Pray for Anderson Cooper

In a country populated by 82 million there's a city populated by over 7 million. In that city we have American press concentrating their glass eye on a city square that holds maybe ten thousand comfortably.

If it bleeds, it leads.

In a country populated by 82 million there's a city populated by over 7 million. In that city we have American press concentrating their glass eye on a city square that holds maybe ten thousand comfortably.

If it bleeds, it leads.

Yes, and might I speculate that Anderson would gladly exchange a little roughing-up for the attention it brings him. Kudos to him for staying-if he felt it was too volatile he would probably leave.

Speaking of which, did you know Sanjay Gupta bolted from Charity Hospital in New Orleans following Katrina? True story-the guy was brought in and he was going to be the medical reporter 'on the scene'. That lasted for a very short duration-he got the hell out of there after being exposed to a good day of a sweltering non-air conditioned hospital surrounded by foul flood waters. Some of my peers who didn't have the chance to be plucked by a chopper made a big joke about Sanjay 'the brave'. :lol:

Though any wussing out Gupta might have done during Katrina was more than made up with his actions after the Haiti earthquake, when he suddenly found himself running an emergency clinic after the staff bolted for safer areas.

Hey, it worked for Wolfe Blitzer. Just hide out on the floor of a hotel room and look very scared.

Anderson could be doing that broadcast from a hotel room in Biloxi, and cover just as much news. (I'm just saying...)

This morning on NPR, was the first I've heard about the entire uprising starting by people pumping up the revolt on FaceBook. Maybe it IS the media which started the whole thing. ???

Hey, it worked for Wolfe Blitzer. Just hide out on the floor of a hotel room and look very scared.

Anderson could be doing that broadcast from a hotel room in Biloxi, and cover just as much news. (I'm just saying...)

This morning on NPR, was the first I've heard about the entire uprising starting by people pumping up the revolt on FaceBook. Maybe it IS the media which started the whole thing. ???

Interesting insight from an armchair correspondent. :roll:

Yes, let's focus on the human frailties of the reporters cause the egyptian's being mowed over in the road by the government is just another day another story.
Who are you people?
What would be happening now to these Egyptians trying to stand for freedom if these incidents weren't on the internet for the whole world to see.
Are any of us over there?
We are very brave to assess the reporter's shortcomings from the safety of our couches.
Thank you for your insightful posts.

I didn't realize that Anderson Cooper put all of the video on the internet for the world to see. His show last night was made up mostly of still photos taken by an Egyptian, and an interview with her and other reporters. The clip of the vehicle hitting people had a note in the corner that it was taken by amateur videographer. My point is that Anderson doesn't have to be there for Egyptians to get there story out.

This story has very little to do with reporters, and much more to do with the people and gov't of Egypt, yet all the focus is on a handful of reporters.

I think the biggest thing I've learned from the entire story is not to let the gov't have the ability to switch off the internet and cell towers.

Don't confuse brave with ratings/$.

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Why the violence on journalists? .... ?The strategy of Mubarak government is to win the information war and demonize the protestors to justify their own violent suppression.?

Brian Williams looks very shook up, even like he's going to be sick. Such an awful situation.

It has helped Egyptian protesters get their nonviolent message out. But now they also have responded to the attacks with violence. We will be sorting through propaganda for sure! I'll put my trust in known journalists who have proved themselves worthy.

worth watching imo:

Rachel Maddow Show

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show/#41417932


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Since I don't know you smiling Joe and the fact that your avatar is from the BE words at Hibiscus, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt that you're not totally jaded, but are just coming at this from a different angle. Although, I have been wrong before.

I used the name of Anderson Cooper as a representative of the different reporters (amateur or professional) just because I like him, he and others are generally well-known, which is beside the point. No one said it was him that delivered all the info I posted about the horrible incidents that occurred in Egypt. Possible confusion could have come in from the choice of my title that might have led you to believe that this was about A.C.- it ain't.

Kurt changes the titles of my thread every now and then and his are more professional, but like you're Hibiscus sign says, I have a tendency to approach things with passion😀

All the focus is not on the press, but part of the focus is, because they ARE part of the story. My focus is on the Egyptian people being able to have freedom of press, internet and cell phone access, along with a free democracy, and to not have to be worried about dictators like Mubarak that employs hit men.

Communication cut-off is a well-known war tactic used by Mubarak that could have succeeded had not Anderson, etc. interfered with coverage of the many horrific incidents that occurred.

The reporters job is a means to an end, and in this case, the desire of the Egyptians is the end of Mubarak's iron-fisted rule.

I could care less what the reporter's motive is as long as the truth is reported- I'm not their judge.

The main point is: Communication has to remain open for the safety of the Egyptian people.

First it was
1. Internet
2. Cell phones
3. Media

Strike 3 and the Egyptian people could have been in severe danger.

Whatever the case or the angle, the bottomline is that these Egyptians deserve human rights.

Yes, let's focus on the human frailties of the reporters cause the egyptian's being mowed over in the road by the government is just another day another story.
Who are you people?
What would be happening now to these Egyptians trying to stand for freedom if these incidents weren't on the internet for the whole world to see.
Are any of us over there?
We are very brave to assess the reporter's shortcomings from the safety of our couches.
Thank you for your insightful posts.

I'm not suggesting we ignore what's going on in the square. I was just criticizing the press. The reporting has been rather myopic. Reporters have also injected themselves into this as players rather than bystanders. I think everyone reporting there needs to take a few steps back and present the whole story.

Al Jazeera English has been covering a lot more of Egypt than just the square when they can. You can find them on the web, or if your cable/sat company carries Link TV, that channel is pre-empting a lot of regular programming for AJE broadcasts. (they usually just have the AJE evening and late night news)

I'm not suggesting we ignore what's going on in the square. I was just criticizing the press. The reporting has been rather myopic. Reporters have also injected themselves into this as players rather than bystanders. I think everyone reporting there needs to take a few steps back and present the whole story.

Shopper and SJ,
It's easy to criticize when you are not the ones being shot at; beaten up and threatened...how do you think you would know anything at all about what is happening if some brave people : journalists, camera people, and producers, drivers, fixers, translators, Internet gurus, young people texting, hackers, etc., did not have the courage to risk their lives to get the news out? Would I or you have that courage if the revolution were happening on 30A?

Sure the corporate heads are worried about ratings, and perhaps some of the anchors are; but, I doubt that Anderson Cooper ever gives it a thought. He has proved over and over and over again that he goes where the story is...and goes to great lengths to get the story out to the world.

A little appreciation and a little less criticism might be a good thing for all of us as we sit in our comfortable homes here in paradise...

I have wondered in the last few days, would I have that much courage?

Just as I sat in awe of the people in New Orleans (and the reporters) during Katrina, I am in awe of the Egyptian people and the reporters who are covering their story. I am quite sure I would not have lived through Katrina if I was trapped on my roof in that heat and humidity with people shooting guns and bodies floating by in the streets.

I am also quite sure that I would not have been able to report on it the way Anderson Cooper and Brian Williams and Joe Scarborough and Shepherd Smith and so many others did...

Why not give them a break and a little appreciation for doing a job that is so important.

I read Cooper was punched 10 times by thugs who were Mubarek supporters. Couric and some other reporters have already left Egypt due to the violence, but Cooper stayed and is now in an undisclosed location collecting what he can, photos and video, from correspondents and local Egyptians. Since the internet and texting went back online, the Government is still monitoring it, so people may be nervous about posting pictures and video online, so it may be safer to give it to Cooper to air. I am not so sure that he would be able to offer as much in an arm chair in a studio. Of course ratings and drama are accounted for, but Cooper strikes me as being a hard core reporter first. Just my two cents, for all it's worth. ;-)

Thanks beachmouse, here is a link to what you suggested:AJE - Al Jazeera English
My heart goes out to the people for what they are fighting for.
View attachment 18913

What ARE they fighting for? Cheaper prices of goods and fuel?

What ARE they fighting for? Cheaper prices of goods and fuel?

That's it, a bag of groceries and a tank full of gas is all it will take for these people to once again be content.:sarc:

What ARE they fighting for? Cheaper prices of goods and fuel?

Ever heard of google 😀

It seems the Egyptians are seeking political and economic reform:
We are on the side of the Egyptian people: Clinton
The article being a bit generic doesn't offer many specifics.

Democracy instead of dictatorship and economic equity instead of domination.

They are taking back the power that they should have been able to exercise in the first place: the right to vote for their leadership and the right to an infrastructure that supports economic growth.
Cambridge Journals Online - Abstract

Dictator + Economic Oppression = Devastation
Democracy + Economic Opportunity = Freedom

Keep speaking cause Poppy is coming up with some entertaining comments to your questions :cool:

I would say they have plenty of reason to be concerned about their safety.

Egypt: ABC News Reporter Brian Hartman Threatened With Beheading While Covering Egypt Uprising - ABC News

Ever heard of google 😀

It seems the Egyptians are seeking political and economic reform:
We are on the side of the Egyptian people: Clinton
The article being a bit generic doesn't offer many specifics.

Democracy instead of dictatorship and economic equity instead of domination.

They are taking back the power that they should have been able to exercise in the first place: the right to vote for their leadership and the right to an infrastructure that supports economic growth.
Cambridge Journals Online - Abstract

Dictator + Economic Oppression = Devastation
Democracy + Economic Opportunity = Freedom

Keep speaking cause Poppy is coming up with some entertaining comments to your questions :cool:

Democracy doesn't necessarily bring freedom. Hopfully the people of Eqypt don't make the mistake of voting in a fundamentalist Muslim theocracy. If they do they're going to be worse off than they are now.