Media a Disgrace in Florida Shooting Story

If any American ever doubted that the media in this country is not a business, think again. Never in the history of human tragedies within America’s borders has that been made clearer than the recent student shootings in Florida.

The politicization of human tragedy to further promote partisan ideological thought has been the order of the day. For those who would dispute this claim, consider this:

Before the bodies of 17 dead students and faculty members could be buried, the opportunists in the mass media were on the story like moths to the porch light. Their ghoulish enthusiasm reminded one of animals on the fresh scent before the kill.

Let no one doubt that news directors, producers and even owners saw big ratings and advertising dollar signs. The exploitation of their brand of opinion was glaring on predictable news stations. CNN was so exuberant that they even staged a rally of supposed angry anti-gun protestors, many of whom it was learned later, were rehearsed by faceless handlers producing the affair.

sheriff scott israel v nra
Sheriff Scott Israel v NRA

No one is here to blame the grieving and shocked families, survivors and shocked public. But it was their voices that were hijacked by political opportunists seeking to promote their political beliefs. Who better to prostitute than shocked and disbelieving victims of a horrendous event? Having a microphone shoved into your face under those horrific circumstances is far easier than a pragmatic and productive discussion of actual events.

Before there was the remotest opportunity to discern the actual facts, news outlets were seeking dazed individuals to mold into their agenda. The bodies were not even cold before cries to disarm America began as did calls against the evil of our Second Amendment.

The decline of any journalistic quality in the “mainstream media” is deplorable. It brings to mind a supposed satire on the media made over 40-years-ago entitled “Network.” Whereas its writer proposed this sort of shark-style coverage in 1976, it has come true in 2018.

Many in the so-called responsible media should be ashamed of themselves. Instead of reporting the event, they have become the story themselves. Not unlike “Network,” they are creating their own news and the ratings nirvana they all clamor to achieve.

CNN was the most conspicuous of the guilty. They were easily the most proficient at capturing all the agony of innocent people at their most vulnerable. If you could provide truth serum to those running that network, the answer to their abominable behavior would be simple.

The honest answer would be they are doing poorly in the ratings and something has to be done to retain the advertising. Get out there and create the kind of action more familiar in most of the liberal Hollywood trash inflicted on the young people of this country; give them blood and guts. You never know, maybe the shooter was one of those victims of what they have inflicted.

Dwight L. Schwab Jr. is a moderate conservative who looks at all sides of a story, then speaks his mind. He has written more than 3500 national political and foreign affairs columns. His BS in journalism from the University of Oregon, with minors in political science and American history stands him in good stead for his writing.

Publishing

Dwight has 30-years in the publishing industry, including ABC/Cap Cities and International Thomson. His first book, “Redistribution of Common Sense – Selective Commentaries on the Obama Administration 2009-2014,” was published in July, 2014. “The Game Changer – America’s Most Stunning Presidential Election in History,” was published in April 2017.

Location

Dwight is a native of Portland, Oregon, and now a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area.





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