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1.04.2006
Shocker
If you were up after 11:00 p.m. last night, you were bombarded with news accounts that all of the trapped West Virginia miners were found alive. Apparantly, that is the headline of the USA Today and various other newspapers this morning.
At around 2:00 a.m., the news broke that all were dead.
An account of the media bungle is here.
To see the turn of events last night on The Blog, look here.
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22 comments:
very sad..what a terrible way to die! The media really screwed this one up, royally.
i bet the index had something to do with it, yeah, our local paper that made highlight of a father whose head was ripped off in an accident last week. i think we all saw it and read that fine big print.
I'll bet you'll never hear one single apology from any of the media. They need to be held more accountable for the information they report.
Reminds me of the media coverage of Katrina. (mostly speculation and grossly inaccurate). These 24/7 media outlets are so desperate for any news they don't take time to verify the information before they go with it.
And you are right 10:17, the media who love to hold our leaders accountable don't have much themselves.
Tragic result. Did anyone note all the "miracle" quotes and "praise the Lords"? Where do you go to get a retraction of those praises?
...what a horrible blunder.
...a few heads should roll for this.
..i agree with 10:17 - the media should be held more accountable...and the Index publisher issued an apology about the father who was killed in a motorcycle accident.
This was likely in response to a letter to the editor from a citizen expressing her disgust for the way it was handled in the newspaper.
I'm sick of seeing accidents in graphic detail in the Messenger, as well. They can report the story without sensationalism; how awful for the family to have to see those shots! It is pure and simply disregard for human feelings and decency.
The media is out of control. I know they should not recieve all the blame. However, in the search to be the first with "BIG NEWS", they got it wrong. Man, it just goes on and on.
To anon. 11:05. Yes, I noted every "Praise the Lord" and "miracle" that was said. There is no need to retract anything said toward God. He is praised for giving these people strength to endure this tragedy. The miracle is that they have hope of eternal life through Him. Being a Christian is not always milk and cookies. God allows us to go through hard times to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to him. A true test of faith is to go through something like this and still praise God. Apparently you do not have this relationship with God. I will pray that you might come to know him as I do, and you will understand what I mean.
12:15 - congratulations on your faith. However, the folks giving praise for the mine workers' miracle were thanking God for the miner’s survival. They got pretty mad when events turned out differently. While you endure life's difficulties waiting for a better afterlife, I'll work to do good things and enjoy this one. Thanks anyway.
Why are some of you people blaming the media?
Were any of you actually up watching what transpired on CNN, FOX, ABC NEWS live? Turn your damn television on and watch what happened. They were live on the air about 11:30 e/t, and bells started ringing people started cheering. A man crying came up to the camera and said "All 12 are alive!". The governor even came out and said "Miracles do happen!" right after all of the commotion, referring to the "rescued" miners.
The CEO of ICG came inside the church and told the family members that their men were being taken out-they would be fed, warmed up and brought to the church afterwards.
Suddenly at about 2 am, a lady came running down the road and was trying to get on the air during Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN. She was telling everyone how ICG knew that there was only 1 survivor, and withheld the information from family members and the media for 3 hours. She said fights were breaking out inside, family members were calling the company liars, hypocrites.
Apparently only a small number of you realize the media--especially print media actually has to get a paper done in the midst of all this. When information was being confirmed from all sources--Governor, all family members, and fire fighters.. News outlets began running the story, which was still confirmed by ICG until 2 am, when all accounts were discredited. By this time, most large papers have already submitted their papers to press, and are starting their morning distribution run.
The problem is each news outlet I witnessed verified their information from sources such as the---Governor of West Virginia, Fire Dept (EMS), Family Members, and even rescuers that were coming back from the mines. All adding in the fact that the CEO DID confirm that all 12 were alive to the families, pastor, governor and everyone else inside.
12:32-
Just because someone is a Christian does not exempt them from being angry. The Bible says (not that you would believe it): "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God- Romans 3:23" We are not perfect. As far as my afterlife, I'm not depending on any "works" to get me there. My afterlife is guaranteed me by the death of my Savior Jesus Christ on the cross (John 3:16). We live in a free country and are free to believe how we wish. I just felt your comments about "miracles" and "Praising the Lord" to be critical. I was just defending my faith. But then again, you may not understand. It sounds as you have no belief system to defend. I will continue to pray for you as well as the victims of this incident.
..though appreciative of the freedoms of folks defending their faith, does it really do that much good? Maybe so. Maybe not.
It isn't going to do a lot of good quoting Scriptures to people whose hearts haven't been opened to the Word.
..there must be a preparation first.
..and that takes bunches of time for folks to watch a Christian's life out in the workplace, in politics, wherever. How do they handle life and treat people?
....scary thought when I look at my own life!
2:41- Good points. Perhaps God will send someone 12:15's way!!
They should change that cell phone commercial from "Can you hear me now" to "Can you hear everything I said? Ok, repeat it back to me so I can make sure you got it right." This sad story reminds me of the old game "Gossip" we used to play. There was probably some psychological thing going on too, like "You only hear what you want to hear". One missed syllable, and the story ends up totally different from what was really said or happened. I love the technology we have, Internet, email, cell phones, cable TV, etc., but instant gratification of information is not irrefutable. I sure hope that someday I'm not on a plane filled with a bunch of people while we watch ourselves crash.
After having seen and read more accounts this afternoon I think anon at 1:36pm is basically right on the mark. Now begs the question: Do anon 8:50, 10:17, 10:44, 11:08, and 11:28 have a little egg on their faces for having mistakenly pre-judged the media's role in this? How's the crow taste?
sure they have crow on their face for shootting their mouths off on this and on our local newspapers. the only thing on accidents i see in the wcm are photos with some of the accidents, and i like to see those, and i like to share them with my children to show them the dangers of driving.
some of us who have had a family member killed in an accident do appreciate the coverage when it is in taste, and 99% of what i have seen locally is that (in my opinion).
The media is no more accurate that their sources.
Dan Rather
3:52- Do you work for the media?
And, yes the crow tastes just fine.
My opinion of the media has not changed. At least the mining company apologized for their part in this. Regardless of fault, it would be nice to hear some member of the media say something like, "We regret that we reported such information," their fault or not. It would just show some class.
Again if you were up at 2 am you would have known that CNN, NBC, FOX, and ABC all acknowledged the newly discredited information and all retracted their statements at pretty much the same time before ICG gave their Press briefing about the incident early this morning.
As far as the newspapers-
I am sure you will see retractions in the morning..
No crow here, either....I maintain the WCMessenger is out of line. I, too, have had a family member injured in a car accident, and I do NOT appreciate the sensationalism. I have the same right to voice my opinion that you have, do I not? I believe it is sensationalism and I do not like it. I also take offense at persons in this section forcing their religious beliefs on others. I am a Christian and have been for my whole life, but slinging nasty comments at others is certainly not the way of Christ. He loved everyone and expects us to do likewise. I am ashamed to be termed in the same classification as you are!
Anon 4:18:
Please enlighten me. I've read these responses and I don't find what you mean by nasty comments.
Please show me what comments you find offensive. The only offensive comment that I found was in reference to retracting praises to God, as if He doesn't exist.
It is very true that God loves us all. However, He did not intend for us to sit back and not witness or minister to others.
I hope this isn't offensive to others because that was not the intent.
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