Herd-mentality local-TV news coverage of the Israeli commando attack on the "peace aid"-flotilla reached new lows the past few days, once again confirming that Bay Area TV news might want to stick to the basics and let the networks cover the biggies.
The local TV guys have a set, tired formula: Israel story; converge on the Israeli consulate and tape the angry mob/demonstrators.
Later, send oblivious "reporter" to, say, UC Berkeley, and get the usual, predictable sound bite that condemns Israel.
Lazy.
My problem with local newsroom assignment editors is that if they're going to delve into an international story with local connections, (4 activists were from the Bay Area) then they should at least give equal time to the other side and attempt to get their story, hello!
All we seem to get here is the usual scene we ALWAYS get: demonstrators with convenient ready-made signs that are anti-Israel, with a smidgen of pro-Israel counter protesters. How about a sound bite from them? God forbid while wasting time on a two-shot, a reporter attempt to interview the consul-general.
Of course that would require hard work and objectivity, but since when did that logic enter the equation?
This post isn't about who's right on this issue and the Middle East in general. We'll leave that debate to the KGO radio guys and KQED/PBS crowd, but it would be nice to get a little bit of balance. It's not that difficult a task, but I'm beginning to wonder.
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