It really bothered me for more than 12 hours. When that happens, I have to do something before I can sleep easily.
The “it” had to do with CNN’s coverage of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s problem at his press conference a couple of weeks ago. He appeared to freeze. He couldn’t respond to reporters, and one of his aides stepped in and led him away. I think this is the second time this has happened.
Along with millions of other Americans and people worldwide who see U.S. news, I can only imagine what happened to the man. I am not a doctor. I have no political opinions about Mr. McConnell one way or the other. What I do have is a certain sympathy for him. He must feel embarrassment. I would.
The news media are like flames licking at the edges of a piece of paper: Their reporters and photographers want to capture every segment of everything that a person of note is doing or saying. It follows that Mr. McConnell’s blank look would be captured by the media in many ways and by all outlets.
I happen to watch CNN. I do not watch it 24 hours nonstop or until my eyes are bright red and weeping in exhaustion. No. I watch for an hour or so then that is it in the morning. I might watch for any late-breaking news in the evening. I’ve learned that political news appears repetitive and becomes boring.
Mr. McConnell’s problem was on the news almost before it happened. It was discussed, medical people were asked to bring forth their learned opinions, political experts were invited to suggest what the Senate should do about him. In other words, should Mr. McConnell be put on a dolly and wheeled out of the Senate?
Then discussions followed about what to do about other senators who might have overstayed their time.
This topic was pretty well covered to the point of boredom. Surely, there were other things happening in the country worthy of coverage? Or, had mass shootings become so commonplace that CNN was grateful for a break in that action?
The next day, CNN once more felt obliged to review Mr. McConnell’s problem at his press conference, complete with showing him staring blankly ahead and his aide assisting him.
I don’t know how often they ran that clip. I suspect it was shown over and over.
What I do know is this. It was cruel. Just plain cruel. By that time, the entire world had seen this sad incident many times. There was no need for CNN and probably every other major news outlet to keep showing Mr. McConnell in this defenseless situation.
This coverage became ghoulish and bordering on that of The National Enquirer.
I do not see how there was any doubt that anyone could have seen this man’s blank stare on television and his aide helping him move away. So why keep showing it over and over?
Journalism is, I’ve always thought, a complex business. Those in this business are always walking a fine line. Trying to be in the right place at the right time must be exhausting.
Photographers trying to catch that exactly right image must take hundreds of shots. Coordinating all that for television or print takes hours. Those are not 9-to-5 jobs.
It just seems to me that perhaps over time those in the trade become inured to the pain of those subjects they are covering. Perhaps they no longer see them as suffering humans but rather grist for the mill of publicity.
Yes, we count on newspapers, radio and television to provide us with what is happening in our country and the world. It is important for us to know what is going on even if we cannot do a thing about 99% of it. We may only be able to change what is occurring within our communities.
I welcome the news. What I do not welcome is the repetitive showing of a man clearly incapable of preventing cameras catching him in distress. No one on his staff was able to request reporters and photographers to step away.
No. I guess this was such remarkably juicy news that CNN, MSNBC, Fox and all the other news groups had to fall on it as if they were at the Oscars.
I could understand showing this perhaps three times during the day and evening.
However, I saw McConnell’s image shown at least four times during one broadcast.
I finally found a means to express my thoughts about this to CNN. I doubt I will get an answer.
Susan Keezer lives in Adrian. Send your good news to her at lenaweesmiles@gmail.com.
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