Posted on 09/07/2005 5:34:22 PM PDT by jmc1969
US TV reporters and newscasters are covering Hurricane Katrina and problem-plagued relief efforts with a sense of outrage and antagonism many thought had long gone out of fashion in broadcast journalism.
In numerous testy exchanges played out over the airwaves during the past week, the news media has challenged public officials who sought to downplay the crisis or defend an initial disaster response widely seen as having been fumbled. Media watchers say journalists were empowered by their own first-hand reporting and by the grim images showing thousands of hurricane victims left for days to fend for themselves amid the rising floodwaters that swamped New Orleans.
When Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown asserted on ABC News' Nightline last Thursday that he had only just learned of evacuees stranded at the city's convention centre, host Ted Koppel zinged back: "Don't you guys watch television?"
Chiding Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Face the Nation,CBS correspondent Bob Schieffer called the Government's handling of the disaster "a total failure".
And NBC's Meet the Pressmoderator Tim Russert openly criticised President George W. Bush for his statement that no one had foreseen the levee breaches in New Orleans, asking: "How could the president be so wrong, so misinformed?"
At a televised White House press briefing, a heated exchange erupted between reporters and spokesman Scott McClellan over criticism of government hurricane relief efforts. Mr McClellan accused a reporter of playing a "blame game". The reporter accused McClellan of "dodging" a direct question. The newly assertive tone of Katrina coverage, particularly on TV, struck many as a welcome return to a brand of journalism seldom found in recent years – a departure from what some regard as overly deferential treatment of U.S. political leaders in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on America.
Others hailed it as a departure from trivialities that often dominate today's headlines and cable news channels.
"Journalism seems to have recovered its reason for being," Washington Post media writer Howard Kurtz wrote.
Political humorist Jon Stewart, a frequent critic of mainstream news outlets, opened his Tuesday night TV show by commending the main networks for showing "spine" and "bravery" in their storm coverage. (He went on to jokingly compare the media to a fat drunk shaking off his stupor to chase off car vandals with a tire iron.)
"I think the press, which arguably was cowed by the (Bush) administration in the run-up to the war with Iraq, was certainly not cowed in covering the aftermath of Katrina," said Ken Auletta, who writes for The New Yorker magazine and is author of the network news history Three Blind Mice.
He and other observers said the biggest factor in changing the dynamic was the media's success in beating the Government to the disaster zone.
"The press was doing its job, and in doing its job, they saw this clash between what they were witnessing with their own eyes and what officials were telling them," Auletta said.
He said news media historically tended to reflect the mood of public opinion and might have felt emboldened by a prevailing consensus that government's early response to the storm was too slow.
Even conservative commentators joined the chorus of criticism, with MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, calling the situation "a national disgrace". Others, including radio host Rush Limbaugh accused the media of using the crisis to bash Mr Bush.
Still, the emphatic, even emotional displays of some journalists stirred debate about whether they had crossed a line, such as when CNN's Anderson Cooper scolded Democratic US Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana – "Do you get the anger out there?" – during his interview with her as she praised passage of an emergency spending Bill.
Independent network news analyst Andrew Tyndall said he saw nothing wrong with reporters voicing scepticism, even outrage, at what he said was "manifest incompetence".
Barbie Zelizer, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School of Communication, agreed.
"I don't think anybody can look at the documentation of what went down in New Orleans and not be disgusted and appalled and horrified," she said.
But Auletta said he was troubled to see correspondents and newscasters blurring the line between straight reporting of facts and editorial declarations.
Oh Ted, who couldn't watch YOU every night.
I am sure if they asked The NAACP for some funds to help these people it would be forth comming.
For a few days it went absolutely crazy bashing Bush, which is what Kurtz means, and all that he means. It is an indication of just how small journalism has become.
Ted Koppel zinged back: "Don't you guys watch television?"
And someone remind me why we should trust anything the MSM puts on the tube
The disparity between the total outrage by the news media compared to that "yah they could have don't it a bit better but no one deserves to be fired" from the US public is funny. The media thinks that they know what is best for America, and this just shows that they can't force the public to think or believe what they way they want them to.
Shows the outrage of the media, perhaps. The media has been outrageous and extremely unprofessional.
"The newly assertive tone of Katrina coverage, particularly on TV, struck many as a welcome return to a brand of journalism seldom found in recent years "
"Struck many" .... yeah "the many" Liberal Do Nothings within the MSM. Transparency alert.
As a newly created conspiracy theorist, I believe that Governor Blanco had these immages clearly in mind when she refused the Red Cross permission to enter NO. I do not believe she acted alone but that she consulted with others in the Democratic / Move-on.org leadership to create as much chaos as possible and, since it was poor Blacks, blame it on Bush who they have consistently accused of Racism. The reaction of the Congressional Black Caucus and others was just too early and too sure of itself to believe otherwise.
I don't know how the NAACP came into play regarding this article?
Anyway and in other words, we have here is a case of whether or not the "Republican Feds" should come into the town right away and throw their collective weight around (and get 'er done) or the Feds deciding to let the State Gov't handle what they can. Once decided that the inexperience of the local democratic government clearly couldn't handle things, the Feds stepped in.
Should they have been a bully to begin with? Yes, I suppose they should have but hindsight is indeed 20/20. Too bad, so sad. What's even sadder is now they have to save face for something that wasn't even their fault in the first place. In doing so, it's going to cost the taxpayers exponentially more to engratiate the libs.
Situation normal. They can't even get the basic fact that Blanco controls the National Guard in Louisiana, or that Blanco's apparatus is what kept the Red Cross from providing relief at the ThunderDome and Convention Center.
Yeah, I'd say the media is pathetic.
"Ted Koppel zinged back: "Don't you guys watch television?"
And someone remind me why we should trust anything the MSM puts on the tube"
Man, Oh man, just think where we would be if our leaders not only watched, but believed what the MAM spews.
I remember a line from a Frank Zappa tune: “I’m the slime oozing out of your TV set.”
>MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, calling the situation "a national disgrace<
Make that former Republican period. BTW his contract with MSNBC has just been extended through 2020...
"Journalism seems to have recovered its reason for being..."
I'm getting very tired of CNN/NBC/CBS etc reporting to me about this "widespread criticism" that Bush/FEMA/"the Feds" are taking.
The only "widespread criticism" of federal actors is coming from CNN/NBC/CBS. It must be nice to be able to tell people what they think, and then be able to cite that you told them what to think as evidence that they think it.
Morons. Hopefully everyone saw the numbers from Gallop earlier this morning. Most Americans think "the Feds" have done a good job.
What this is going to do is cause the Republican Congress to introduce legislation that pushes the locals aside.
If the feds are going to get ripped for not getting in earlier, then the feds are going to make sure they have the authority to get in early.
That will remove all discretion from the locals, and Homeland Security will take over from the very start.
Be careful what you wish for.
That's exactly right...and what's so ironic is that the more responsible the feds have to become, the less responsible the state and people become. We continue to perpetuate and feed the very problems we cease to eliminate.
Unfortunately, you are probably right! The CESSPOOL of New Orleans/Louisiana political history may very well drive yet another nail in the coffin of our Republic!
I am absolutely certain that the shameful performance of the Louisiana politicos IS NOT reflective of State/Local government competence elsewhere!
I sincerely hope that the "Investigation" of what went wrong... and... when, DOES NOT result in yet another "Knee-Jerk" piece of litigation from the congress!
Gee..., doesn't anyone remember that it was only a year or so ago that FEMA became a small cog in the wheel of "Homeland Security"?
FEMA has ALWAYS been essentially a coordinating agency and NEVER was intended to solely run ANYTHING! GOD HELP US if that agency is ultimately granted sole control of disaster relief!
As one who has spent time in disaster relief since my days in the Boy Scouts through being a federal member of various FEMA exercises at the regional and national level, I can assure you that LOCAL EXPERTISE and CONTROL in handling crisis events is a MUST! COMPETENT state/local officials know when they are in "over their heads" and need federal assistance! Unfortunately, the terms "competent" and "Lousiana/New Orleans", when placed in the same sentence..., represent an oxymoronic phrase!
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