What to do on September 11th
Responsibility to its consumers and a dedication to accuracy exist at only two measurements in broadcasting: all or nothing. Which underscores a final point about the tube, and a warning that if you have kids, or grandchildren, under the age of 5, you may want to go unplug your cable right now and not reattach it until Sept. 12th.
A psychologist hired by NBC startled its news executives last month by telling them that young children watching reports of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks will not be able to comprehend that the calamities they see are on videotape. Their brains just are not yet sufficiently developed to discern between “live” and “taped.” They are likely to think it is happening all over again.
Coverage all day long is likely to be wall to wall jumper videos, interspersed with “brave, widowed new mother” tearjerker interviews.
How do you feel?, the television will ask, and then cue the music, with the tastefully understanded network logo superimposed over a billowing cloud of dust. How do you feel?
I’m ok, thanks for asking. I’d feel better if you were to show me breaking news footage of explosions in Riyadh, though.
