Throwing the press out of New Orleans

[icarus]

According to Reuters the press is being thrown out of New Orleans

Call the White House, 202-456-1111, and let them know that there is still freedom of the press -- there is no national security issue in this disaster -- there should be nothing to hide when the goal is to seek the truth about what happened.

I'm staggered, so furious I've been pacing for the last half hour.

wildernessguru says: "That's illegal."

Comments

[aphephobia.livejournal.com]

What. The. Fuck?

...why?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

It's embarrassing to Bush and he's abusing his power.

This isn't a democracy.

Icarus

[jennifus.livejournal.com]

*fumes*
*throws things*
*hates government*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Call. Or email at comments#whitehouse.gov

And be blisteringly sarcastic.

Icarus

[jennifus.livejournal.com]

Oh, I totally will. Though, if I'm aiming for "blisteringly sarcastic" I'll probably come away sounding somewhere between "mildly caustic" and "bumbling fool".
*growls*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Call. And be blisteringly sarcastic.

Icarus

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

I noticed the one guy who defended the policy is from the Heritage Foundation.

Mm-hmmmm.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

What's the connection between The Heritage Foundation and Bush?

Icarus

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

www.heritage.org

"Our Mission
Founded in 1973, The Heritage Foundation is a research and educational institute - a think tank - whose mission is to formulate and promote conservative public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense.

"We are not afraid to begin our sentences with the words “We believe,” because _we do believe_: in individual liberty, free enterprise, limited government, a strong national defense, and traditional American values.

"We want an America that is safe and secure; where choices (in education, health care and retirement) abound; where taxes are fair, flat, and comprehensible; where everybody has the opportunity to go as far as their talents will take them; where government concentrates on its core functions, recognizes its limits and shows favor to none. And the policies we propose would accomplish these things."
--From About the Heritage Foundation page at their website.

"Some of the finest conservative minds in America today do their work in the Heritage Foundation."--Rush Limbaugh, headlined on the same page.

The Heritage Foundation and the Bushes have been walking hand-in-hand for a loooong time.

Ah the people who start sentences with 'I believe'...

[kagyakusha.livejournal.com]

There's nothing quite like those people who start
every sentence with "I/we believe"...because if it's
a BELIEF, then they don't have to back it up with y'know,
proof, evidence, anything substantial at all.

><#######

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

WG's mother sent us an email with the subject line "I heard this from someone I trust and I believe them..." that went on how this was all the mayor and the governor's fault and how corrupt and incompetent they are. She beleived it.

Icarus

[lerah99.livejournal.com]

I've heard this.

FEMA stated the delay in having enough National Guard was due to the fact the State didn't fill out the proper forms. Yep, it was a paperwork issue. I can't imagine what those slackers were doing that they didn't fill out all the forms and triplicate and file them with the correct department. You'd think they were too busy dealing with some sort of disaster or somthing.

Though the one of the most heartless things I heard was someone on Fox News saying "FEMA tells people to have a weeks supply of essentials because rescue efforts can take time. These people brought it upon themselves by being unprepared."

[tekalynn.livejournal.com]

*jaw drops*

GOD.

I agree, you should be as prepared as possible for emergencies, especially if you know one's predicted--but it's not always possible to live up to the ideal. Things happen.

And then to blithely chunter along and *blame the victim* for being stranded in a once in a lifetime storm...GRRR! I agree, totally heartless.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Right, because when you have to flee your home due to rising floods you can always carry a week's worth of provisions with you.

What FEMA Homeland Security says about paperwork is a complete falsehood, too, just like the claim that they didn't know the hurricane was coming and that they couldn't reach this city filled to the brim with reporters. I have a link to the forms the governor of LA filled out on August 28th, the day before the storm hit. She requested troops and $5 million for evacuation.

Which is a hell of a lot more together than Bush, who never gave the order for the military to move in, even though they had a ship right there.

This is what surprises me so much about this. I knew about the hurricane. There were a lot of experts telling us about the potential disaster before it even hit. The whole country was watching. Katrina had already torn through southern Florida, and the meteorologists had predicted where it would hit within a few hundred miles (which is impressive accuracy). We knew exactly what was coming.

I expected us to be ready, to have supplies, food, evacuation, the works. The military was there, the governor had filled out the paperwork, there were volunteers on standby. There was a day or so of relief when Katrina deflated to a category 4 and didn't score a direct hit to New Orleans ...

... and then we acted like the disaster was some kind of surprise. Nothing was ready, no one was there, the president was on vacation and didn't respond, the rescue efforts that were prepared were stalled, property was protected over people. We had a combination of utter and complete incompetence with a chilling degree of disregard for human life, the opposite of what FEMA has always represented. Of course, it's not FEMA anymore. It's been incorporated under Homeland Security and this is a Bush decision.

It all goes right back to him. He's directly responsible for the lack of urgency, the incompetent person he chose, and the changing of FEMA's whole mandate. They're not about saving people any more -- and we can see the results. This is Bush. This is his decision.

Icarus

[atrata.livejournal.com]

I think I missed something. They're being asked not to take pictures of the dead, and FEMA's not taking them on recovery operations. I don't particuarly agree with either policy, but that's hardly being thrown out.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

They're not being allowed on the boats.

[maelwaedd.livejournal.com]

I don't really get it either. I mean, I've never actually been a part of a rescue operation or anything, but I can't imagine how having journalists and the take up room on rescue boats is going to actually help victims. Not that I think FEMA or whoever else have done their jobs particularly admirably, but surely the journalists are going to get in the way?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

These aren't rowboats. There's room, and it's normal for the press to come with the rescuers. How do you think we got the pictures of Hurricane Andrew?

Icarus

[maelwaedd.livejournal.com]

I do totally realise that FEMA really aren't doing their jobs. But some of the people on those boats must be people--just people who work for FEMA, people who know the organisation is shit but are trying to do their best despite that. I realise they're not rowboats, but I daresay they're not cruise ships either (If they are, ignore me). In my experience with boats, other people do seem to get in the way, no matter how large the boat is. I've visited two cargo ships, and I got in the way.

Now, if the journalists worked in a team with FEMA on a day to day basis on those boats and then were suddenly disallowed, that would be really weird. But I've been given the impression that boats, rescuers and volunteers were sort of mustered at the last minute (or afterwards), so it seems to me that it's unlikely the rescuers are familiar with the journalists. Or, again, I could be woefully unfamiliar with how your system works, and I am more than willing to admit I'm wrong.

I think that they'd get in my way.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Normally you want the press there because it tends to increase the donations flowing to the victims. They're not in the way, and never have been.

The question is, why, since they have always had the press in the boats, do they suddenly not want it now?

Icarus

[maelwaedd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I got the impression that they were in the way. I can't remember which article it was that I read the quote in, but it was a survivor saying "they didn't help, all they wanted to do was take photos of us." Not a direct quote of course, but that's what I read.

I'm probably just being foreign. I wouldn't want to see pictures of dead bodies, and I would consider it a violation if people were to take photos of me at a time like that.

If you buy this "spin" you're a fool

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

This is spin control and you're being suckered. I work in marketing and this is how you herd the press.

Basically, they've made a "problem" where one didn't exist. They're lying to you. The press has always gone into disaster areas. They've always been respectful of what graphic images they portray.

FEMA is not responsible for how the press handles any images. To attempt to control the press is against the law.

But saying this, they've put the press on the defensive. Now instead of any pictures being about the failure of FEMA, they've manipulated it so any images would be about -- let's see if I can quote you -- "I wouldn't want to see pictures of dead bodies, and I would consider it a violation if people were to take photos of me at a time like that."

All you need is one person you ask to go on the air, who's coached into saying exactly what you want them to say. (And yes marketing coaches people, absolutely. Just today my office had to get a young guy to wear a shirt with a collar for an interview on Good Morning America, and we told him exactly how to stand, where to look as he was being interviewed so he would come off as professional).

You think these interviews are spontaneous? Oh no. We give them at least 20 minutes of prep and coaching, tell them the angle to take that we need -- and of course we find who already has the attitude we need. The person standing next to him may have a completely different view, but we'll have this one person who supposedly speaks for everyone.

You're watching a masterful spin-job. Days ago people were angry at the FEMA's lack of response. Those images were a documentation of that failure. Now you're ready to shoot the messenger and it's all about the press being callous.

Being aware of when you're being manipulated is an important and difficult skill to learn. The key is to go back to facts. When you're being led to respond emotionally to information that's eiher hazy or untrue that's when you're being manipulated.

The facts:

- People are dead. A lot of people.
- FEMA was late, resulting in people being dead rather than rescued.
- The head of FEMA has his head on the chopping block. Congress has called for his removal.
- Images of dead people would guarantee the head of FEMA would lose his job.
- The head of FEMA has not allowed reporters on the boats to take pictures of all these dead people.
- The press has job and that is to record the facts.
- The press has always recorded disasters.
- The press has always self-monitored as to the images it shows. You know this: how many bodies have you ever seen on the news? This is a non-issue.

I guess after working in marketing I'm not very naive anymore.

Icarus

Re: If you buy this "spin" you're a fool

[maelwaedd.livejournal.com]

I realise that both sides are playing games. I'm not entirely stupid.

By all means, take as many pictures of corpses as possible. Report the numbers--that I can respect and it's something that I think would really make a difference. But pictures of dead people, while they would be great for some form of inquest, aren't news. They're commissions, and I shan't respect that.

I know their job, I know what they're doing. But I also know that the most sensationalist journalists--and, if this disaster is anything like most of the others, the journalist who takes the most risks--is going to get the most money or at least the headlines. Be it through photos of dead bodies or otherwise.

Again, I'm not in the US, where I assume you to be. All I know of what is on your television is what I get told, and if people are ranting about dead bodies on tv then I assume there to be dead bodies on tv. I am more than capable of checking out US-sourced news articles, and while no, I haven't seen dead bodies to my knowledge so far, I haven't honestly looked at a great deal of Katrina photos to know if there are any/many. I do recall photos of Sadaam's dead sons previously, though, which therefore leads me to believe that there is at least one source that has no problem in publishing photos of dead bodies. Whether this policy changes when its own citizens are involved, I don't know, because I'm not American.

To my knowledge, in my country if the press are in the way, they are removed. We haven't had this much wank concerning anything like FEMA before, but maybe it will become an issue for us in the future--I don't know. I'm not defending FEMA at all, and agree that there should be a serious enquiry.

I still maintain, however, that if I can take up room on a container/breakbulk vessel, then a reporter can take up room on a rescue boat.

Re: If you buy this "spin" you're a fool

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

sensationalist journalists

You're mistaking US journalists for some other country's, possibly the British. You don't have that kind of sensationalism here. There are a lot murders in the city where I grew up, Detroit MI. We had the largest number of murders in the US. I have never once seen a dead body on TV. Ever.

You're uninformed, basing your response on foreign journalists.

if people are ranting about dead bodies on tv then I assume there to be dead bodies on tv.

Nope. I haven't seen any and I've been following the story closely. As I said, this is an invented issue for the sake of spin control.

That's part of how it works. Yell fire and people think there's a fire.

I do recall photos of Sadaam's dead sons previously, though, which therefore leads me to believe that there is at least one source that has no problem in publishing photos of dead bodies.

I've been following the war closely and I've not seen those either.

in my country if the press are in the way, they are removed.

Here it is against the law.

I'm not defending FEMA at all, and agree that there should be a serious enquiry.

I agree. By the way, you should know that FEMA was dismantled by Bush and incorporated under "Homeland Security" in the recent terrorist paranoia. That's why all the fuck-ups. The rescue professionals of just a few years ago are all gone and FEMA's mandate was to "gain control" rather than help people.

still maintain, however, that if I can take up room on a container/breakbulk vessel, then a reporter can take up room on a rescue boat.

The room they take is worthwhile. By keeping the rescue effort in the public eye, money continues to pour in to help those very rescue efforts. It's an investment.

Icarus

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I guess this isn't clear: the press always goes along on rescue efforts. You want them there. Images of the suffering increases donations and help. This is a very serious disaster. It needs the coverage that brings in donations for the long term.

The moment the visual images stop coming or the press starts repeating the same old pictures, the story dies, and the help and support the victims need trickles off.

This is good for those embarrassed by their lack of response and bad for those who need help.

Icarus

[atrata.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm with you on all that. My only point is that the press is not being "thrown out" of New Orleans.

Also, I'm reading somewhat conflicting reports about the bodies. The AP says they've been asked only to hold off on printing photographs until the victims have been identified and their families notified. That's standard practice, and not something I can find fault with. Photos of the dead are coming across the wires regularly.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I've noticed when there's a lot of spin the story starts to get muddled as people change their tune.

They were being barred from accompanying rescue teams. The national guard was not letting them on the boats in accord with a new FEMA policy. The reason given was the photos. But it's not FEMA's job to muzzle the media.

only to hold off on printing photographs until the victims have been identified and their families notified.

Standard practice with crime victims where the victims' families can be contacted. I don't know if it's standard practice with disasters where you can't contact the relatives, where the net effect would be you can't publish photos at all.

But then again, I can't think of any modern American disaster of this scale.

They found 100 dead in one warehouse alone, all people apparently waiting for rescue. How do you contact 100 families who are scattering all over the country? I understand drowning victims' faces become very bloated and distorted, slowing the identification process.

This is just spin. It's setting people up to blame the messenger for any ugly images out of New Orleans rather than the people who are responsible.

Icarus

[monzz.livejournal.com]

Hah. I called that this would happen. *growls and curses darkly*

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

They cannot.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's illegal and there's no excuse. If FEMA Homeland Security keeps the press out they might as well post a neon sign that says "COVER UP" outside New Orleans.

They found over a hundred people dead in a warehouse, all waiting for rescue. They found 30 elderly dead in their beds at a nursing home.

This is just the beginning. And I want to know all of it. This has to be known, the death toll of not caring has to be painted in living colour.

Though no doubt the Bush family feels all these "underpriveleged" are much better off.

I don't think I've been this angry for a long time.

Icarus

[dphearson.livejournal.com]

At least you are directing yr anger in a god way. I have been drinking a lot ( yes, even more than the tequila) and crying and such. I had to put right back on Paxil so I can just function.

But we need to be angry. We need to see. we need to have this in our face, for a long time to come.

[lerah99.livejournal.com]

This is an outrage! It isn't bad enough that FEMA's incompetence has allowed thousands to die, now they want to be able to spin the press. I'm just sick over this. Their idea of respect and my idea differ. The least we can do for those who died is show the truth to the world, show them the casualties, the atrocities, and the horror of what happened. To do anything less is basicly stating that their lives were worth less than the image of FEMA and the Administration.

Grrrrrr, you can bet the Whitehouse is going to hear from me in the morning.

[ajuxliapose.livejournal.com]

Exactly, there's got to be something illegal about that kind of censorship.

It was on the news yesterday, that our British news crew got an old man free from his house, when the sherrifs and army had forgotten about him. Over the days, the journalists have helped people that would have otherwise been ignored.

[chickadilly.livejournal.com]

Fuck.

I'm about to pass out from exhaustion but tomorrow I'm writing a letter.

[jaig.livejournal.com]

When there's something to be covered up, anything can be done to do so. :/