Community Forums

jmckinley · 03-27-2014, 10:44 AM

Maybe I'm just picky, but I'm irritated by the huge amount of TV coverage regarding the missing plane versus the tiny amount of coverage regarding the mudslide in Washington.

The plane crash is tragic, no doubt, but it is on the TV continuously while the mudslide which has probably killed over 100 Americans gets very little attention.

Note to CNN, FOX, CBS, NBC etc: The plane is on the bottom of the ocean, the people are dead and several countries have spent close to a billion dollars looking for the wreck. What else can you think of to speculate on? Meanwhile, over 100 people in our own country are buried in 40 feet of mud while a handful of people search for their bodies.

RickO · 03-27-2014, 02:21 PM

I understand what you're saying... and, IMHO, the answer lies in the old adage "follow the money".

The loss of a jumbo jet with all aboard... under mysterious circumstances... brings drama which attracts followers. As tragic as a mudslide is, it's probably looked at by most as a terrible freak of nature which won't impact their lives at all. Many who fly often will want to know if planes are starting to disappear without explanation.

Rick

Pepper2 · 03-27-2014, 02:39 PM

I call it "Selling more Popcorn". It's all about boosting their viewership and their ratings so they can charge more for airing commercials. If the general public quit watching they would change their formatting.

jmckinley · 03-27-2014, 04:12 PM

RickO and Pepper, I agree with both of you. It just bothers me to see all the attention given to the airplane disaster while the less glamorous mudslide languishes on the back page.

aschuh53 · 03-27-2014, 05:04 PM

that is what makes the money tree

frankdamp · 03-27-2014, 05:07 PM

We're getting about a third of our local newscasts given over to the Oso landslide. That might be because it's only about 50 miles away.

Coverage of Malaysia's airplane disaster ins prominent on national newscasts, but not much locally, even though the plane is a local product.

jrgreenacres · 03-27-2014, 05:26 PM

The media coverage of the airplane disaster is IMO an insult on my intelligence. I can go on google earth and count how many shingles are on my roof but the high tech military spy satellite cannot determine an airplane part from floating garbage.

DonavonP · 03-27-2014, 05:30 PM

Google Earth has a historical button where you can see how that mud slide area has been pushing down, moving the course of the river. Satellite shots start in 1989.

Go east of OSO, WA to Steelhead Drive and look north. You can see the earth is loose and why the residents were warned about a potential slide.

Terrible mess and many broken hearts. LOTS of TV coverage but the off button on the channel changer still works great.

PyrateSilly · 03-27-2014, 07:28 PM

I could tell you what Thom told me several years ago ..... "Stop watching all the news channels all day"
The local news here in SoCal mentions the mudslide a little more than the airplane. It spent more time on the goings on over in Rome last year ... could have done without that.

frankdamp · 03-27-2014, 08:01 PM

I agree, Thom. We only watch about 30 minutes of the morning news during breakfast, another 30 minutes during lunch and maybe 90 minutes during dinner. All that is either major-affiliated local channels' own newscasts or ABC and CBS.

We don't watch the other "news" (aka propaganda for various nut-case political extremist) channels. The TV is on for less than 6 hours a day most days, and it's tuned to CBC quite a lot.

mpierce · 03-28-2014, 06:33 AM

A mystery is always more exciting. A "Who Done It".

It is indeed a tragedy in WA. Terrible.

Not being from there, just wondering why people were allowed to build houses in a KNOWN slide area? It has slid a number of times before. Yet, LOTS of houses were built right on it. Not understanding the thinking.

homeless · 03-28-2014, 06:41 AM

If I where out there hanging on a floating part, I would be happy they don't give up!

DonavonP · 03-28-2014, 02:20 PM

I heard a lady on TV saying she recently bought a house in the slide area and nobody mentioned anything about the unstable slide area. A real estate agent working that area would have to be crooked or a complete idiot to recommend their client buy a home there.

I looked on Zillow for recently sold homes and one sold on 3/12/14. I'd be willing to bet that nothing was said about the slide area at that closing either 31325 E Steelhead Dr, Arlington, WA 98223 - Zillow Poor people! If they did survive, they face all that tragedy and probably don't know yet that their home owners insurance claim will be denied. Their real estate broker will have barred any liability in that mountain of paperwork that was signed at the closing. Probably decent people facing bankruptcy.