Tornado Alley (PROG)

[gotmilk]

"Are you unaware that journalism is a profession? That journalists have rules for themselves, and take pride in their integrity?"

I realize that what I say next is hearsay on my part, unsupported with links for verification.

Years, way back when the United States attacked Iraq for the very first time, the only news station that positioned a news team with a video hook-up into Iraq was CNN.

The other major news channels like ABC, CBS, and NBC decided that the money risk-reward was slanted towards the United States not to invade Iraq, thus they decided not to spend the money for an on-site full reporting team within Iraq.

I was a channel surfer like that poster that switches whenever an advertisement comes on.

I'm watching Dan Rather on CBS giving the news of the same-old-same everyday political nonsense of our politicians not working for the people, but for their reelection.

I decided to switch channels with CNN as my first option.

Just before I switch, me being above average in reading body language, and here it was Dan Rather's face, I noticed that he got a message from the show's producer inside his ear-bud.

Dan Rather's face went from relaxed to tightness to a degree of severe contortions.

But he said nothing of what message he received.

I figured something like his wife or children were in a car accident, but they were ok so he continued the news broadcast.

He continued with the stupid political news.

I switched to CNN and WOW out the window was the night landscape of Iraq being bombed by the United States.

Real time, happening now.

Big time story, yes indeed.

After 5 minutes I got curious and switched back to CBS Dan Rather and "you gotta be joking" as he was still reporting trivia news, nothing about the Iraq War has started.

Reporters often say "We have not verified..." an event they report on.

Most reporters and news stations that "take pride in their integrity" won't even mention hearsay or rumors that would be of interest if true until they verify the information. Note: Perhaps then in past years, but no longer now as the Trump-Clinton stuff brought in a new set of rules, called Corrupt.

Why didn't Dan Rather tell the viewing audience of Big Breaking News that CBS verified by watching CNN ?

Y'up, Viewers on CBS would leave and go to CNN.

Why important to CBS is that simple... eyeballs are translated into advertising revenue (aka money) and that trumped pride and integrity.

So I found it interesting that Dan Rather twisted and turned with face contortions for 20 minutes telling more trivia news until CBS finally got a reported on the telephone to say the Iraq War started.

So there, the CBS viewers got a telephone spoken account while CBS knew that CNN had an awesome video account for it's viewers.

Years later Dan Rather was asked about this and he said that a CBS person for verification was needed as the CNN on-air account was "unverified."

Of course at that time CNN was known for real time reporting of high trustworthiness.

Plus CBS knew CNN had a full reporting unit in Iraq.

As for: "... journalism is a profession [and] journalists have rules for themselves, and take pride in their integrity."

Bullshit