Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The media lied, people died
First Newsweek reported falsely that Korans had been literally flushed in Guantanamo, sparking riots in Pakistan that left many dead.
Then during Katrina, media incompetence, fear-mongering and Bush-bashing killed Americans:
Shame on local officials for fomenting fear and passing along newly minted urban legends, but double shame on the press for recycling this stuff uncritically. Members of the press had access to the Superdome. Why not just run in and look for the bodies? Interview the rape victims? Couldn’t be bothered? The major networks had hundreds of people in New Orleans. Was there not a single intern available to fact-check? The coverage actually cost lives. Helicopters were grounded for 24 hours in response to media reports of sniper attacks. At least two patients died waiting to be evacuated.