Part IV: Television control
July 24th 2008 22:25
Cruising along
In the summer of 2004, the eyes of three hurricanes passed over, under and through our home in Lake Wales, Florida. The first one, Hurricane Charley was quick, with little rain and lasted about three hours. It was horrible. We fled to Tennessee for the second one--Frances, a mostly rain event. Jean was the third one. It lasted for over 18 hours and pounded out and destroyed what the first two had left behind.
Soon thereafter, blue tarps. covered virtually every structure in the area for as far as the eyes could see. This was the scene for more than two years.
The next summer, another tragedy befell us. FLOODING! The lake, where our neighborhood sits high on the shoreline, began to rise. We now know what caused the excess water, which eventually would be an over 13-ft. vertical elevation. The engineering studies on the issue point to one source, but since the whole affair is still in litigation, I cannot divulge it/them(?).
Many people in other places have experienced the same or worse, so we do not feel unique or cursed by a weather god. I know of no one who stuck voodoo dolls just to hex us.
I bring this up because we were interviewed many times, not only by the print media, but also by most all area television stations from two markets -- Orlando and Tampa, Florida. I was personally interviewed several times.
Each interview was comprised of several video camera shots of us toiling with downed trees and limbs, repairing roofs, walls and carports, etc. Each television station sent over its mobile crews and fancy trucks to take videos of our misery. They especially loved the crying scenes and interviews with distraught victims. These were priceless!
One day after the flooding, while a Tampa crew interviewed a neighbor, I pulled a newscaster aside. I asked him, quietly, if it was possible for them to do some investigative reporting. Several of us had taken all the television anchors to the source of the flooding. We wanted their vast teams of so-called investigative reporters to help. Here is his reply:
"Television will not do this. I do not believe you will get anyone to do this for you. We are not in the business for this. Our job is to show what is going on, and to sell the advertisements."
There was little interest in helping us confirm the culprits' identity and their neglectful and hurtful past deeds. I then replied: "This is just a form of entertainment for your audiences, is it not?"
He responded that I was right. No shock here.
Over and over, I have made the point that all media have to sell advertising and that advertising takes first place in their priorities. This is not bad in itself. It must be this way for them to continue their existence. Where the rub comes into play is when not only our backs are massaged, but our minds as well.
I was ignorant enough to think they were genuinely interested in our problems. Perhaps an interviewer here and their really has been. But many were there just to entertain and fill the time slots.
News is a form of entertainment, as mentioned. All of us are blasted with rapes, murders, robberies, accidents, and natural disasters. Many of us experience these horrors personally every year. Please keep in mind that while we relate our experiences to the camera. We are being used for entertainment. Personally, as far as we are concerned, our tragedies are not for sale. Let them drum up their own fillers. I will never grant another interview.
Our next article may be on our own website. The topic will be more on a timely political issue. I hope I can give you the website address here.
Keep between the lines.
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