Those who shoot at and/or kidnap police officers and firefighters may suffer from “financial issues,” but the crux of the matter is they suffer from “mental issues.” Many people are suffering financially, but they’re not crazy or stupid. The AJC story had it right, but it was buried several paragraphs into the copy. POP QUIZ: If you fire upon/kidnap police/firefighters, you are: (a) Crazy (b) Stupid (c) Suffering from financial issues (d) Both A and B (e) None of the above.
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Memo to Atlanta area Radio and TV News Directors
- Thread starter sagebasics
- Start date
O.K. Hard to argue with your logic... but we are left with the question: If I am crazy today and I kidnap a fireman today, why was I different today than I was a week ago, or a month ago, or even a year ago? Was I totally sane a week ago? A month ago?
A journalist can make a few phone calls and may be able to document the financial trouble. The power company might confirm that the power had been turned off for non-payment. The phone company might confirm that phone service was disconnected. Heck! Just call the listed phone number and when you get the disconnect tones, you have something documentable you can put in a news story.
But I'm the journalist and I need to prepare a story to print TODAY or go on the air NOW. How do I document 'crazy'? How do I document 'mentally ill'. The attorneys will probably tell the news writer: If we get sued, it is not that big'a deal to prove to the court that the person's power had indeed been turned off or the phone disconnected. But if the family comes after us, it may get very expensive trying to justify that we can indeed document that the person was crazy on the day he pulled this stunt, the day he died.
A journalist can make a few phone calls and may be able to document the financial trouble. The power company might confirm that the power had been turned off for non-payment. The phone company might confirm that phone service was disconnected. Heck! Just call the listed phone number and when you get the disconnect tones, you have something documentable you can put in a news story.
But I'm the journalist and I need to prepare a story to print TODAY or go on the air NOW. How do I document 'crazy'? How do I document 'mentally ill'. The attorneys will probably tell the news writer: If we get sued, it is not that big'a deal to prove to the court that the person's power had indeed been turned off or the phone disconnected. But if the family comes after us, it may get very expensive trying to justify that we can indeed document that the person was crazy on the day he pulled this stunt, the day he died.
Thanks GRC for making very valid points. If anyone thinks it's easy to be a reporter, get up off the sofa, turn off the TV and try it some time. I know it's fashionable these days to trash the news media, but most of the professionals who are in the trenches day to day take their jobs and their responsibility seriously.
In very few instances does a journalist have documentation that someone has had mental issues. We see that kind of information leak out over time in very high profile cases such as the Aurora, CO theater shooting. But, as GRC said, the story has to go on the air today and usually in the next two minutes.
GRC. I agree. It is very difficult for a journalist to document that a person has mental health issues and meet reporting deadlines. I was trying to point out the irony of the excuse of people having "financial issues" in two recent cases.
AlsoRan. I was a radio reporter for 2 1/2 years and an Atlanta area newspaper reporter for 4 1/2 years. At both operations, it was a small staff and constant deadlines. I did take the job seriously and was responsible. I'm not trashing the media. Those who trash newspaper reporting don't realize essentially a new product with each publication. How many businesses that make widgets create a new widget daily.
It is easy to report the who, what, where, when and sometimes the how. The "why" question often remains unresolved. Ina criminal case, one doesn't have to show motive or why. Sure, it helps a prosecutor's case. But the why is often very elusive.
If suffering from financial issues becomes more prevelant, does this mean mass homicides? I think not.
AlsoRan. I was a radio reporter for 2 1/2 years and an Atlanta area newspaper reporter for 4 1/2 years. At both operations, it was a small staff and constant deadlines. I did take the job seriously and was responsible. I'm not trashing the media. Those who trash newspaper reporting don't realize essentially a new product with each publication. How many businesses that make widgets create a new widget daily.
It is easy to report the who, what, where, when and sometimes the how. The "why" question often remains unresolved. Ina criminal case, one doesn't have to show motive or why. Sure, it helps a prosecutor's case. But the why is often very elusive.
If suffering from financial issues becomes more prevelant, does this mean mass homicides? I think not.
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