Assignment: Compare coverage of a news story in different media.
I've chosen the story about the 10 Russian 'spies' uncovered last week. This story isn't as juicy as others I could choose, but since it began last week and seemingly came to an end today I thought it would be a good example.
Any kind of coverage of this story from beginning to end contained some version of the phrase 'throwback to the cold war'(The Daily Show had a funny segment built on this; nostalgia for the simpler times of nuclear terror)
If this story had broke 'back then' it would definitely have been THE story, whether or not it 'mattered'. In this case, it appears no damage was done, no one was in danger, and the sleeper agents were sane Russians as opposed to religious zealots. This lack of 'scare factor', I think, made this story sort of an aside in most venues.
On MSNBC the spy story was part of the 'headline' summaries but mostly absent from the main programs like Hardball or Countdown which focus on political debate. The international relations angle got some coverage, always in terms of 'Obama admin wants better relations with the Kremlin, how will this affect that?'
The Kremlin apparently shared the desire for a swift amicable end because this week it was announced that the 10 agents would be part of a prisoner exchange. This developement was covered with similar tepid coverage on all media I saw. The NY Times has an article today with the facts in traditional inverted pyramid style, along with the 'cold war throwback' sentiment. Actually, the article about today's exchange will be in tomorrow's NY Times; I read it online. Feel free to spend 4$ to buy it tomorrow, a definite weakness of the medium.
Online publications and blogs are similar to TV coverage in that this story is not 'big news'. In fact, I had to search several popular blogs for any coverage. What I found was riddled with typos, a weakness of that medium. There were a couple new angles online, such as 'what happens to the spy's US children?'
I am currently unable to find much info on OUR agents that we exchanged for, what their story is, that would be interesting.
The 'throwback to the cold war' sentiment is legit though, I thought they were joking when I first heard this on NPR.
ReplyDeleteHey Chelsea congrats your my first comment!:)
ReplyDeleteYeah isn't it funny I was unable to find anything written or said about this story WITHOUT that sentiment, which is definitely legit as you say.
It's cool you mention NPR, wasn't part of his assignment but coverage on NPR of this story was more thorough.