i can't believe what I 'm seeing

[nitrofan]

on CBS right now, they are interviewing families of missing people.
the families are holding up pictures and describing their familiy members as if they are going to be found alive.

why are there reporters exploiting these people this way.

it's despicable.

they are lined up to talk to the tv camera, thinking in their grief and denial that they will be able to find their loved ones alive.

and cbs is there to take advantage of them.

[dog-ring]

Turn off the television.

[rahalnut]

Even in this awful time its all about ratings

[Abe Froman]

I had the exact same thought, Nitrofan.

And I did change the channel, but that doesn't make it any less dispicable, Dog Ring.

[cmjc80]

RATINGS???? What are you talking about. The television stations are making absolutely ZERO money off this. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a commercial on network television or cable news. No one is paying them to put this stuff on TV either. These stations have in a sense been turned into non-profit television.

[Brian Hall]

These people are hopeful that someone (anyone) will recognize their loved one. Maybe a nurse in the hospital or an EMT that found them stunned on the ground immediately after the accident.

I don't blame the networks for talking to these people.

Though this is the thing that starts me crying every time I see or even think about all those families calmly standing in line to report their loved ones missing. Knowing that by the minute there chances of being found alive are decreasing. Hope is such a powerful thing.

I don't know how they are able to do it. I really don't. Those people are being SO STRONG, it's amazing.

[rev-ed]

Originally posted by cmjc80:
<STRONG>RATINGS???? What are you talking about. The television stations are making absolutely ZERO money off this. Think about it, when was the last time you saw a commercial on network television or cable news. No one is paying them to put this stuff on TV either. These stations have in a sense been turned into non-profit television.</STRONG>

While you are correct that this is a commercial-free zone right now, the networks are looking to gain your allegience -- in short to make CBS or CNN or whatever your choice to turn to first for news. They in turn will take the ratings numbers from these intense days and present them to advertisers saying something like: "When something important happens, our network news brings in more viewers than any other." So yes, it is still about ratings. In TV, everything is about ratings. Trust me.

[OW fan in OK]

Originally posted by rev-ed:
<STRONG>While you are correct that this is a commercial-free zone right now, the networks are looking to gain your allegience -- </STRONG>

Ditto.

[nitrofan]

it was reported in the paper wednesday that cnn outdid the others by 2-1. cnn said well it's not about ratings NOW.

keyword : NOW

but CNN was obviously pleased.

me I think CNN is too mainstream not edgy enough for me. they try really hard not to make anyone mad.

that ain't journalism to me.

and I 'm sorry if you haven't heard from someone by now you aren't going to.

[MrIndy]

Nitro, in the beginning, Tuesday, there were a lot of victims taken into Jersey to the hospitals. Many of these victims are on ventilators and cannot talk.

Sorry, but I see nothing wrong. The folks you say are being exploited, are the ones begging the TV folks to put them on with their pictures.

I realize during these times, we all have differing points of view, but cutting everyone a little slack right now will go a long ways tomorrow.

[nitrofan]

fair enough.[/LIST]