The controversy over the family who supposedly made a false report that their child had been in a weather balloon reminds me of an old Saturday Night Live skit.
A favorite of mine it, featuring Eddie Murphy, had a gunman shot and kill the Buckwheat from the show Our Gang / The Little Rascals. The news reporter made a solid point that the reason for shootings such as these were that the gunman was looking for the media's attention and that any additional coverage would only fulfill the shooter's goals and further the likelihood for other gunman seeking attention to follow in his footsteps. The news covered this statement with attention showered on the gunman and his past for several days.
I did not know about the weather balloon until news networks continually spoke about the Heene family, questioning how the boy got on and if it was a hoax or not. While I understand the police pressing charges if they need to I do not see a need for news stations to have hourly updates, start to research the family's possible criminal behaviors which go back to before I was born, or speculating on the family life of the couple. If the family did stage the event for media attention then I guess they are getting exactly what they wished for if the news organizations are any judge. Meanwhile, there are many stories out in the world and our neighborhoods from typhoon ravaged countries to inspirational local people who fight against the odds that deserve the time and attention the mass media are not providing to them. Why waste time with the same story over and over? Is not the media coverage to the point of only adding fuel to a fire instead of warning people about the flames?
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