I take real issue with a lot of things that pass as "journalism" these days...in our fast-paced and instant gratification society many tenets that the "Third State" were founded on have been pushed to the side in favor of being first, sensationalism or pandering to certain elements based upon political, societal, and philosophical beliefs.
Local media outlets, be they print or broadcast, have for the most part been reduced to being extended attached arms of large and faceless corporations whose only interest in "community" is dictated by how much money is sucked out of that community and overnighted to the corporate headquarters in places like Atlanta, San Antonio, Chicago or Perinton, New York.
The bulk of local radio stations, all of the "local" television stations, and your daily local newspaper all fall within that description. The news coverage from those "media sources' is dictated by the policies of their "corporate" handlers and "news coverage" on the local level has suffered greatly in the wake of the dearth of real "local" journalism.
Despite all that, there is still a bottom line...and that is the bottom line of those corporate coffers.
The "news" has become gerrymandered filler that is loosely fitted around strategically placed advertising and commercials that are sold to businesses that have been convinced that paying high rates for high profile "spots" is the key to getting people into their business.
So decisions that are made by those news organizations are influenced and affected by whatever can drive the outlet's base, be it subscribers, readers, viewers or listeners. Sometimes those decisions are made to the detriment of journalism and what is best for the community they are supposed to serve.
The recent tragedy that took the life of a local woman in Fort Smuth floodwaters is a perfect example. While there are more than enough questions that need to be asked about the the circumstances surrounding the tragedy...and a lot of blame to be shouldered on several fronts...the appalling aftermath of how the story has been reported is the subject of this screed.
The Fort Smith Police Department released audio and video concerning the drowning which arrived in our email inbox at 9:29 am Thursday morning. I assume from the notation of "All Media" in the "to" line that we all got it at the same time.
I listened to the audio and immediately decided not to share it with our readers for reasons that anyone with common sense can easily comprehend.
Here were the anguished cries of a poor woman facing death while bystanders looked on, a dispatcher ridiculed her and the infrastructure of our police and fire department failed her in a civic, if not criminal, manner.
I have issues with all of that. And it will be addressed on Today in Fort Smith in the future. But this commentary piece is is about something else at this time.
To facilitate public access to this outrage under the guise of the "public's right to know", is pathetic. To knowingly air this audio recording where the public - - not to mention her family members - - have to listen to the final moments of her terrifying ordeal says a lot about "the media".
One of the television stations that jumped on social media as fast as they could to juice their Facebook "hits" with the recording made the entire thing available.
After much criticism - - some from their usually mollycoddling, adoring public - - they went back in and edited out the "bad parts". After hundreds, if not thousands, of people had already been subjected to the final moments of the poor victim begging for her life.
You can't put toothpaste back into the tube. They did exactly what they meant to do with releasing the horrifying (their words) audio and then showed their true colors by "editing" the 911 call to deflect the overwhelming criticism coming their way.
And there are those that would have you think they merely "reported" on the situation when they were the ones who actively petitioned the FSPD through a FOIA request to get their hands on the information in the first place.
One of their employees said on social meeting that a meeting was held and the decision was made to go ahead and make the audio recording public.
On the backside of that erroneous decision, they tried to play the public's "right to know" card when they could have addressed the issue in the first place via transcript or by editing the recording to show the inept callousness of the 911 dispatcher without turning the situation into a "Faces of Death" scenario.
Having seen the lack of professionalism and ethics displayed by at least one of the television first hand, nothing they do surprises me anymore. Steal other people's work and research, lie to people to gain access to a story (or worse), pander to government officials to get the scoop...it's all just part of the game to those that can't compete head-to-head or are too lazy to out the work in to really report the news.
And those that support this kind of nonsense are as just to blame. If you think what they did is okay - - as a casual viewer or an advertiser - - you're part of the problem. And while I'm fully aware that cutting off my nose to spite my face probably isn't going to enhance our revenue, I can assure you of one thing.
I can sleep at night...what say you "First on the Scene"?
