Bridge collapses in Minneapolis... journalists scramble to collect usual quotes

[blueerica]

As much as I do care, I think that the coverage has been a bit much. I'm waiting for new news, instead of hearing people give heart-felt speeches and promises of prayers, as though we've had a national disaster - 4 people dead and 20 missing is far from a national disaster. I understand it's a major disaster to anyone that's from there or would be traveling there or know anyone involved, but this over-coverage is desensitizing me to the point that I don't care I did last night. This morning, I'm annoyed - and worse, I feel guilty about it. But I have to remember, it's not the subject, but the way it's been presented that's getting to me.

I think this speaks toward the direction news has gone lately. The other day I was talking with my grandma about the poor transitioning that we see on news programs today (both 24 hour channels and local evening news). The talent just must not be there in the writing staff, because it's just plain cheese and it occassionally makes no sense. Same goes for the reporting. It's few and far between that anyone says anything with meaning - when someone is really good (my liking or disliking nonwithstanding, I think there are a handful), the public gloms onto it, until it too becomes just as cheesy and overblown as the rest.

Americans want quality over quantity, I believe - but it's our behavior that propagates (generally, not individually) the opposite.

[alphabassettgrrl]

One thing is the difference between the local station WCCO (very good) and the crap we get here. Even now, WCCO's web site is the first thing I checked this morning for news. CNN is crap, sadly. I think the Midwest reporters still try, though the video of the actual collapse was submitted to CNN (anonymously).

It's horrifying. It just goes down.

Last night I was reading a lot and many people said they credit their survival to wearing their seat belts. Cool. One of the people who died had chest injuries consistant with a fall of 64 feet and was one of the first transported to a hospital. I'm glad to see the system works- as more seriously injured, they should go first.

Gives me hope that people might be worth something after all. I get a little jaded here in LA, where it's everybody for themselves in a lot of ways. Then I see something like this, horrifying to those involved, and yet people come through and help.

[blueerica]

Some of the personal accounts are amazing. As stupid the quotes that come from average people may be, it's a heck of a lot more listenable than anything else, and it put me in their shoes.

One lady described how the free fall felt, the thud, and watching what appeared to be someone flying upward. Now that's interesting.

[alphabassettgrrl]

On the bright side, there *are* many survivors.

[Gemini Cricket]

The video of the collapse is scary.

[alphabassettgrrl]

That's one of the reasons I despise broadcast tv news. Getting crying people on camera isn't news, but it does fill time.

Please stick to the news.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

That's one of the reasons I despise broadcast tv news. Getting crying people on camera isn't news, but it does fill time.

Please stick to the news.

Unfortunately, the crying sells - it is what the masses want to see. The crying invokes the emotions which keeps people invested in that particular channel that they are watching.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I don't get it. I don't want to see random people cry. I want to know what's going on.

[Kevy Baby]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

I don't get it. I don't want to see random people cry. I want to know what's going on.

I didn't say it made sense...

[alphabassettgrrl]

True. Lots of things lately don't make sense but seem to be popular.