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Joined: Sep 2002
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terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
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terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
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The real third Cap'n's Log
Media Ethics: Sensitivity and Sensationalism quote:
"Dirty Laundry" by Don Henley:
I make my living off the Evening News
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here
I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear
Come and whisper in my ear
Give us dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around
We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who
comes on at five
She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam
in her eye
It's interesting when people die-
Give us dirty laundry
Can we film the operation?
Is the head dead yet?
You know, the boys in the newsroom got a
running bet
Get the widow on the set!
We need dirty laundry
You don't really need to find out what's going on
You don't really want to know just how far it's gone
Just leave well enough love
Eat your dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're stiff
Kick 'em all around
Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do "The Innuendo"
We can dance and sing
When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing
We all know that Crap is King
Give us dirty laundry!
This 80's hit is a bit of an overgeneralization, but as thedoctor says, sometimes you have to overgeneralize to get people's attention. I posted these lyrics (which were damn hard to find, try this link for a terrific lyrics search engine) to call attention to a persistent problem in the media, particularly the television media.
Several years ago, the parents of two of my friends were killed in a helicopter crash in Hawaii while my friends and I were out of the country on a volunteer project. As the deceased couple had a relatively high profile in the community, the media practically pounced on the story. When we returned home, we were all greeted by a bevy of reporters and cameramen, all hoping to find out exactly how we were feeling, and finding it necessary to keep bringing the subject up at every turn.
I would have dismissed it as a localized phenomenon, but since that time I've noticed the same thing several nights a week on pretty much every network news show. It seems that getting the best coverage of a hot story before the other guys is a higher priority to some journalists than being mindful of the emotions of people who suffer 'big headline' losses. Maybe I'm overgeneralizing, but I want to know what all of you think.
Should there be a more standardized code of ethics for the news media? If so, what should it include? Are there practices common to journalists that should change? Let me know what you think. And Doc, if there's already a thread for this, I can always come up with Log 3.2 tomorrow. ![[nyah hah]](images/icons/tongue.gif)
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Joined: May 2003
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It all comes down to assertiveness, doesn't it? Assert your right to control who is in your face, who you talk to, who is aiming a camera over your back fence, who is putting a hand on you...
If a bunch of reporters are waiting to ambush you, just ignore them. If they impede your forward progress, remove them by force. If they touch you, defend yourself. If you don't know how to physically defend yourself, learn. If they yell questions at you, do you have to answer? No. If they take pictures of you on your private residence (or similar), get a good lawyer and go after them. If they come on to your property, remove them by force.
No good wishing other people will change. There will always be scumbags in the news media. Your own "code of ethics" will never be in agreement with theirs. You can't change them.
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Timelord. Drunkard. 15000+ posts
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Timelord. Drunkard. 15000+ posts
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That's a very narrow and unthought out view. Pushing the media around won't be the best way to go. Remember, they can sue you easier than you can them. They only get into trouble if they trespass on your lawn or physically attack you in front of witnesses. Other than that, you'll have a hard time getting rid of them.
Besides, I think this is more about how the media acts rather than how the victims of over zealous media coverage should react. It's a fine line. They do sometimes need to be "heartless" in order to get a story, but there should definitely be a line they shouldn't cross. Regular Joes who have been through trauma shouldn't have to put up with reporters asking the same heart-wrenching questions. That should be a point where the media itself should cut off. But it won't.
We're a sensationalist nation. As long as we're buying they're selling. I predict that the media won't adhere to any "rules of the game" anymore. They'll just keeping interrupting and ruining lives like Richard Jewell and others. The media is not a force that will be easy to contend with.
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Kisser Of John Byrne Ass 15000+ posts
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Kisser Of John Byrne Ass 15000+ posts
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Posts: 16,240 |
I always feel the viewrship is more to blam ethan the media outlet..how else can one explain reality TV? TV news is just more of the same. And the American public is all too willing to destroy the cocept of innocent until proven guilty....look at Scott Peterson and the Parent's of Jon Bonet Ramsey... Much circumstantial evidence, but still no trial. The court of public opinion can never be beaten... The media doesn't create public opinion they create the stories. The public creates public opinion.
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Joined: May 2003
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quote:
thedoctor:
That's a very narrow and unthought out view.
No it isn't.
"Pushing the media around" is not what my post was advocating. Far from it. My post was about asserting your rights, not about infringing on their rights. An important distinction you missed.
What's the alternative?
quote:
thedoctor:
Regular Joes who have been through trauma shouldn't have to put up with reporters asking the same heart-wrenching questions. That should be a point where the media itself should cut off. But it won't.
I predict that the media won't adhere to any "rules of the game" anymore. They'll just keeping interrupting and ruining lives like Richard Jewell and others.
No scumbag is the slightest bit interested in what anyone thinks he/she "should" do. So throw your hands in the air, complain about how unfair it is, just take it.
Me...? I'm suggesting a different approach. I will assert my rights as defined by me.
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I kinda agree with Doc on this one. And if any meddling, blood-thirsty cunt ever stuck a microphone in MY face after I had just suffered some sort of personal tragedy you had better believe I would rip out their fucking spleen, consequences be damned.
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Joined: Sep 2002
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terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
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terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
Joined: Sep 2002
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Joined: Jun 2003
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In the olden days of the 18 and 19 centuries, it was permissible to beat the piss out of reporters. Even to go to their offices and thrash them with canes. Maybe we revive this tradition.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 17,801
terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
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terrible podcaster 15000+ posts
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*Bump!* (The next one isn't ready yet.) ![[wink]](images/icons/wink.gif)
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 34,398 Likes: 38
"Hey this is PCG342's bro..." 15000+ posts
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"Hey this is PCG342's bro..." 15000+ posts
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 34,398 Likes: 38 |
I kinda agree with Doc on this one. And if any meddling, blood-thirsty cunt ever stuck a microphone in MY face after I had just suffered some sort of personal tragedy you had better believe I would rip out their fucking spleen, consequences be damned. You tell 'em, Pariah Carey!
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