LAist: Dear Media: Help Prevent the Next Unnatural Disaster

guest

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:14:41 -0800

LOL..Arianna Huffington for comments...priceless.

Andy Sternberg

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 05:07:47 -0800

guest 6: well said. There's certainly no "fairness doctrine" that encourages the spreading of bullshit. Also, objectivity should be leashed to the truth but should never seem forced, especially in a CYA kind of way. Then again, many members of the media are highly underpaid and have complete imbeciles for bosses! But yeah, just because Fox News has the ratings doesn't mean you have to follow their lead in helping corrupt people/governments/corporations/mining operations to cover their asses.

guest

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 04:04:51 -0800

I don't want media to wimp out and "let you conclude for yourself" when the science is clear. Seismologist had stated concusively that there was no earthquake, and that the seismic readings they got was consistent with a collapse. If you understand the way seismic readings work--as anyone living here should--then you know that this conculsion was easy to make. Too many people don't understand how these things work, though, and somehow think there must be some gray area, or that it's a matter of opinion. Media gives too much credence to people who don't understand science in the interest of balanced covereage. Take global warming. One researcher out of a hundred might say it's caused exculsively by chicken farts, and media gives that one as much time as they give the other 99. Sometimes, when a fact is conclusive, media just needs to give it to us, not give voice to every dissenter with an agenda.

RDM

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 11:18:31 -0800

To be fair, the coverage I heard (on NPR) really let you conclude for yourself whether or not it was an earthquake. They don't need to spell it out for you when the dots practically connect themselves.

guest

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 10:38:20 -0800

Now here is an article worth my time. Great story; excellent, professional writing. Thank you for this.

guest

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:47:57 -0800

thanks for reporting on this.

RyanSmith

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:25:22 -0800

I just finished watching Kirk Douglas in the classic noir "Ace In The Hole" as a enterprising news reporter who uses a guy trapped in a mine to his own advantage and eventually the place becomes a literal media circus. There are some strong similarities to this recent Utah fiasco.

guest

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 09:04:06 -0800

Forget the miners. How much money is this costing the mine owners? Thats the real tragedy. Oh the poor P%L.