What's up with news reporters?

[JPFair]

I have to laugh at what I've witnessed during the recent blizzard here on the East Coast.

As the weather conditions were atrocious, I like many others, decided to stay indoors and keep warm. I decided to switch on the local news to see what the weather forecast was like, to gauge when I'll be safe to go outside again.

What happened next is what is so confusing....

There's two news anchors on the tube, both of them looking nice and warm in their studio. They're warning the viewers to "stay indoors" and "DON'T go outside for ANY reason whatsover, unless it is a medical emergency". They go on to state that people who shun this advice are careless, selfish, and putting lives of others at risk. Hmmmm. Sounds like sound, reasonable advice doesn't it? FIVE seconds later, they say "Now we're going to go to our reporter who is out on Rt. 95 covering the storm". They show some reporter being blown all over the place, snow blowing in his face practically being thrown onto the highway in front of oncoming traffic. He is trying to report on the conditions but the weather is hampering his reporting. He continues to talk about the snow, the driving conditions, and how foolish it would be for non-medical personnel to be out on the roads during this storm. HELLO!!!! Is HE medical personnel? What is HE doing on the roads during the storm? Didn't he as well as his news anchors just say how foolish, selfish, and ridiculous people that go out in this weather are?

I don't get it. In one breath they're telling us NOT to go outside our homes unless it's a medical emergency, and in the next breath they're showing one of their reporters risking his own life to try and get the 'big story' on the weather?

The media have turned into hypocrites, who are hell bent on out performing their competition in an attempt to show who can report about the storm in the most dangerous fashion and catch it on camera.

I just don't get it!!

[Warmother]

I have to laugh at what I've witnessed during the recent blizzard here on the East Coast.

As the weather conditions were atrocious, I like many others, decided to stay indoors and keep warm. I decided to switch on the local news to see what the weather forecast was like, to gauge when I'll be safe to go outside again.

What happened next is what is so confusing....

There's two news anchors on the tube, both of them looking nice and warm in their studio. They're warning the viewers to "stay indoors" and "DON'T go outside for ANY reason whatsover, unless it is a medical emergency". They go on to state that people who shun this advice are careless, selfish, and putting lives of others at risk. Hmmmm. Sounds like sound, reasonable advice doesn't it? FIVE seconds later, they say "Now we're going to go to our reporter who is out on Rt. 95 covering the storm". They show some reporter being blown all over the place, snow blowing in his face practically being thrown onto the highway in front of oncoming traffic. He is trying to report on the conditions but the weather is hampering his reporting. He continues to talk about the snow, the driving conditions, and how foolish it would be for non-medical personnel to be out on the roads during this storm. HELLO!!!! Is HE medical personnel? What is HE doing on the roads during the storm? Didn't he as well as his news anchors just say how foolish, selfish, and ridiculous people that go out in this weather are?

I don't get it. In one breath they're telling us NOT to go outside our homes unless it's a medical emergency, and in the next breath they're showing one of their reporters risking his own life to try and get the 'big story' on the weather?

The media have turned into hypocrites, who are hell bent on out performing their competition in an attempt to show who can report about the storm in the most dangerous fashion and catch it on camera.

I just don't get it!!

JP I work for a station and have spent many hours during snow coverage saying the same thing you just did. The answer the people who make the decisions to out into the mess is "We are saving lives, if we show how bad it is people won't go out in it."

I tell them that people should be able to figure that out for themselves. They smile and say we broadcast to the lowest denominator. aka "dummies", then they show the ratings that people will watch snow coverage in record numbers. Guess what the numbers (ratings) are always double or more than normal.

So long story short don't watch the coverage because it's everybody else's fault that the local news does those stupid snow coverage broadcast.

[JPFair]

If I wanted to see how bad it is, I just look out my front window. I don't begrudge them wanting to report the story, although I think using the reasoning that they're "saving lives" is ridiculous. I even admit that I watch their snow coverage. However, when I do watch it I don't say to myself "WOW, I better not go out in it". I merely laugh at how ridiculous the reporter looks standing there being blown all over the place. Also, if the ratings are so high, doesn't that mean that people are taking it upon themselves not to go out in it, and rather are at home watching their coverage? Furthermore, by them saying that the ratings are double during snow coverage is admitting that what they really want is the ratings, and not the saving of lives. What it boils down to is money, not saving lives.

Having said that, I think I'll take warmothers advice and not watch snow coverage anymore. Next time we have a blizzard, I'm gonna keep my television on the NFL Network.

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

But who's gonna report on the main road conditions???? The irresponsible SUV drivers wanna know!!!

[JPFair]

Irresponsible SUV drivers? Dont' worry about them, they usually end up parking their cars on train tracks in front of an oncoming Commuter train in Glendale, California. Not to go off topic, but did anyone read about that jackass in Californi who tried to commit suicied by parking his SUV on the train tracks, and then jumped out at the last minut? What a moron!!!

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Yes, very moronic. Yes, his actions resulted in the unfair deaths of others. How sad.

[tazlah]

But who's gonna report on the main road conditions????

You know what, if it's THAT bad out -- I can report on the main road conditions!!! As can anybody with a window who can see that they CAN'T see because of the snow. My bet is, the road conditions will be BAD. So my report would say, "Stay off the roads! It's a blizzard -- stay home."

In fact, from my comfy chair in London, Ontario, watching the news about a blizzard in Boston, I can rightly ascertain that the roads will be BAD!

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Good point, but what if you wanna take the Hummer out and play?? You need to know if it's worth the drive. You can't take it out on a clean road!!!! That would be ridiculous.

[tazlah]

The Hummer is ALWAYS worth the drive!