This is regarding the sad news about the two news helicopters that crashed and the four deaths that were a result of the crash in Phoenix yesterday.
Could this tragedy have been avoided?
This quote is from My Way News.
Earlier on Friday, Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris suggested the suspect could “be held responsible for any of the deaths from this tragedy.”
If the suspect had decided to not get in a police chase the accident would have been avoided.
The reporters and the pilots were just doing their jobs. The story was valid news and should be covered.
FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the pilots of the five news helicopters and one police chopper over the chase were not talking to air traffic controllers at the time, which is normal.
If you have ever been in an accident with another vehicle, you know that police and insurance companies have a basic criteria to determine who is at fault. That is, who had the last chance to avoid the accident? That is why, in any accident where one car hits the rear end of another car, the driver who rear ended the other is always at fault. Even if the driver in front slams on the brakes for no reason, the guy in back of him had the last chance to avoid a wreck.
The tragedy in Phoenix should have been avoided because the news helicopters were unnecessary. Sure, it’s news but we don’t need to see live coverage of police chasing a work truck. Six helicopters in the same area, dead reckoning, sounds more dangerous than the actual chase.
If one of these stations decided they weren’t going to cover the chase scene, people would just tune in to the ones that were. Why is that? People watch these things because there is an element of very real danger. The chase could end in a crash or a shootout. So, they are not watching for the news value, they are watching for the entertainment value. Thus, the news presentation is really an entertainment show fighting for ratings.
It’s even worse than that. The news shows are adding danger to an already dangerous situation just by being there. They are inserting themselves into the news and, in this case, becoming a tragic part of the story.
If Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris has the audacity to charge the suspect with manslaughter or even murder then, he should charge the news directors and the station owners with the same thing.
If the collective consciousness of the consumer is so morbid that we demand this type of needless reportage; so be it. If that’s the case then. what do we gain by shifting the responsibility away from those who have the actual power to avoid such an incident?
Jayne d'Arcy wrote,
I think the news stations ought to be held responsible. It’s horrible this happened, but you know it was bound to happen sooner or later with the fight for ratings on the board.
Link | July 28th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Dawn wrote,
There is no way that will fly! That is totally insane, and a judge would have to be out of his mind not to throw that case out! That is absolutely ridiculous!
Link | July 29th, 2007 at 5:41 pm