Sensationalist Garbage on local news - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

corporatejay · 08-20-2008, 06:11 PM

Hello all,

I am far from one to shy away from violence or gritty content, frankly I find it ridiculous when people call to complain about the amount of adult content in a tv program.

But tonight I was watching the local news on global (not my choice, I generally find local news ridiculous) and they were discussing the murder that took place in saddleridge this morning. While I find this extremely newsworthy, what really got my blood boiling was the footage of the mother absolutely losing her mind over the loss of her son. It was so disturbing to see her break down like that over what is obviously a tragedy.

What really grinds my gears is the camera man filming this and then global choosing to air it. This is private moment for the family and it nothing more than pure sensationalist garbage, a mother breaking down over the loss of her son is NOT NEWS. It's one thing if she consented to an interview, but this was the camera from a distance zooming in on this.

I am going to email a complaint to global, if anyone else saw this and feels the same way, I urge you to do the same, the only way we are going to get ACTUAL news, and not tabloid journalism if people stand up.

/rant

global's contact info:

globalnews.calg@globaltv.com

Azure · 08-20-2008, 06:14 PM

What people want to see, is what the media provides them with.

604flames · 08-20-2008, 06:19 PM

"If it bleeds, it leads."

That said, I always feel uneasy watching that kind of stuff, whether it's on Global Calgary or any station out here..

Displaced Flames fan · 08-20-2008, 06:31 PM

Agree with you completely.

We had an incident a few years ago that made the local news (and rightfully so) but all 3 of the local news stations asked to interview me and I denied all 3. Probably the best decision I've ever made in my life. We were absolutely hammered in the local paper even though nobody had any idea who we were or what actually happened. Disgusting.

Cube Inmate · 08-20-2008, 06:35 PM

I didn't see it, but I agree completely with the OP. It's garbage.

The mass media, at the local, national, international levels are concerned with nothing more than whatever will bring in the most bucks. Anybody who watches "news" with the intent of being informed is very naive...informing oneself is an active process, not a passive one.

corporatejay · 08-20-2008, 06:38 PM

I should clarify that I have no problem with the news leading with the story of a man being shot, that in itself IS NEWS and something I want to know about.

I just don't think you need to show the mother having a nervous breakdown screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo and falling to the floor while her family tries prop up her limp body.

Devils'Advocate · 08-20-2008, 06:42 PM

"they are concerned with nothing more than what brings in the most bucks"? Isn't that the capitalist ideal? I'm sure Bell-Globemedia has a few stockholders that would like them to do whatever brings in the most profit.

RougeUnderoos · 08-20-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Anybody who watches "news" with the intent of being informed is very naive...informing oneself is an active process, not a passive one.

So this is a story about a murder in Calgary -- what would one "actively" do to be informed of this story if not read/watch/hear the news?

Phone the cops or the victim's family?

missdpuck · 08-20-2008, 07:39 PM

Pose as a journalist?

Igottago · 08-20-2008, 07:58 PM

Didn't see it either but totally agree with the sentiment of the thread starter. Sounds like it was a pretty tasteless piece. The family needs their privacy and space to deal with their own greif, they don't need the entire city seeing it.

Clarkey · 08-20-2008, 08:03 PM

I didn't see it but how bout that serious journalist tone all these clones take on when they are reporting on some bull non-event story. What a load of crock.

PowerPlayoffs06 · 08-20-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

"they are concerned with nothing more than what brings in the most bucks"? Isn't that the capitalist ideal? I'm sure Bell-Globemedia has a few stockholders that would like them to do whatever brings in the most profit.

Yes, we all know that the almighty dollar rules supreme and everybody on CP thinks that if a company isn't doing everything they can to bring in every red cent possible, they're failing their stockholders. Maybe the media should do more to try and be on the scene and get some shots of the corpses in these kind of things. Just imagine how many bucks they could have made if they'd gotten a few shots of the aftermath of the Greyhound attack, or some live video of soldiers getting shot up in Afghanistan. If a mother wailing over the loss of her child brings in money, they're obviously ignoring an untapped revenue source by not trying to throw the tarp off the body and get some shots of that for the ol' 6 O'clock cast.

Seriously, the vehement defense of business trying to make a buck at the expense of everything and everybody that goes on around here disgusts me sometimes.

jayswin · 08-20-2008, 08:20 PM

Global annoys me because they specifically targets shots like that. They did the same thing when that guy killed four people in that house in Calgary. Someone showed up on scene and lost it, and the stupid camera man followed him around as he tried to get into to the house while breaking down. They have no shame.

JiriHrdina · 08-20-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clarkey

I didn't see it but how bout that serious journalist tone all these clones take on when they are reporting on some bull non-event story. What a load of crock.

I'm not sure if I'm mis-understanding but are you saying that the murder is a "bull non-event story"?

Clarkey · 08-20-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I'm not sure if I'm mis-understanding but are you saying that the murder is a "bull non-event story"?

NO no no! I'm referring to stories such as the city alderman contemplating banning drivethru's.

jayswin · 08-20-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I'm not sure if I'm mis-understanding but are you saying that the murder is a "bull non-event story"?

I had to re-read that post a few times myself, and have come to the conclusion that he was trying to make a seperate point about journalists, and was not intending to speak to the murder story....Hopefully.

Jayems · 08-20-2008, 08:30 PM

Well, the camera man is in a bit of a quagmire. Firstly, he's just there doing his job. Just like a camera man at a Flames game. As such, he'll shoot where the action is. At the end of the day, it's not his say as to what goes to air or not. He just shoots what he sees. How can you really blame the camera guy?

Secondly, the other issue is that if he has a conscientious objection to shooting that and he doesn't, but CTV does, then he'll get his peepee slapped back at the newsroom for not getting the shots.

He's in a really tough spot.

Put all that, together with angry bystanders who will be the first to condemn cameramen for getting the shots, but unable to remove themselves from the peanut gallery — and still probably watch it on the news — and they're in a real tight spot.

It's remarkable how people can stand there and watch a fire, car accident or whatever for 20+ minutes, yet have the gall to call out a guy who's just doing his job and snaps a few photos or takes a few video shots.

Did i mention they're in a difficult situation?

Clarkey · 08-20-2008, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flameswin

I had to re-read that post a few times myself, and have come to the conclusion that he was trying to make a seperate point about journalists, and was not intending to speak to the murder story....Hopefully.

Sorry, you're right that's not what I meant. I just typed a quick b.s. message in between sets while working out.

corporatejay · 08-20-2008, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Well, the camera man is in a bit of a quagmire. Firstly, he's just there doing his job. Just like a camera man at a Flames game. As such, he'll shoot where the action is. At the end of the day, it's not his say as to what goes to air or not. He just shoots what he sees. How can you really blame the camera guy?

Secondly, the other issue is that if he has a conscientious objection to shooting that and he doesn't, but CTV does, then he'll get his peepee slapped back at the newsroom for not getting the shots.

He's in a really tough spot.

Put all that, together with angry bystanders who will be the first to condemn cameramen for getting the shots, but unable to remove themselves from the peanut gallery — and still probably watch it on the news — and they're in a real tight spot.

It's remarkable how people can stand there and watch a fire, car accident or whatever for 20+ minutes, yet have the gall to call out a guy who's just doing his job and snaps a few photos or takes a few video shots.

Did i mention they're in a difficult situation?

I'll give you that, even as I wrote it, I realize that he's just doing what he's told, but he still received my scorn, my anger is directed more at Global itself, the editors and producers of the pieces.

but there is a differences between watching a fire, car accident or "whatever" for 20 minutes, and showing someone breaking down on television at the loss of their sun, it was extremely haunting and bush league, and ultimately extremely unprofessional. I didn't realize global had turned into TMZ.

Igottago · 08-20-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jayems

Well, the camera man is in a bit of a quagmire. Firstly, he's just there doing his job. Just like a camera man at a Flames game. As such, he'll shoot where the action is. At the end of the day, it's not his say as to what goes to air or not. He just shoots what he sees. How can you really blame the camera guy?

Secondly, the other issue is that if he has a conscientious objection to shooting that and he doesn't, but CTV does, then he'll get his peepee slapped back at the newsroom for not getting the shots.

He's in a really tough spot.

Put all that, together with angry bystanders who will be the first to condemn cameramen for getting the shots, but unable to remove themselves from the peanut gallery — and still probably watch it on the news — and they're in a real tight spot.

It's remarkable how people can stand there and watch a fire, car accident or whatever for 20+ minutes, yet have the gall to call out a guy who's just doing his job and snaps a few photos or takes a few video shots.

Did i mention they're in a difficult situation?

What's so difficult?

That's why they have editors. I have no issue with the camera person simply recording what they see. But the station has to have a bit more integrity in what they allow to make the news item that airs. And to me its a pretty easy decision, out of respect for the grieving family, not to air a complete emotional breakdown. This lady just heard her son was murdured. That's a deeply personal tragedy to deal with, it shouldn't be done in front of an entire city. That's just common decency, no matter who you are. The station and their editors should know that. Its just really inconsiderate and its pretty vile that they aired it. Hopefully there's some public backlash against them.