So, I turn on the computer again today and the death toll in Indonesia from the earthquakes is at 715 and the toll is expected to rise to 1100. The first day the numbers started small, around 38 dead, but by late afternoon the media was in a massive death frenzy claiming that the death toll had reached over 100, but yet the death toll at that time from other news sources said that less than 75 people had lost their lives. Yesterday the death toll was so up and down it looked like a stock market report starting with 500 dead then dropping into the 300's and hitting end of the day totals of 777 by end of day, depending on which news source you were looking at. Now today, the 715 number is quite a bit below yesterdays ending 777 number. Sensationalism is something the news media is notorious for, in all areas of reporting. In this situation it is like a death lottery....they can't wait to see the numbers pile up! The higher the numbers the better ratings for the news media! For me, one lost life was too many, and frankly I am more interested in hearing that the survivors are being removed from the debris, families are being reunited, people are coming in to help with the clean up, and the family dog was found safe. When it's all over and the numbers are clear and concise, then a responsible reporter would sit down and write a heart felt story that would shed light on the events and the number of people who lost their lives in the tragedy.....but hell, I guess that wouldn't sell newspapers or get people to watch the news or read their newspapers!! Blood and gore, death and destruction, hours and days of constant coverage of pain and suffering plastered on the television for millions of people who have nothing better to do than sit with a bag of chips and a chicken leg in their hands drooling in anticipation of sensational numbers in the death toll and the suffering of others. Don't get me wrong....I am interested in what is happening to people who are in a bad situation, but I only need to get an update, not days and days of repetitive inaccurate dribble that envelops entire channels and newspapers and sensationalizes the pain and suffering of people just like you and me! If something happened to my family, I sure as hell wouldn't want the news media showing up in my face making a bad situation worse....somebody would get their lights put out!
Responsibility is something that for the most part no longer exists with reporters or news media outlets. We are fortunate enough to have some who are willing to go against the grain of the drive by media and provide us with responsible reporting, responsible news, responsible attitudes, and although their number are few, their rise to the top is unfolding. People are sick of being lied to, patronized and given false information and are now turning the liberal media off and finding alternatives to getting the real news and actual facts! To those who are providing our country with honesty and integrity in news reporting and broadcasting I say well done, it's about time! Oh, and for those of you living in places like San Francisco, you will need to have satellite or cable, it's your only hope!!
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