A recent news helicopter collision in Phoenix reminded me how much television news has sunk. I first started noticing it when the CBS affiliate in LA came on with their " Action News", and it was a car chase a day. I think it was Jim Lampley, or some other compelling personality (not), who'd make the non-news news. Sooner or later I figured they (broadcasters) would make themselves the news. Unfortunately, some helicopter pilots paid with their lives, and it wasn't the first time.

A bigger joke was the " Storm Center" or whatever other name the different stations came up with. This was Southern California we're talking about here, not exactly the interesting weather capital of the world. Rain! Wow. Bigger shock - the flood control channels are filling up with...rain runoff! "Get a van or helicopter out there, now!" Unfortunately, some moron would get in a raft in these dangerous cement lined rivers and make himself the news. Probably because he knew he'd get on TV. Sad.

Then the riots. "Get those helicopters up, now! What's that? They're being shot at?" A friend pulled that duty while the city burned, he verified they were taking shots. Once again, the news reporters becoming the news. Meanwhile, lives are put at risk in the air and on the ground. For what? To get the scoop first? Beat the other channel by a few minutes?

Then OJ's escapade on the freeways of LA, complete with buffoons lining the route cheering him on and waving at the cameras. Why not, they knew they'd get on TV. Then out here in Colorado, I'm watching TV and see a helicopter taking footage of a huge storm, and it's near my house! I go out and see this brain surgeon getting way too close to funnel clouds with hail in the area. Of course I immediately got my camcorder to document this pending disaster (if you can't beat em, join em!), but they wised up and hightailed it out of there.

I feel for the underlings, especially the pilots, being one, that have to go out and cover this nonsense. It ain't news, it's this infotainment crap. It's not usually biased, except towards people who need to be told what is news, and what you must see to be informed, in their opinion. I lump nearly every reality show in this group, more so the kind that follow someone around with a camera than the "Survivor" type. You know the kind, making a nobody somebody. Just like making the non-news, news.

Please, stop watching! Maybe it will go away.

©2007 Chris Rodriguez/Wrongmont.Com
(Chris Rodriguez is a Longmont resident, and the editor and publisher of Wrongmont.Com, a community website that raises local issues to increase public awareness and interest)