williams.
This isn't news, it's theater. And it's bad theater.
I shut off the television, because I knew what was coming. Slow-motion images, piano music and a catchy (but somber!) graphic. As the media excoriates the administration for its response to Katrina, I wonder if they will spend at least part of today examining their own failures in the aftermath of the storm.
The fact remains that Katrina was an enormous media scandal. As I've said before, the media repeatedly lied to the American people about what was happening and have not come clean about those lies. Every rumor was reported - and almost no one took the time to actually engage in journalism - finding facts, quoting sources and telling the truth.
Keep that in mind today as the media tries to convince you that emoting equals reporting.
UPDATE - Heh. Not every media outlet is afraid of tough questions.
UPDATE II - What the...?
Posted by slublog at August 29, 2006 07:45 AM
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