Jan. 18, 2010 - PPM - Haitian Media Coverage

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY (PPM) is about the earthquake in Haiti or as one network has dubbed it: “Horror in Haiti". Why do networks need a tag phrase usually an alliteration, to describe every news story that will dominate more than one news cycle?

But that is not my PEEVE.

My PEEVE is that the numerous, and I mean numerous, networks all reported that medical personnel and relief assistance could not get into Haiti because of the limited space at the Port-au-Prince airport. I know first hand that a local “Doctors Without Borders” organization was held up in Miami because of the congested tarmac in Haiti.

NBC had Brian Williams and his team reporting from Haiti on Friday. On Saturday, NBC had 7 other reporters including the weekend anchor, Lester Holt, on the story. Williams had gone home as it was weekend and all. It you take NBC’s reporters, staff, and technicians and multiply it by CBS, ABC, CNN, FOX NEWS, MSNBC, not to mention the “foreign” press, you can see why there wasn’t any room at the airport.

Why not have one limited “pool” set of reporters and let the specialists in to do their jobs. I wonder how much additional pain and suffering was caused (and subsequently filmed) because of the media’s maniacal manifestation of malfeasance. (Put that in the corner of your TV Screen, Mr. Producer.)

If it bleeds it leads. I wonder how you say that in Creole?