Saturday, October 22, 2005
That's not journalism
While eating my breakfast of apple pie and milk, I watched CNN Saturday Morning. Co-host Betty Nguyen reported on a recent trip to her ancestral home of Viet Nam which is in the midst of monsoon storms. In the report she showed three orphans who were living alone in a shanty where the waters ran over the floor. They slept without blankets on plywood a few feet above the ground. They were boiling a frog to eat. At the end of the report she recalled her own background, relating how grateful she was that her family had emigrated to America. Otherwise she could be a similar situation as these children. She told how she made frequent trips back to Viet Nam, providing aid where she could. She and her camera crew had given these children some money, which she said would at least temporarily provide them some relief. The report was heartfelt and sympathetic.
The next report was about a young man who is running across the U.S. to raise money for Katrina victims. At the end of the report and interview the CNN anchors asked him for his web address where people can send money.
I liked my apple pie and milk, but it certainly was not breakfast. Similarly, these reports were not journalism. They went beyond the rules of objective reporting and became persuasive messages. Nguyen effectively used pathos to persuade her audience of the dire needs of people in monsoon ravaged areas of Southeast Asia. Not only were the images heart rending, but Nguyen's words drew upon the audience's emotions. The report clearly was no longer neutral nor was its reporter. The basic message had journalistic value, but its presentation was clearly persuasive rather than informative. The story of the runner was not even unique. I suspect many people have run the breadth the U.S. and never received CNN coverage. Maybe this story was worth covering because of its connection to Katrina; however, its reporting was clearly promotional.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Nguyen for a description of Betty Nguyen's background.
The next report was about a young man who is running across the U.S. to raise money for Katrina victims. At the end of the report and interview the CNN anchors asked him for his web address where people can send money.
I liked my apple pie and milk, but it certainly was not breakfast. Similarly, these reports were not journalism. They went beyond the rules of objective reporting and became persuasive messages. Nguyen effectively used pathos to persuade her audience of the dire needs of people in monsoon ravaged areas of Southeast Asia. Not only were the images heart rending, but Nguyen's words drew upon the audience's emotions. The report clearly was no longer neutral nor was its reporter. The basic message had journalistic value, but its presentation was clearly persuasive rather than informative. The story of the runner was not even unique. I suspect many people have run the breadth the U.S. and never received CNN coverage. Maybe this story was worth covering because of its connection to Katrina; however, its reporting was clearly promotional.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Nguyen for a description of Betty Nguyen's background.
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