Hurricane Katrina: Reporters getting ANGRY…
September 3, 2005 | 9:45 am…and about damn time!
I’ve seen the press cover a number of horrible situations, but I’ve never seen so many, on both sides of the politicial spectrum, get so visibly upset on the air.
From CNN’s Anderson Cooper going off on Louisiana senator Mary Landrieu…
…to Geraldo Rivera damn near losing it while reporting on the convention center situation during Fox’s “The O’Reily Factor”…
…to NBC photojournalist Tony Zumbado giving a tortured first hand report about the lack of support, the numerous deaths about him and the horrid conditions at the superdome (look for the title “Convention Center Chaos“).
These people are mad as hell. (Welcome to the club)
They’ve thrown their softball questions away and have begun to ask those pipe-hittin’ questions that need to be pursued.
…about damn time!
Slate magazine’s Jack Shafer writes an excellent article which collects some prime examples of the television press finally “smelling the coffee”.
Also, in a stunning example of he-said-we-said, CNN gives a eye opening comparison on the government’s take on the situation versus CNN’s own “in the trenches” reporting.
To quote my gal, Soledad O’Brien, while interviewing FEMA director Michael Brown, “How is it possible that we’re getting better intel than you’re getting?”
How indeed…
Rock on, people and don’t let up for one second!






Anderson Cooper and Tony Zumbado rocked as reporters during this Katrinic tragedy.