When Disaster Strikes
No matter how much we complain about media bias and inane programming, when something major happens we turn on our televisions to get the latest news. But what happens when a disaster is so widespread not even the media is spared?
Joplin, Missouri is one of the nation's smallest tv markets (148th) and as such has undergone a lot of consolidation in recent years. The four network affiliates are run by just two stations and they share news staff. The news director of the CBS/Fox combo says seven of her staff lost their homes to Sunday's tornado but they remain in the field reporting on the disaster. A call has gone out to the Missouri Broadcasters Association for spare reporters.
And if you have a couple of gallons of diesel to lend that would be helpful, too. The stations are operating on generators.
Speaking of bias, kudos to CNN's Howard Kurtz, who called out his own network for omitting former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer from a package of notable sex scandals that brought down political careers. "I’m sorry, if you’re going to do this kind of story you have to include Eliot Spitzer even if he does now host a prime time CNN program. Otherwise, you are airbrushing history.”
After 40 years of priding itself on offering non-interrupted programming, PBS will start inserting promotional and underwriting breaks at :20 and :40 past the hour on selected shows this fall. PBS is struggling with the new media reality. KCET, Los Angeles quit the network in January and now the Orlando affiliate WMFE has been sold to a religious broadcaster.
And on the religious side, Mark Burnett, the producer of Survivor and The Apprentice is going to produce a 13-part dramatic interpretation of The Bible for the History Channel. After The Kennedys miniseries dust up, what could go wrong?
Plenty if you ask Charles Barkley to host. The TNT basketball analyst flipped off fans during the network's outdoor NBA pregame show in Miami. “They were telling me I suck,” he said. “They were telling me I never won a championship. Like, ‘Come on, give me something better than that, dude.’
“I always laugh at that statement, ‘You didn’t get a ring. ‘I’m like, dude, you work at McDonald’s. My life’s a lot better than yours. You relax.’ ”
And finally, in the Changing Face of America Department, the Sunday night finale of Univision's Nuestra Belleza Latina (Our Latin Beauty) beat out the four english networks in the 18-34 demographic and completely wiped out Fox in total viewers. In case you're wondering the winner was Nastassja Bolivar of Miami. Gratuitous photo goes here:
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Dec '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
kudos to CNN's Howard Kurtz
Meh, slam dunk. Not a brave stance at all. Even a bit self-serving if you ask me.
PBS is struggling with the new media reality. KCET, Los Angeles quit the network in January and now the Orlando affiliate WMFE has been sold to a religious broadcaster.
Time to defund CPB. Believe me, it would be a big deal and would show that we're serious about spending, even if it's not much of the budget. PBS will go to cable. I don't even think people watch it anymore, they just support it in principle. They produce nothing unique. Kids watch Dora, adults watch Discovery and History channels.
“I always laugh at that statement, ‘You didn’t get a ring. ‘I’m like, dude, you work at McDonald’s. My life’s a lot better than yours. You relax.’ ”
If he's so sanguine, why is he flipping people off?
Jul '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
Hey, is the Pakistani Red Crescent on scene in Joplin yet? How about the Saudis and their cadaver camels?
No?
May '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
Kenneth: Hey, is the Pakistani Red Crescent on scene in Joplin yet? How about the Saudis and their cadaver camels?
No? · May 24 at 4:54pm
And they're not in Oklahoma City tonight either. And Joplin is under another tornado warning at this hour.
Jan '11
Re: When Disaster Strikes
EJHill, this is quite the remarkable post. I always enjoy hearing your thoughts. And to see CNN actually reporting NEWS that exists within their membranes - perhaps there is hope . . . . . . .
Jul '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
E.J. What do you mean Changing?
It's clear that the 18 to 34 demographic still has its priorities straight!
Had I known it was on, I'd have been watching too...
May '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
Univision is a network where the language of choice is exclusively Spanish. We now have several, like Telemundo and Telefutura. One of the fastest growing of the ESPN family of networks is ESPN Deportes. There is no attempt at assimilation. Just tons and tons of original programming en Espanol.
Dec '10
Re: When Disaster Strikes
AmishDude:
Time to defund CPB. Believe me, it would be a big deal and would show that we're serious about spending, even if it's not much of the budget. PBS will go to cable. I don't even think people watch it anymore, they just support it in principle. They produce nothing unique. Kids watch Dora, adults watch Discovery and History channels.
May 24 at 3:46pm
I still watch PBS. The problem is that they only show anything worth watching during their "pledge drives," so I have to sit through twenty minutes of begging for every fifteen minutes of programing. Amazon.com is what is killing PBS. I can just buy the CD/DVD of the program from Amazon for $8.99/$16.99 instead of having to pledge $60/$120 for it.