This post will be adding to Kim’s statement on her Xanga site.

The absurdity of sensationalist journalism has forced its ugly head to the forefront of the nation once again.  Despite the 24 hour coverage at present everyone can rest assured that three months from now a mention of the beautiful city of New Orleans will be few and far between.  CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc..  can’t be blamed for the amount of coverage.  The problem resides in the type of coverage, and the use of language in that coverage.  For example: “looting” equates to “lawlessness”, or “widespread.” An interpretation of these words can lead to any number of ideas.  I’m not in New Orleans, neither is Wolf Blitzer or Chris Matthews.  I don’t know exactly what’s going on there.  But to take one second away from providing useful coverage in order to show damage to insurance covered property is ludicrous.  CNN and the other top news networks own helicopters.  People in the city are dying.  Drop the camera and help them.

A sensible idea for coverage would be to provide what my wife’s close friend and New Orleans resident requires. A breakdown of what area(s) are damaged and how deep the flooding is in those areas is necessary.  Stop with the general stuff.  These people need to know details.  Specific cross streets would help.  Residents of New Orleans have been forced to make a choice on how to carry on with their lives.  These people can either wait out recovery efforts or pick up their lives and leave the city behind forever. CNN has the power to assist in that decision by sharing information.

Another note, everyone knows that watching a man cry because of the loss of his wife is awful.  Repeating that same man 3-4 or even 5 times within an hour is exploitation!  Every advertising dollar gained from these poor peoples stories should be donated to recovery efforts.

Finally, I heard a comment by a CNN pundit about international aid.  He made a blatantly rude comment about France once “owning” the city so “where’s their aid?” It was an obvious neo-con Iraqi war stab.  Need we remind this “journalist” that France was CORRECT in its assessment of Iraq!  The bitterness towards France is childish and uncalled-for.  If I were in their shoes I would think twice about helping this arrogant, egotistical, bully of a country too!  Yet as a humanitarian gesture I’m sure they WILL send aid.  Of course, this same “journalist” will have nothing to say about it.