Wednesday, August 30, 2006

A Peek Inside The Circus Tent

This is from one of the most reliable sources for information how our newspapers and broadcasters do what they do– and how they can improve. I thought you would like to see a bit of the media circus behind the recent JonBenet Ramsey story.  

 

 

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Posted by Amy Gahran 2:01:53 PM
Boulder’s Media Circus

Media circus sign
Amy Gahran
Boulder, Colo., is getting used to periodic media-circus infestations.

Yesterday around lunchtime I cruised past the Boulder County Justice Center. I live in Boulder, Colo., and I’d heard that there was an incredible media circus camped out awaiting further tidbits or rumors on the Mark Karr/JonBenet Ramsey flap.

I counted 16 trucks in the lot, plus various freestanding satellite dishes, generators, etc. That’s a lot of gear. I asked a sound engineer how much it cost to keep the trucks parked there. He said, “If the trucks are owned by the media company, it’s just the cost of staff, fuel, power, and keeping the uplink available. If they’re contractor trucks, it’s about $2500/day.”

…Bear in mind, these 16 trucks were still on the scene the day after the Boulder County Attorney’s Office dismissed its case against Karr for lack of evidence. They were simply awaiting word on Karr’s extradition to California.

I look at this, and I have to chuckle whenever a news organization says they “don’t have the resources” for training, coverage of certain beats or communities, or other core necessities. And no wonder our audiences find it harder and harder to relate to journalists: When we descend en masse and in force on overhyped stories, we do look like circus freaks.

I’ve got a few more photos of Boulder’s media circus on Flickr. I also shot a short, silent video which is on YouTube.
Posted by Dave Foulk at 23:26:00 | Permalink | Comments (1) »

Ramblings Of A Media Malcontent

I haven’t posted for a while because…well…things have been “purty good” and I haven’t managed to build up enough steam to push the cerebral piston that makes me vent. Summer heat, weird schedules and family obligations have kept me away from the keyboard…  Until now. 

  • I don’t blame the district attorney for going after, the demented sex pervert who confessed to killing Jon
    Benet Ramsey.  Although the media had a field day on the story, the one-time suspect is the true cause of all the clamor in the past few days.  But I truly believe the investigation was blundered from the beginning, and it happened a long time ago.  And since that time, I worry about what fantasies he has lived out in real life while working as a teacher in several parts of the world.
  • I don’t know about you, but I am Katrina’ed out.  Memorials, remembrances, commentaries, analyzing, counting, talking, talking, and talking.  And it seems the national media is fixated on New Orleans.  How about Gulf Shores and the other spots?  The most horrendous national disaster we have witnessed since the birth of The United States.  One network ended the newscast tonight with a funeral. Say goodbye to the obsession with the dead and the destroyed of New Orleans. There are other things to cover in this nation of ours.
  • On the political season:  Nearly every politician I’ve ever seen has a few little parasite fish hanging off them.  They’re usually young and ambitious.  Some are honest and hard working and they really believe in their boss.                                                         There are others who only want to suck in as much power as they can by being in the proximity of powerful people. I call it the “don’t you know who I am” syndrome exhibited by badge flashers and those who have important looking credentials hanging around their neck.  They remind me of the cadre’ that always hangs around prizefighters: couldn’t punch their way out of a wet paper sack but they sure look tough when they’re close to the palooka.
  • I am not much of a sports fan - I leave that to my corporate colleagues at The Sports Animal on AM 990 and FM 99.1, but I hope the UT Vols have a great season, and congratulations to coach Fulmer for what appears to be a tougher discipline imposed on his team. They’re in the public eye and kids look up to them- one way or the other.
  • Nobody in the news business mentions the soldiers killed in Iraq much anymore.  I would be willing to bet that the people who loved them would appreciate a word or two now and then. I am guilty of this sin of omission, and I will try to do better to honor their memory. No matter how you feel about the war dead is dead, hurt is hurt, and as a song from my younger days says, all that’s left are golden ribbons and people alone with their memories. 
  • Imagine the kind of hot dog you enjoyed when you were a kid.  The steamed bun was soft, and the weenie had flavor instead of a kind of mushy cereal taste.  The chili was spicy but not hot enough to keep you from eating two or three ‘dogs at a time.  The finely chopped onions were strong enough to walk across the chili, and the mustard added a tangy, almost sour note to complete the ensemble. The hot dog of my youth could be found at the Easy Shop on McCalla Avenue at Bently Street in Burlington.  The building is not there anymore and the street has long since lost its original name.                                 If you’re looking for the best hot dog in this area- It’s at the White Star Market on Boyd’s Creek Highway across from Seymour Intermediate. By the way, Phil White doesn’t give me a dime’s worth of anything to sing the praises of his ‘dogs. Not one hot dog. He doesn’t have to.  Since the Smoky Mountain Market slipped into history, his hot dogs are, as my mentor and great soul Ludlow Porch would say the only ones that are fit to eat.  Now, I’ll have some antacid, please.
  • As they used to write in the news business -30- for now. That still looks cool at the bottom of a page.  

 

Posted by Dave Foulk at 02:31:33 | Permalink | Comments (1) »