To Much Information

This Monday we had another air disaster with Alaska airline falling into the ocean just off the coast of California.

The local news did the usual cut in and reported the event and then they went completely overboard. They reported on the fact they knew nothing about what happened for a total of seven hours. I was watching something else and would switch back to see if any thing else was new and every time it was the same thing "The airplane crashed and we don't know why or how."

To add to this low point in journalism they showed body bags lined up at a local pier. Did we really need to see the bags? Was this something that really heightened our understanding of the event? I think not.

To add another low point to the glut of the coverage the next day I saw a report outside of the house of one of the pilots. The family posted a sign asking for privacy in their time of crisis. Of course the film crew had to film the sign and the house. Later on the family was so beleaguered by the press and they gave in and gave a small statement.

Granted, this a terrible tragedy and definitely a news worthy event but when does the news became a glut of rude, disgusting reports with no informational value? I used to respect the news team that covered the event but no more .

I am reminded of another tragedy the Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles. The local news covered the events all day. That night the news caster said ( I paraphrase) "Enough with all this tragedy we need something to make us laugh" They then cut away to the final episode of The Cosby Show. Perhaps we need to look back on that incident and learn a little restraint.