The Medium And The Message

Shelton Garner

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May 1, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/1/98

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By JAMES STERNGOLD

LOS ANGELES -- Live local television coverage of a man in an armed
standoff with police here on Thursday was suddenly transformed into a
horrific spectacle, and a debate over journalistic ethics, when the
man set his dog and himself on fire and then, still smoldering and on
camera, propped a shotgun under his chin and pulled the trigger.

The man, Daniel Jones, 40, who was apparently distraught over what he
believed was inadequate care from a health maintenance organization,
tumbled into a pool of gore on a freeway and died. The suicide
appeared to be a carefully planned cry of frustration by Jones, who at
one point unfurled a banner reading "HMOs are in it for the money.
Live free, love safe or die" across one of the two freeways he had
shut down.

<snip>

Ever since the bizarre, slow-speed freeway chase here involving O.J.
Simpson in 1994, the stations have broadcast more of these events,
which have proved increasingly popular. Indeed, Fox Broadcasting has
won a growing audience for so-called reality-based programs, showing
real footage of police chases. While at one time it was extremely
difficult to capture such events, the development of small,
lightweight cameras and improved broadcast technology have made it
routine, even for relatively small television stations.

<snip>

But this time the role of technology and competition have intensified
the debate over where the line should be drawn between responsible
journalism and voyeuristic entertainment. The helicopters can
broadcast a signal instantly, giving news directors little time to
exercise judgment.

*****

When I heard about this I was like "Hmmm, this will never happen once
the Net and TV become one." Then it hit me how wrong that initial
thought was. If TV and the Net ever become indistinguishable, one will
be able to watch such drivel all day long.

The TV universe will become so fractured that EVERY taste no matter
how weird will be served.

L. Shelton Bumgarner -- Keeper of the Great Renaming FAQ
Nattering Nabob of Narcissism * http://www.nottowayez.net/~leebum/
ICQ#: 9393354

Mark Atwood

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May 2, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/2/98

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lee_s_b...@yahoo.com (Shelton Garner) writes:
>
> The TV universe will become so fractured that EVERY taste no matter
> how weird will be served.
>

And the problem with this is?

--
Mark Atwood | Thank you gentlemen, you are everything we have come to
m...@pobox.com | expect from years of government training. -- MIB Zed

Shelton Garner

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May 3, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/3/98

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On 02 May 1998 11:00:57 -0400, Mark Atwood <m...@pobox.com> wrote:

>lee_s_b...@yahoo.com (Shelton Garner) writes:
>>
>> The TV universe will become so fractured that EVERY taste no matter
>> how weird will be served.
>>
>
>And the problem with this is?

Well, I guess there isn't any, but if we think TV is bad, just wait
until one can watch live mayham all day long.

lee

Ryan Tucker

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May 4, 1998, 3:00:00 AM5/4/98

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On Sun, 03 May 1998 03:06:22 GMT, Shelton Garner
<lee_s_b...@yahoo.com> spewed:

>Well, I guess there isn't any, but if we think TV is bad, just wait
>until one can watch live mayham all day long.

I've been known to leave the debugging info from the receiver on the TV in
the background as a conversation piece (and because having a huge TV
screen with "RECEIVER STATUS" looks cool), so I suppose mayhem would be
good for variety. -rt

--
Ryan Tucker <rtuck...@ttgcitn.com> http://www.ttgcitn.com/~rtucker/
UIN: 1976881 VM/Fax: +15157712865 Box 57083, Pleasant Hill IA 50317
If you think the problem is bad now, just wait until we've solved it.
-- Arthur Kasspe