Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Oldstream Media: Getting No Respect, Plenty Of Lumps

TV news crews and newspaper reporters used to go just about anywhere at any time, secure in the knowledge that They Were The Media and no one, nohow would mess with them.

It's a different world. The kid that grew up getting news (if any) off the Web and busting gumball machines for spare change, he's grown up. The Media doesn't mean a darned thing to him.

...And a couple of 'em robbed a KGO (TV) news crew the other day, beating the reporter and photographer and getting away with an expensive (and traceable) Panasonic P2 news camera. (How expensive? Think new car prices, a nice new car, especially with a good lens. And you don't even want to know what they get for the proprietary little P2 removable-recording-medium cards.)

Last week in Memphis, TN, another news crew was held up and the cameraman ended up in the hospital. Newsies? You're a pinata now!

In the olden days, "I'm with The News" was a golden key, a magic pass. These days? It's like flashing a roll of high-denomination bills in the wrong bar.
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9 comments:

  1. DrangFebruary 2, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    As I noted, Anderson Cooper, Christiane Amanpour, and Katie Couric are all said to have gotten the shi'ite beaten out of them in Egypt...

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 2:36 AM

    I'm surprised it has taken this long, although I have to think that an item like that camera - I guessed somewhere around six figure with the card, so we probably agree pretty well - would be very hard to fence.

    Jim

    ReplyDelete
  3. CarteachFebruary 3, 2011 at 6:12 AM

    I am not a fan of violent criminals.

    On the other hand, I may regard this as societal evolution.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Tango JulietFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    After all the old guard has done for decadence and irresponsible behavior in this country? And this is how they're treated?

    Better promote some more legislation to disarm honest folk but quick!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Roberta XFebruary 3, 2011 at 7:18 AM

    Tango Juliet: Yep.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Old GrouchFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Well, back in the olde days (before "reporting" turned into "journalism") the men (mostly) on the beat were seen as less-than-respectable ink-stained wretches, but usually champions of the little guy.

    Today's talking heads are just another part of the establishment, telling people how to live their lives and what to think. No wonder our antisocial elements are less than sympathetic.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ed SkinnerFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:29 AM

    Coming soon to a news report near you: Shure SM38 in left hand, caliber 38 in the right.

    ReplyDelete
  8. SkipFebruary 4, 2011 at 2:37 AM

    Conservative = A liberal that has been mugged.

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2011 at 11:06 AM

    PRESS or UN is translated into most languages as unarmed.

    Gerry

    ReplyDelete

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