Chasing ratings over ethics
I don’t want to get off on a rant here (sorry, Dennis Miller),
but I’m writing to express my extreme disappointment in the way
that the Nightly News has been glorifying this
”
Cho
”
idiot by catering to his very wish that he get maximum exposure
for his deadly and twisted manifesto.
These killers are dangerous enough without us encouraging them,
and other wannabe killers who might be on the brink, by letting
them know that the news is hungry for sensationalistic coverage and
will surely plaster their names, pictures
– even videos – all over the TV news, and their Web sites. It
might be a difficult concept for them to grasp, but they’re only
playing into their hands and giving them exactly what they
want!
It’s not only extremely horrific for the families and friends of
those affected, but it is very disheartening to know that the
broadcast news brass won’t draw a line in the sand and say,
”
No more.
”
Ratings are a necessary evil in the competitive world of
broadcast television, we all know, but can’t we just rise above
that for a minute and look at the bigger picture?
I think it would have been much more appropriate, sensitive, and
responsible for NBC News to have immediately turned over this
mailed-in video material to authorities WITHOUT AIRING IT.
 Sure, having an exclusive on something like this is a
potential ratings bonanza, but at what cost?
Let’s not encourage any more copycat killers by giving them
ideas of how they can get their fifteen minutes of infamy.
 News broadcasters need to stop this practice immediately – and
even go on the air to state this position – so that perhaps other
respectable broadcasters might follow suit, even if only for the
positive ratings that might result.
I have always enjoyed NBC Nightly News since it has often seemed
to at least attempt tastefulness and responsibility in their news
stories.
 I’ve got to say, however, that I will stop watching if this
very disturbing practice continues.
When I took broadcasting classes in college, we learned that
– at least in America – radio and television station licensing
grants were dependent on the fulfillment of their basic legal and
moral responsibilities, to wit: that they exist for the
”
public’s interest, convenience, and necessity.
”
 I think that this kind of news coverage and sensationalism
definitely falls outside these parameters.
NBC News isn’t being singled-out as the only offending party
here.
 Shame on every other broadcasting giant who chooses ratings
over responsibility as well; they know who they are.
Jeff Byler
Hollister
Chasing ratings over ethics
I don’t want to get off on a rant here (sorry, Dennis Miller), but I’m writing to express my extreme disappointment in the way that the Nightly News has been glorifying this “Cho” idiot by catering to his very wish that he get maximum exposure for his deadly and twisted manifesto.
These killers are dangerous enough without us encouraging them, and other wannabe killers who might be on the brink, by letting them know that the news is hungry for sensationalistic coverage and will surely plaster their names, pictures – even videos – all over the TV news, and their Web sites. It might be a difficult concept for them to grasp, but they’re only playing into their hands and giving them exactly what they want!
It’s not only extremely horrific for the families and friends of those affected, but it is very disheartening to know that the broadcast news brass won’t draw a line in the sand and say, “No more.”
Ratings are a necessary evil in the competitive world of broadcast television, we all know, but can’t we just rise above that for a minute and look at the bigger picture?
I think it would have been much more appropriate, sensitive, and responsible for NBC News to have immediately turned over this mailed-in video material to authorities WITHOUT AIRING IT. Sure, having an exclusive on something like this is a potential ratings bonanza, but at what cost?
Let’s not encourage any more copycat killers by giving them ideas of how they can get their fifteen minutes of infamy. News broadcasters need to stop this practice immediately – and even go on the air to state this position – so that perhaps other respectable broadcasters might follow suit, even if only for the positive ratings that might result.
I have always enjoyed NBC Nightly News since it has often seemed to at least attempt tastefulness and responsibility in their news stories. I’ve got to say, however, that I will stop watching if this very disturbing practice continues.
When I took broadcasting classes in college, we learned that – at least in America – radio and television station licensing grants were dependent on the fulfillment of their basic legal and moral responsibilities, to wit: that they exist for the “public’s interest, convenience, and necessity.” I think that this kind of news coverage and sensationalism definitely falls outside these parameters.
NBC News isn’t being singled-out as the only offending party here. Shame on every other broadcasting giant who chooses ratings over responsibility as well; they know who they are.
Jeff Byler
Hollister
San Juan fights progress
This old town does not want progress… That’s plain to see. So maybe the answer is old style outhouses located on the lot next to the city museum. Built them wide with ramps and handholds for the tourists.
The City NEEDS the tourists and the tourists have needs from the city!
 Otherwise update the restrooms at Abby Park to ADA standards. Then rent some ADA-style ones and put them near the museum. They could pay for themselves if they were coin operated.
Meantime get going on some real restrooms; otherwise this town will continue to be avoided by the very people who have the money to spend here. San Juan Bautista is dying one business at a time. Just look at the main street. Several are closed down, are for sale, or have moved away because not enough foot traffic to support them being here.
Lynelle Nelson
San Juan Bautista
We all pay for the national debt
In the early 1980s Ronald Reagan promised that if we lowered tax rates on the wealthy, the economy would grow so much the federal budget would be balanced in two to three years. Reagan’s first budget deficit was $128 billion. (Jimmy Carter’s last budget deficit was $77 billion.) By the time that the Reagan Revolution was over, George H.W. Bush was running an annual budget deficit of $290 billion. When Reagan started as president the national debt was $994 billion. When George H.W. Bush left office the national debt had risen to $4.3 trillion. Reagan’s Supply Side experiment had quadrupled the national debt in 12 years.
Between 1992 and 2000 when Bill Clinton was in office he reversed the deficits of the Supply Side years, turning them into surpluses and paying down the national debt.
When George W. Bush took office he immediately pushed through a $1.6 trillion tax cut with half going to the wealthiest 1 percent. The effects of his tax cuts on the deficit and national debt are more extensive than Reagan’s. In 2006 the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office predicted that Bush’s budget would increase the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade without taking into account the costs for the war or changing the AMT.
Paying increased interest on the national debt will be a tremendous burden on us and our children and grandchildren. Bestowing large tax cuts for the wealthy has exacerbated the national debt.
Nancy Kops
Hollister
