Idiots on cameras
Stern tones are still being used at news conferences, but they're being directed at the people asking stupid questions now. Basically, the media is blaming the state Emergency Operations Commission for the hurricane not steaming up Tampa Bay. "Did you focus too much on the Tampa Bay area?" No, basically, you focused too much on Tampa Bay. "Why didn't it hit where you said it was going to hit?" It did hit where we said it was going to hit — somewhere between Key West and the Steinhatchee River.
The Tampa Bay media have done a generally very good job of getting out information. They have, in the last few hours, found themselves a little too far ahead of the story. They started saying "here's where the storm is going" without the hedges, and then found themselves scrambling to correct. One of the hazards of live TV. I give them credit; they've had to fill about 30 hours of time practically non-stop. It's understandable for them to be a bit on edge and perhaps a little loopy.
Because there are no camera crews in Hardee and DeSoto counties, those counties being in the middle of nowhere, TV stations are reduced to thumbing through the Arcadia, Fla., phone book and calling people. Strangely, people who are under a Category 4 hurricane are not thrilled about their phones ringing just right then. One recipient of such a call chose not to go on the air, explaining that his roof had just blown off, and he was going back to his safe interior room. "We can certainly understand that," the understanding female anchor said in soothing tones. "An example of everything that is wrong with journalism," says The Wife.
Some guy named Buford is on the air right now, asking, "Are we in the ah of this thang? My roof just came off."
The St. Petersburg Times announced that it will publish a full newspaper tomorrow, complete with a 24-page hurricane section. Say it with me: Better them than me. Meanwhile, Charley's churning through the swamp on the way to the Magic Kingdom.
The Tampa Bay media have done a generally very good job of getting out information. They have, in the last few hours, found themselves a little too far ahead of the story. They started saying "here's where the storm is going" without the hedges, and then found themselves scrambling to correct. One of the hazards of live TV. I give them credit; they've had to fill about 30 hours of time practically non-stop. It's understandable for them to be a bit on edge and perhaps a little loopy.
Because there are no camera crews in Hardee and DeSoto counties, those counties being in the middle of nowhere, TV stations are reduced to thumbing through the Arcadia, Fla., phone book and calling people. Strangely, people who are under a Category 4 hurricane are not thrilled about their phones ringing just right then. One recipient of such a call chose not to go on the air, explaining that his roof had just blown off, and he was going back to his safe interior room. "We can certainly understand that," the understanding female anchor said in soothing tones. "An example of everything that is wrong with journalism," says The Wife.
Some guy named Buford is on the air right now, asking, "Are we in the ah of this thang? My roof just came off."
The St. Petersburg Times announced that it will publish a full newspaper tomorrow, complete with a 24-page hurricane section. Say it with me: Better them than me. Meanwhile, Charley's churning through the swamp on the way to the Magic Kingdom.
posted by rj at 5:46 PM
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