Sunday, March 20, 2011
Japan < US
What is it about the newscasters interviewing experts about the multiple disasters in Japan asking how this affects the US? They ask if radiation will make its way here, if we have nuclear reactors that could do that, if we could have the same kind of devastation, how this will affect our economy, and on and on. Those are valid questions. No doubt. But shouldn't they be asked AFTER getting information about Japan? They are the ones dealing with the worst disaster in their history and probably any other country's. Could we focus on that and not make it all about us first?
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8 comments:
And The Engineer would tell you that much of the information speculated, worried over, nattered about the US is slightly wrong, really wrong, fling the remote at the TV wrong.
We have a radiation monitor here in town thanks to the Mad Scientists. It has gone slightly up. Nothing to worry about but interesting how sensitive it is.
I agree with you Auntie! God forbid we aren't in the news!
It's okay, Auntie Flame! Before you know it all interest will turn to the US anyway, as we bail France out, once again, in the war they started with Libya!
I noticed that, too. Even NPR reporters are doing an Al Franken impersonation. "How will this affect us, THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?" I always feel embarrassed when they do that.
I agree with you, we have the same issue on the UK news front too. However I must admit that the regular news viewer is probably thinking the same thing and wants to know these things.
It is also easier to hold a news viewer if the news relate to them in some way.
It's a sad commentary that we care less about the devastation over there and more about how it will impact us.
One of the things you learn in becoming a journalist is to tie whatever is going on in the larger world back to your main readership/audience. If you tell people about themselves, they are more likely to stay interested in what you are saying. Why? That's just how we're wired. Anyway, my point is, they are doing what journalists are trained to do, and that's why you see them all doing it. It's like with 9/11 - local news reports on it started with the big picture, but would always include some bit about someone from the local area who was involved in some way.
I agree with you, Joy
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