Because, like so many of the fine and intelligent readers of Born Again Bird Watcher, I too consider myself as much of an overall naturalist as I consider myself a bird watcher, just about any nature-related current event catches and generally holds my attention. When news of such events comes to me through the channels of skilled natural science writers I am most often thoroughly captivated. When it comes to me through the mainstream press, especially the television news broadcasts, I find myself often annoyed due to one or another inaccuracies in the story.
Thus, for all those who have found themselves already aware of the rather curious event in the Florida Keys involving a Spotted Eagle Ray, Aetobatus narinari, that regretably included the loss of the life of a woman visitng there from Michigan, I offer an excellent resource for learning more about the species that is being more often than not incorrectly termed a “sting ray” (a generic term for a number of species in the Family Dasyatidae, a different one than that in which the Spotted Eagle Ray is classified) by most television reporters.
Even more unfortunate than misidentification is the attribution of malice, in the form of headlines and quotes such as “Woman Boating In Keys Dies After Ray Attack,” by some of the representatives of the Fourth Estate. Many people have much of their ideas about nature significantly formed by the mainstream press. It’s not so terribly difficult to get a few basic facts in line before reporting a story. Moreover, the intentional sensationalization of explainable natural phenomena with the use of words such as “attack” in a situation such as this present one is simply irresponsible on both journlistic and ecological levels.
Now if you’ll please excuse me, I have to take another tilt at yonder windmill.
Peace and good bird watching.
Mel
March 21, 2008 @ 09:32
Hi there!
I’m very familiar with media and information, I’ve studied and analized the media for over a decade now: contents of programs, adverts, propaganda, news and information… and it is just sad.
As you well said, most facts are not acurate, maybe because of ignorance and lack of interest or just because of greed as they atract more people and therefore more sponsors and advertising = MONEY!
I’ve lived in South America all my life, but I’ve had the chance to travel to the USA and Europe in the past, and also watch shows from all over (I’m always seeking for information) and there is something curious I’ve noticed is happening in the USA media: they seem to focus on fear and paranoia… “Beware of this… Careful with that… etc”
The adjectives they use, the nouns, the verbs, the sound and visual effects, the voices… everything seems to be designed to cause fear, anger or frustration, and that is sad.
I have found good shows and people in the media, but over all it seems that ratings are more important than REAL information and education (and that goes for media all over the world)
This is my PERSONAL VIEW, comparing media of the places I’ve been or had the chance to get in contact with, hope nobody takes it personal.
Mel
March 21, 2008 @ 10:52
Blogger ate my comment đ
I don’t know if you got it… I don’t do memes but liked this one and tagged you for it, hope you can make it!
http://teach-me-birdwatching.blogspot.com/2008/03/six-word-memoir-meme.html
fieldguidetohummingbirds
March 21, 2008 @ 11:01
Yeah, I heaved a big, frustrated sigh at the inappropriately generic use of “sting ray,” though the multiple definitions of “ray” tend to require modifiers for clarity, such as “Spotted Eagle,” “Manta,” “X-,” “death,” “Charles,” or “of sunshine” (whereas “gull” never, ever needs to have “sea” in front of it).
Thankfully, the versions of the story that made our local papers didn’t have such lurid, sensationalistic headlines.
The Giraffe Head Tree
March 22, 2008 @ 05:12
Hi John! Mel is right on target with her studies. A former Program Director/Marketing Manager for a local television station, it finally hammered home that “if it bleeds, it leads,” whether in news or programming. Sensationalism was (still is) the name of the game, and advertisers were (still are) mini-gods in the biz. They actually controlled news content from time to time. It’s all about ratings, shares and demographics, not about content or the public good. The final straw was when my GM told me to NEVER use the word “quality” in his office again. ‘Nuff said.
The Giraffe Head Tree
March 22, 2008 @ 05:13
Oh…..by the way…..the former comment about local television news and programming was MY PERSONAL OPINION only. Ahem. Debi@ GHT