> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
> Behalf Of Gary Nunn
[snip]
> We were watching the news report on TV literally with our mouths hanging
> open and wondering what the hell the TV station is thinking by
> broadcasting
> and disclosing this information. Are they trying to help terrorist pick
> their next target?
If people watch it in significant numbers and therefore it brings in
advertising, then it *must* serve the public interest.... according to the
logic of the market. It was obviously a sensational story in its own little
way (security lax, Columbus could be the next target!) and that's what makes
money. Mass media reporters these days are virtually taught not to have a
sense of responsibility -- that's the bad aspect of "objectivity." Report
the facts and let the public decide; choose the kinds of stories that keep
the media owners happy. I've been there and done that, believe me.
I don't think there's an easy answer to this, unfortunately. We could take
a giant step backwards and impose censorship. And some restrictions on
showing military installations might be totally appropriate right now, as is
always the case in many nations. In the long run, I think our society has
to figure out how communities can collaborate to bring back the sense of
mission and purpose in the media, taking a lot of media power away from the
handful of corporations that now own it, if only because they inevitably
seem to evolve toward managing their subsidiaries and components on
profitability alone.
Nick
