Posted on 01/04/2006 3:57:30 AM PST by Erik Latranyi
Once again, the MSM (mainstream media)has exposed its complete lack of credibility, decency, morality and integrity.
The story this morning of the trapped West Virginia miners is just another example of how our primary sources of information cannot be trusted.
Let's face facts, folks....even here at FR, we get our information from the MSM. However, by assembling many sources and then testing those sources against the combined experiences of those on this forum, we determine whether a particular story passes the smell test.
However, in order to separate the wheat from the chaff, we must still have some faith in some of the sources of stories we read. Unfortunately, that faith is continually shaken by the exposing of media bias, sloppiness, immorality, etc.
What appears to have happened this morning with the trapped miners story is that some members of the media were in the vicinity of the command post when the radio call from the mine came back that the miners were found.
It was from that single thread of information that the story appeared to break out that the miners were all found alive. Even the governor, who stated he had to ask his security detail what was going on , was not aware of the breaking story that all 12 remaining miners were found alive. You see, the governor was in the church with the families. A single family member received a phone call from someone watching the news that it is was being reported that all 12 remaining miners were found alive. That family member announced the news to the others in the church and then the bells started ringing.
The media will hide behind the "unconfirmed report" label that was ignored. The media will refuse to take responsibility (most are liberals after all) for toying with the lives and hearts of the families of those who were lost. The media will refuse to acknowledge any need to show concern for those waiting nearly 2 days for news about their loved ones, but will talk about the need to be first with the story.
Just like Hurricane Katrina reports about rapes and murders and 10,000 dead, the media has demonstrated that facts do not matter.
Just like on 9-11, when the media was reporting at least 10,000 dead in the twin towers.
Just like, just like, just like..........
So, let us use this space to compile a list of the media mistakes. Let us make this the news and let us refer back to this thread whenever a news story breaks and our "trusted" sources get it wrong----again.
No he doesn't, leave him to his opinion.
"Though the governor announced that there were 12 survivors, he later indicated he was uncertain about the news. As word buzzed through the church of survivors, he tried to find out what was going on, he said."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180507,00.html
That is not confirmed as yet. It appears that a family member received a phone call from someone reporting that the miners were found alive. Who was on the other end of the phone and where did they get their information from is the question.
Some reports state that it was someone on the inside, telling family members. Other reports claim it was a relative calling to report what they heard on the news.
See post #76.
That's what the article said.
Ah yes, those AWFUL corporations. Let's just get rid of them all and then we can all starve to death in the dark. That way we'll be dying for a just cause instead of feeding "corporate greed", right?
Please see my response above. We don't know where the families got their information.
I agree.
What other reports? That's the first I've heard of that.
Sorry. See post # 82
See post #80. That is what the governor said.
I wasn't there. Just telling you what the article said. And it said the governor announced it.
This is not a time to be running around blaming people, not even the media. It was a horrible tragedy made worse by a lot of rumor and mis-information.
Hopefully when the reporters reported the news they said, there are UNCONFIRMED reports that the 12 are alive.
"I also find it difficult to believe that the fairly significant number of people on FR who were going beyond merely "Thank God" to "Hah Hah! This will show nonbelievers the power of prayer and that God exists!", if they had been in the media and outside the celebrating church, would have suddenly turned into Mr. Reporter Skeptic and been trying to downplay reports of the survival of the miners."
Good point.
As for me I see God all around me every day. I don't need to see a miracle to believe.
This story is what it is- sad, and a mess beyond belief, but as a person/only a person I can see how it got messed up.
I'm sure I'll get flammed because of this, but I don't think God made the facts play out here. I hope God comforts the families, but who lived and who died didn't come down to God IMHO.
All morning the media is scrambling to find out where the report first broke.
Several reports indicate the media intercepted radio communications with the rescue workers and misinterpreted the information.
Several reports only came after the families started celebrating---but the question remains, where did the families get their information? There were no officials with them at the time. It appears to have been a cellular phone call to a family member that started them to celebrate.
It says that company officials waited until they had more information before they corrected the record.
But still no word on whether the initial findings actually may have been true, even if life was coming to an end. A cruel ending for the families.
See, this is the problem I am trying to point out. Some reporters cite the governor when he did report anything until AFTER the families were celebrating.
Some reporters only relied on the families' celebrations as the source of their information.
Who informed the families is the question?
That is the "out" that the MSM is using in this. I suggest it was irresponsible to report information without an official source.
This is going to be awfully tough on the man who misinterpreted the conversation and I really don't think fingers ought to be pointed at him.
The fact is, these men died whenever they died and all the hoping or accusations don't change that a bit. We need to be praying for the recovery of Randy, he's got a real fight ahead of him.
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