Shepard Smith

[Dara]

I think Shepard Smith really cares. What I do not understand is that the news networks are not doing anything to make the situation better.

I only snipped the rest of your post because I wanted to comment on one aspect.

I think the networks, in this crisis, did make things better. I think that if we weren't getting their reports and were only hearing how well things were going from the administration, we still wouldn't be seeing much of an effort to help the disaster victims. I think the media's spotlight made a big difference and maybe even saved lives. I wish their scrutiny wasn't necessary and that people just got the help they needed, but it didn't happen. While babies were dying, Michael Brown was saying he didn't know they were there. Without CNN and Fox and MSNBC, etc, the rest of us wouldn't have either.

I don't care if they didn't do the Red Cross' job or FEMA's job. They did theirs. And I think they did make the situation better.

 

[LadyLuck]

Dara, you are correct. I feel the same way just did not include that in my ranting. I am glad they are calling attention to this -I guess I am just so heart broken that this was allowed to happen. I still think they could have carried some water in with them-they could have done more for the ones on that bridge. I do not think I could have left each day and go back the next without taking some water in and someout out with me.

 

[nanandjim]

...He has not seen a Red Cross truck at all...

The Director of the Red Cross said that they have to be given authorization to enter the disaster areas. He said that they cannot just "barge" in and that the areas must be deemed safe for the volunteers to enter.

I believe that the Mayor of NO (who is busy pointing fingers everywhere else) did not have a disaster plan. Without a plan, there is chaos.

Shepard Smith did do a nice job of explaining the situation and stated more than once that he realized the task was astronomical and wasn't going to point fingers at anyone.

 

[nanandjim]

...I wonder what the media's reasoning is?

IMO, they are there to get a sensational story, the more negative the better. They are not there to help anyone except their particular network's ratings.

 

[Dara]

Dara, you are correct. I feel the same way just did not include that in my ranting. I am glad they are calling attention to this -I guess I am just so heart broken that this was allowed to happen. I still think they could have carried some water in with them-they could have done more for the ones on that bridge. I do not think I could have left each day and go back the next without taking some water in and someout out with me.

I think it's a good question. I don't think I could do it either, but then, I decided at 18 I didn't have it in me to be a journalist. I definitely don't want to hijack this thread, but there are a lot of great discussions regarding just this question surrounding Kevin Carter's 1994 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph. If you haven't read some of the debates, you might find them interesting, though maybe not now, because it's just heartwrenching. Are you familiar with the photograph I'm referring to?

 

[lorann]

To each their own opinion. I don't think they want to relay to the world how bad and inefficiently things are going. When there is a good story or a heartwarming story, they report those. Each reporter has been exposed to the worst thing in their lives, they are reporting what they see. I would much rather hear and see the truth than depend on what Homeland Security is saying.

 

[Dara]

To each their own opinion. I don't think they want to relay to the world how bad and inefficiently things are going. When there is a good story or a heartwarming story, they report those. Each reporter has been exposed to the worst thing in their lives, they are reporting what they see. I would much rather hear and see the truth than depend on what Homeland Security is saying.

Well said. I've seen the positive, heartwarming stories. But when people are dying while waiting for help and the White House is saying everything is going well and if criticisms are partisan, I'm glad the media reported what was really going on.

I don't think they sensationalized a thing. At least not the coverage I watched.

 

[nanandjim]

...I don't think they sensationalized a thing. At least not the coverage I watched.

I was watching MSNBC the other night when a reporter stressed that this story is being reported through the opening of a straw. He said that each report is very focused and that, although everyone is not being helped, many are. This is such a huge castrophe that it is very difficult to help everyone immediately.

Unlike some other posters, I place the blame on the local government for lack of leadership and lack of a plan for a disaster such as this. Louisiana has state and local government officials who didn't step up to the plate.

Of course, it is easy for me--sitting at my computer--to be a critic. There will be plenty of time for the real participants to evaluate what went wrong and how they can improve in the future.

 

[less0305]

IMO, they are there to get a sensational story, the more negative the better. They are not there to help anyone except their particular network's ratings.

Nan.... I so agree. It's been said so many times, and I believe it is true to some extent, they are there for sensationalism for a large part...ratings/money. As some of the volunteers said, a lot of the good was not being shown. The media spins as much as they can. It has been said that politicians spin the truth. Yeah, well so do the media.

 

[lorann]

I am watching the evacuation of the people at the convention center. This is very positive.

 

[Dara]

I was watching MSNBC the other night when a reporter stressed that this story is being reported through the opening of a straw. He said that each report is very focused and that, although everyone is not being helped, many are. This is such a huge castrophe that it is very difficult to help everyone immediately.

Focused doesn't equal sensationalized. I saw no sensationalized reports. Actually, I felt for the first couple of days, reporting was toned down to avoid panic. As the situation became more dire, I think CNN (the one I watched the most) started showing things like dead bodies that they hadn't, imo, as a conscious or unconscious effort to get some damn help to the people.

Again, there is a huge divide between helping everyone and failing to do all that could reasonably have been done. I don't think we came close to doing all that could have reasonably been done.

Unlike some other posters, I place the blame on the local government for lack of leadership and lack of a plan for a disaster such as this. Louisiana has state and local government officials who didn't step up to the plate.

I don't know where the blame should lie (except for a few people), but saying that there is blame to be laid says that you realize there were mistakes made. I honestly can't see how anyone could think otherwise. But when we see people dying and the federal government doesn't step in, they're responsible as well.

Of course, it is easy for me--sitting at my computer--to be a critic. There will be plenty enough time for the real participants to reevaluate what went wrong and how they can improve in the future.

Considering that the "real participants" were the ones who screwed it up and were downplaying and imo outright lying about what was happening, I hope there are a lot of watchdogs, including the media and just us plain folks, to make sure they don't just play the CYA game.

 

[less0305]

I am watching the evacuation of the people at the convention center. This is very positive.

I guess that's why Fox news showed all of about 30 seconds of film of it and then cut away to discuss oil prices.

 

[LadyLuck]

I think it's a good question. I don't think I could do it either, but then, I decided at 18 I didn't have it in me to be a journalist. I definitely don't want to hijack this thread, but there are a lot of great discussions regarding just this question surrounding Kevin Carter's 1994 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph. If you haven't read some of the debates, you might find them interesting, though maybe not now, because it's just heartwrenching. Are you familiar with the photograph I'm referring to?

I am not familiar with his work, I am going to look it up. Thanks.

 

[Dara]

One word about the media: Thanks to their coverage, I was apparently much, MUCH better informed than Michael Brown, FEMA director.

In the words of Ted Koppel, "Don't you guys watch television?"

 

[nanandjim]

I guess that's why Fox news showed all of about 30 seconds of film of it and then cut away to discuss oil prices.

And, Biloxi and others areas were totally devastated by this storm. Yet, because the local governments had a plan in place, there isn't the chaos and problems that are happening in NO. I certainly see slim coverage concerning these areas. Hmmmm....wonder why?? :waitasec:

 

[Mabel]

And, Biloxi and others areas were totally devastated by this storm. Yet, because the local governments had a plan in place, there isn't the chaos and problems that are happening in NO. I certainly see slim coverage concerning these areas. Hmmmm....wonder why?? :waitasec:

The worst is over for the people of Biloxi and the other devastated areas. There are no people trapped in attics waiting to be rescued, no convention centers filled with thousands of dying people, people aren't being raped and murdered in the streets. The news is focused on NO because that's where the news is happening. The reports are mostly negative because it's a negative situation. It would be very irresponsible of the networks to show 90% "happy" stories when that's not the reality of what's happening.

People are dying by the hundreds. The world needs to know the truth as horrible as it is, not some sugar-coated version of it.

 

[SandyBee]

I believe that the Mayor of NO (who is busy pointing fingers everywhere else) did not have a disaster plan. Without a plan, there is chaos.

:clap: There was no leadership in NO at a time they really needed it. However, to be fair, they did give fair warning to evacuate days ahead of time. They still should've had a plan to help those who could not get out.

I think Shepard Smith and Steve Harrigan did a most excellent job!

 

[T'sNana]

I just saw this thread and I'm so glad you started one about Shepard Smith. He is WONDERFUL!! I posted about him on another thread about how he was BEGGING for help and how great he and Anderson Cooper both have been! Thanks for the thread. He deserves it!

I was just watching Shepard Smith and he is doing the greatest job! He is sincere; he cares

He told O'Reilly he is just beside himself because of what he has seen and the frustration.

He says the trouble is the lack of a strong leader; ie like New York had Julianni He said the the mayor of NO took some people from a hotel (they were from other states and other countries) and put them in FRONT of the people who had been waiting for ours by the dome (I guess to be evacuated)

He said there were dead bodies and women were raped by the dome; people dying and no one to help them.

Some people would wait to get "picked up" and no one would ever come. New Orleans is "black" again; I saw smoke.

He has not seen a Red Cross truck at all. He said the problem was: people needed food and water the 1st day
people needed food and water the 2nd day
""""" '''' '' '''' 3rd day

But they got nothing till the 5th day.

He said he "doesn't want to criticize", but it's been so terrible. He said now the National Guard is protecting the French Quarter. He thinks things now are beginning to get better.

Never have I been so impressed by Shepard Smith as a reporter!

 

[T'sNana]

I agree and NO (because of it's bowl-like landscape) DID get the worst. It is UGLY. There is no doubt it is not pretty. But, it's nice to see some positive stories about it, which doesn't surprise me with American people. I'm disgusted with some of the public officials' response, etc. THESE ARE AMERICANS DYING....it's not a pretty picture and I'm thankful for the media showing us so we can vote some of these people out of office who can't handle their jobs. JMO.

The worst is over for the people of Biloxi and the other devastated areas. There are no people trapped in attics waiting to be rescued, no convention centers filled with thousands of dying people, people aren't being raped and murdered in the streets. The news is focused on NO because that's where the news is happening. The reports are mostly negative because it's a negative situation. It would be very irresponsible of the networks to show 90% "happy" stories when that's not the reality of what's happening.

People are dying by the hundreds. The world needs to know the truth as horrible as it is, not some sugar-coated version of it.

 

[lorann]

Where is Shep now? I have watched almost non stop and haven't seen him. I hope they just got him out of there for a much needed rest and I hope he does not get in trouble begging for help for those people.