Posted on 11/22/2001 9:07:45 AM PST by justme346
ABC anchor Peter Jennings and four local journalists put their news judgments on the line Sunday evening in a live telecast that gave consumers a chance to question the barrage of coverage sent their way since Sept. 11.
If you have Real Player, click here to see the interview!
Titled Covering Terrorism: Critiquing the Media, the one-hour program was produced by ABC affiliate WFAA-TV (Channel 8) and originated from that station's Dallas studios.
Mr. Jennings mostly moderated give-and-take among 12 questioners and a panel made up of Channel 8 anchor John McCaa; Robert W. Mong Jr., president and editor of The Dallas Morning News; KERA-TV (Channel 13) news director Yolette Garcia; and WBAP-AM (820) talk-show host Mark Davis.
Mr. Jennings came under sharp scrutiny himself, however, after Channel 8 surprised him by bridging a commercial break with videotape of the ABC anchor wondering about President Bush's whereabouts on the day of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The excerpt, played "unbeknownst to me," Mr. Jennings said, was followed by in-studio questioning from Craig Stambaugh of Arlington, who had criticized the anchor in a letter to The News that also was excerpted on Sunday's program.
"With the most horrific attack upon the United States since Pearl Harbor unfolding before our very eyes, Mr. Jennings sees fit to bash the Bush administration," Mr. Stambaugh had written in part to The News .
Mr. Jennings agreed that a "number of people took objection" to his remarks, in which he asked on the air, "Where is the president of the United States? ... I know we don't know where he is, but pretty soon the country needs to know where he is."
His comments were "in no way intended to question his [Mr. Bush's] actions," Mr. Jennings said, but rather to express "how important it was for all of us in the country to see the president."
Most of the panelists sided with him, although WBAP's Mr. Davis said the timing of the anchor's remarks was questionable. He said Mr. Jennings seemed to be implying that President Bush was foundering in the early hours of a crisis situation.
Panelists also handled questions on coverage of U.S. troop movements abroad, the Islamic community, and anthrax.
"Your coverage always fails if you can't convey the humanity of the people you're covering," said Mr. Mong, emphasizing the importance of cultivating sources representing a wide variety of religious perspectives.
Ms. Garcia said network budget cuts have greatly affected the breadth and depth of reporting from overseas.
"International news was incredibly cut," she said. "Bureaus don't exist anymore. The American public has been at a distinct disadvantage in terms of understanding the world around it."
Mr. Jennings replied, "I agree with every word you say. We shouldn't have cut. I hope we bring them back."
Channel 8's Mr. McCaa said the media have "in general botched" coverage of anthrax by putting out too much conflicting or repetitive information.
"We've also succeeded in scaring the public," said Ms. Garcia.
"The play should have been more restrained," Mr. Mong said, adding that sensational headlines in some newspapers and "reckless" radio reports unduly fueled the public's fear.
Mr. Jennings is staying in town to anchor Monday's World News Tonight from Dallas.
To his credit, Jennings could have edited that out but did not.
When I was a kid, if I did something wrong and then lied about it, I got in trouble for the initial wrongdoing and for lying about it = double trouble.
When is Petunia bin Jennings going to get some trouble for his irresponsibility?
I'm waiting, Mr. Jennings. I'm waiting (not watching, but waiting).
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