This is a clip from a current story here on yahoo.
By ESTES THOMPSON, Associated Press Writer
McGRADY, N.C. - Rangers coordinating the search for a 12-year-old Boy Scout missing in the North Carolina mountains were scrambling to try to confirm a radio transmission from searchers Tuesday that the child may have been found.
"I've heard that's he's alive. We still haven't confirmed this is 100 percent true," said Tina White, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service.
Question:
Does anyone agree that all involved with this story are willfully negligent? Shouldn't the horrific incident of the dead miner's mistakenly being reported alive a while ago have ended this kind of irresponsible reporting. The forestry individual must be out of her mind to report anything but to announce and introduce the boy on camera. The reporters even reporting her stupid announcement should lose their journalism licenses.
Anyone else agree?
WHAT ARE THEY THINKING?
2007-03-20 04:46:24 · 4 answers · asked by kent j 3 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
In a way you are correct, but all their story does is to indicate that there was a radio transmission from searchers but they have been unable to confirm that the boy has been found alive..
Is this a news story - Absolutely! Sure it is.
But - not a very good one since it does not tell us whether the boy is dead or alive at this point.
News is what the the Journalists make it to be! And can usually be twisted in any shape they want!
2007-03-20 05:18:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is totally stupid, I agree, but the reporters have no control over what they report. They are assigned to different happenings depending on thier area of expertise.
However, it totally irresponsible for the media to announce that the boy MIGHT be alive because that will only get the hopes of his family and friends up. What if he's dead? Then thier hearts will just be broken all the more because thier hopes were falsey raised.
2007-03-20 11:56:42 · answer #2 · answered by Kate, the one and only 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, it's just another example of journalistic CYA. The reporter/station is afraid that someone else will beat them to the story, and at the same time does not want to look irresponsible if their info is incorrect. Therefore, the "nonstory": 'I've heard', and 'haven't confirmed 100%' are phrases that used to be only found in "tabloids" and gossip/scandal sheets - where they belong. Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave.
2007-03-20 12:24:33 · answer #3 · answered by Pretending To Work 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are right. This is not a news story. The First Amendment should be amended to hold rumor mongers or worse to their due.
2007-03-20 11:53:14 · answer #4 · answered by ElOsoBravo 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋