Sensationalist Garbage on local news

[Dion]

I tend to agree. It's clearly over the top news reporting bordering on sensationalism. There's battle of the networks to get you viewing thier newscast and they will do what they deem necessary to get it.

[jar_e]

I don't see why this is such a shocker. This happens on international news all the time. Hell, they show the bodies 90% of the time too. I don't see what the big difference is between a family in Afghanistan who's house jsut got leveled and that family is mourning compared to one in Canada.

I don't know...I don't see the difference...it doesn't make it right...but its not like this is the first time this happened (or even in the same newscast probably for that matter)

[pepper24]

The front page of the Calgary Sun also has the hysterical mother/family on the front page. Pathetic.

[BlackArcher101]

Wow, Global is like TMZ?. Some people need to get off their high horse of morals here. Answer me this. What do you recommend Global shows for video instead of what they did? Do you have a still shot of the lawn or neighborhood?

Shots like this show the emotion involved and the importance of the story. It captures the audience. Frankly, I have no idea why you are distraught over someone else that is distraught. We are defending a woman here saying Global should have never aired her breakdown for respect of her family. Do we actually know if this woman objected to what was shown? Are we assuming she did? If she didn't, does everyone's stance here change?

Footage showing and capturing emotional moments like this are commonplace. Look no further than 9/11 for the biggest example. Look at the wars throughout the world. Hell, while being fictional, movies do the same thing.

Frankly, I don't think the news show enough to have full coverage. Starting limiting what they show and it's harder to communicate the full extent of the news.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by pepper24

The front page of the Calgary Sun also has the hysterical mother/family on the front page. Pathetic.

Yeah, but thats expected from the Sun. It was probably accompanied by a piece explaining why they deserved it.

[pepper24]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Wow, Global is like TMZ?. Some people need to get off their high horse of morals here. Answer me this. What do you recommend Global shows for video instead of what they did? Do you have a still shot of the lawn or neighborhood?

Shots like this show the emotion involved and the importance of the story. It captures the audience. Frankly, I have no idea why you are distraught over someone else that is distraught. We are defending a woman here saying Global should have never aired her breakdown for respect of her family. Do we actually know if this woman objected to what was shown? Are we assuming she did? If she didn't, does everyone's stance here change?

All Global News needs is an interview with Nancy Hicks at the scene of the crime behind police tape summarizing what happened. Maybe include the CPS statement and reaction from neighbors. That's adequate enough.

I don't want to see video of a distraught mother/family. I would asssume any parent would react in the same way and the public doesn't need to see their grief. Let the victim Rest In Peace.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by pepper24

All Global News needs is an interview with Nancy Hicks at the scene of the crime behind police tape summarizing what happened. Maybe include the CPS statement and reaction from neighbors. That's adequate enough.

I don't want to see video of a distraught mother/family.

That would work as well. But I'm betting this was more interesting and was better at communicating the severity and emotion.

Should also expect non-positive things during a newscast.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by pepper24

All Global News needs is an interview with Nancy Hicks at the scene of the crime behind police tape summarizing what happened. Maybe include the CPS statement and reaction from neighbors. That's adequate enough.

I don't want to see video of a distraught mother/family. I would asssume any parent would react in the same way and the public doesn't need to see their grief. Let the victim Rest In Peace.

Quoted for Truth

[transplant99]

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.

The beuaty of capitalism is that it works both ways.

Dont like the product? Buy a different one.

IE; Change the channel, or better yet, lock it out of your line-up alltogether.

Even better than those though? Boycott the sponsors/advertisers associated with said channel.

Blaming media for what people want to see is ridiculous IMO. I will take what we have over some state controlled situation that limits what is seen/said/heard on the airways.

Ask journalists/bloggers in China right now.

Tasteless stuff is hardly the domain of the television stations, radio or newspapers. It's merely a product of the whole "give the people what they want" during the Jerry Springer generation..... meaning society gets to decide what is shown and what isn't.....not just producers and editors.

As much as I feel for this woman and her situation, I cannot blame the media for showing it.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

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.

I was on the other side - I was interviewed and my comments were pulled completely out of context and made me look like a total a-hole. I'm not sure if I just worded it poorly, if I didn't make my point as a soundbyte, or if the reporter was looking for a spin. I think a bit of column b, a bit of column c. In any respect, I regret that I did give any interview.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Wow, Global is like TMZ?. Some people need to get off their high horse of morals here. Answer me this. What do you recommend Global shows for video instead of what they did? Do you have a still shot of the lawn or neighborhood?

Shots like this show the emotion involved and the importance of the story. It captures the audience. Frankly, I have no idea why you are distraught over someone else that is distraught. We are defending a woman here saying Global should have never aired her breakdown for respect of her family. Do we actually know if this woman objected to what was shown? Are we assuming she did? If she didn't, does everyone's stance here change?

Footage showing and capturing emotional moments like this are commonplace. Look no further than 9/11 for the biggest example. Look at the wars throughout the world. Hell, while being fictional, movies do the same thing.

Frankly, I don't think the news show enough to have full coverage. Starting limiting what they show and it's harder to communicate the full extent of the news.

Its not the job of the news to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. Its the job of the news to report the news in a pretty straightforward manner, and then the viewer can decide how it affects them. The breakdown of the mother had nothing to do with reporting the "news" of what happened. It adds nothing to the story from a journalistic standpoint, its just a voyeuristic reality tv moment. This is not a movie, its someone's life, and if this happened in my family I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want the city of Calgary to see exactly how we reacted to the initial news of the murder of a family member.

Its got nothing to do with moral high horse...if having simple courtesy and respect for someone's privacy is being on moral high horse, then our society is in much more trouble than I initially thought.

As far as just giving the people what they want, judging by this thread, obviously not everyone wants to see this stuff.

[transplant99]

As far as just giving the people what they want, judging by this thread, obviously not everyone wants to see this stuff.

Then switch the channel.

I know it sounds simplistic to say such...but it truly is the best and most effective option.

[BOSSY]

Totally agree with the first post... This might sound odd but I had no problem with them actually showing the body uncovered (moning news only - then not shown again) but it really bothered me them showing the mother's reaction.

My education is in journalism - but went the PR way instead... Doesn't make me an expert but beyond having the degree and worked in it for a short period, I deal with them everyday and have a good handle on media ethics in Calgary (yes there is such a thing)... I don't think that Global was trying to be sensationalistic by showing it - rather just poor judgement.

For the most part our media really isn't wired that way, they are respectful to families etc. - again in this case I think it was just poor judgement.

What really bothered me about the Global coverage is that it was the third story on the 6pm news last night... that is a bad sign!

[Traditional_Ale]

I think that the only reason public news broadcasts still exist is because there are enough dinosaurs still watching the effin' thing. I personally haven't owned a TV in two years and I feel 10X more informed now than before.

TV sucks.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I think that the only reason public news broadcasts still exist is because there are enough dinosaurs still watching the effin' thing. I personally haven't owned a TV in two years and I feel 10X more informed now than before.

TV sucks.

How do you watch the Flames?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I think that the only reason public news broadcasts still exist is because there are enough dinosaurs still watching the effin' thing. I personally haven't owned a TV in two years and I feel 10X more informed now than before.

TV sucks.

So for these local stories you read the newspaper, or listen to the radio?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Igottago

Its not the job of the news to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. Its the job of the news to report the news in a pretty straightforward manner, and then the viewer can decide how it affects them. The breakdown of the mother had nothing to do with reporting the "news" of what happened. It adds nothing to the story from a journalistic standpoint, its just a voyeuristic reality tv moment. This is not a movie, its someone's life, and if this happened in my family I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want the city of Calgary to see exactly how we reacted to the initial news of the murder of a family member.

Its got nothing to do with moral high horse...if having simple courtesy and respect for someone's privacy is being on moral high horse, then our society is in much more trouble than I initially thought.

As far as just giving the people what they want, judging by this thread, obviously not everyone wants to see this stuff.

My feelings exactly. Well stated!

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by flameswin

How do you watch the Flames?

I listen to more games than I watch (Peter Mahr rules), but usually the pub if I'm watching.

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

So for these local stories you read the newspaper, or listen to the radio?

Radio, but mostly internet. Actually many times its been CP that has made me aware of this or that issue.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

Shots like this show the emotion involved and the importance of the story. It captures the audience. Frankly, I have no idea why you are distraught over someone else that is distraught. We are defending a woman here saying Global should have never aired her breakdown for respect of her family. Do we actually know if this woman objected to what was shown? Are we assuming she did? If she didn't, does everyone's stance here change?

I highly doubt the mother was in any mental capacity to object to her breakdown being shown on TV. She just lost her son and the grief associated with this would be all in compassing.

Rival Calgary CTV did not show a similar clip of the distraught mother. At least they showed some class by allowing the mother to have her privacy.

[kootenayguy9]

The Calgary Herald which is also part of Bell Globemedia showed the same picture in today's Herald.