September 20, 2007

Pack Journalism at It's Worst

If you turned on the radio or TV today you were bombarded with a story that has been blown way out of proportion. The protests in Jena, Louisiana were nothing more than a media event orchestrated by the ACLU and various African-American organizations. The folks at the networks felt obligated to cover this so called "protest" because all of their peers were there. So, it became pack journalism at it's worst.

If the new media would grow up and ignore such outbursts it would go along way towards healing what divisiveness still exists in the South. High School fights are a part of daily life across the United States. But, while the ACLU says it is sticking up for the rights of the so called "Jena 6", it is trampling the free speech rights of the high school students who, mis-advisedly, strung up ropes from an old Oak tree.

To NBC, CBS, CNN, ABC and the local wannabe TV stations and the Internet portals I say..."let it go". It's not a national story.

No comments: