Speaking of CNN and reporting of news, did you hear about the misinformation that was spread about the Coast Guard firing on a boat while President Obama was at a 9-11 remembrance? Come to find out the Coast Guard was performing a routine training, and CNN mistook the words “bang, bang, bang” and other statements on their scanners that were tuned to Coast Guard radio frequencies for an attack on a boat.
When it was all over, the “news” organizations were stumbling all over themselves justifying their utter lack of journalistic work (they didn’t check out anything…they instead wanted to be the first to go on the air with the misinformation). They made up information as they went and even had the nerve to disclaim responsibility.
The ignoramuses that went with the story haven’t a clue what journalism and true news-gathering and reporting really is, let alone how to deal with the broadcasting of misinformation. Can you imagine Walter Cronkite or Chet Huntley going on the air with this story without having checked it out thoroughly before it aired? (If you don’t know who these two true journalists were, check it out).
So now the Coast Guard is conducting an “investigation” to find out whatever they are trying to find out about the situation. CNN, Fox and others continue to say it’s not their fault, pointing their collective fingers at the Coast Guard for daring to conduct a drill at the same time the President is at some event not far away.
I can’t stand it.
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