Uh-oh: CBS News to air anti-GA hit piece on Wed. 1/14

Some people will be outraged, but for the most part those people have little
influence. For many people, either they will forget the report quickly
(after all, it is not news but entertainment), or they will think less of
CBS for airing it.

Let's hope that policymakers still have some sembelence of intelligence.

CBS should be ashamed at themselves for the damage to this country they
could cause by these sensationalist pieces. If you were to follow this line
of thought, first private airplanes would be banned, then private boats,
then all facilities would be fortified with large exclusion zones, and we
would be a complete police state where the suspects, er, citizens have no
rights and no constitution.



"Judah" wrote in message
...
There's gotta be a way to foil their plans and make their fear-spreading
tactics reduce their revenues. How can we get our hands on the Nielson
list?


David H wrote in :

I just saw a "teaser" piece during the CBS Evening News promoting their
"investigation" on security at GA airports, to air tomorrow (Wed.
1/14). It looks like it's going to be just awful.

It showed a home on a residential airpark, and a woman in a hangar
saying "we can just come and go anytime we want, with no restrictions!"
Footage shows a Cessna approaching and landing. Announcer voice-over:
"You heard that right, NO RESTRICTIONS. Wait until you see what we
found. You'll be shocked. Tune in tomorrow for a CBS Evening News
Investigation."

Disgusting. This looks like it's going to be awful.

I just heard it again as I was typing this: "The trouble with security
at small airports, tomorrow." Looks like they're going to hype it a
lot. Ugh, where's my barf bag....


David H
Boeing Field (BFI), Seattle, WA
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Visit the Pacific Northwest Flying forum:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/pnwflying

Peter Gottlieb wrote:

Some people will be outraged, but for the most part those people have little
influence. For many people, either they will forget the report quickly
(after all, it is not news but entertainment), or they will think less of
CBS for airing it.

Let's hope that policymakers still have some sembelence of intelligence.

A thin reed to hang one's hope on. :/

Actually, I think the best we can hope for is something much more important and
newsworthy happening during the day to pre-empt this - like something involving
Michael Jackson....

David H
Boeing Field (BFI), Seattle, WA
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visit the Pacific Northwest Flying forum:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/pnwflying

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

[snip]
CBS should be ashamed at themselves for the damage to this country they
could cause by these sensationalist pieces.

There are just too many things CBS (or NBC, or ABC, or...) should be ashamed
of that one more won't make much difference. Generally, these people are
interested in eyeball count first and maybe factual presentations second.
Well maybe tenth on the facts part.

Sensationalism gets viewers. That is a fact of the news/entertainment
business. Maybe we should change the name to newsertainment. IMO, the ONLY
way to effect a change in the way these people "report" GA news is to effect
their revenues. I propose we use whatever methods we have at our disposal to
counter their lines of bilge, and critize their inaccuracies with as much
professionalism as possible. Threatening to not watch is fine. But getting
others to realize the poor quality of the reporting is much more effective.
Sorta like the "give a fish-teach to fish thing"

Joining AOPA and other GA friendly organizations is a good start. Actively
promoting GA to everyone who will listen is another method. Volunteer at
Young Eagle events; cultivate the friendship of newspaper/magazine/local
radio reporters. Get the word out about the positive things GA provides to
the general public. I'm sure there are many more I haven't mentioned.

A truly informed viewer would be the death of network news as it is
structured today. Will my singular efforts make much of a diference? I
don't know, but I'm going to try.

VideoGuy

"VideoGuy" gkasten at brick dot net wrote in message
...

"Peter Gottlieb" wrote in message
et...

[snip]
CBS should be ashamed at themselves for the damage to this country they
could cause by these sensationalist pieces.

There are just too many things CBS (or NBC, or ABC, or...) should be
ashamed
of that one more won't make much difference. Generally, these people are
interested in eyeball count first and maybe factual presentations second.
Well maybe tenth on the facts part.

Sensationalism gets viewers. That is a fact of the news/entertainment
business.

Anyone read Michael Crichton's book "Airframe"? Completely skewers the
"news" media.