August 02, 2004
KOIN Promotionally Exploits East Coast Terror Alert
A Little Late Night Griping About Local Media
So the big story on KOIN late tonight was advertised in pre-news teasers as well as the newscast's opening with lines such as, "There's a nationwide terror alert, but when you see our undercover video, you'll see the problem of lax security in some of Portland's highrises."
Setting aside for the moment whether or not their "undercover" reporter should have been able to wander around elevators, bathrooms, garages, and offices during the final hours of the business day, KOIN does understand, doesn't it, that this "nationside terror alert" is only nationwide if you consider the United States to consist only of New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC?
As it turns out, they do understand this, because they mentioned it later in the segment. Which means they're simply quite comfortable with lying to their viewers in the name of ratings. We know, big surprise. And in the larger scheme of things, this is not a particularly important quibble. But it irked us, so we've mentioned it here.
Comments (8)
Justin on 03 Aug 2004
It irks me too.
Nate on 03 Aug 2004
I hate the "local angle".
Scott Jensen on 03 Aug 2004
Fear sells news.
But go about your business, don't be alarmed. But fear enough to vote for George!
That's how the current administration tries to control us and the press loves it.
al on 03 Aug 2004
So what was the local angle with Portland highrises? Was it like a bold headline screaming, "WE ARE NOT SAFE"?
Dave Lister on 03 Aug 2004
The media loves to hype these ridiculous stories designed to "prove" that we have poor security. A couple years ago they did an outrageous story (I think it was KOIN) designed to "show" how easy it would be for a terrorist to break into and hot wire a small airplane. As an aircraft owner and private pilot I attempted to talk to reporter Ken Bodie about how misinforming the piece was. Although he listened politely, there were no retractions or corrections. The national terror alert system is ludicrous. They might just as well set it to "magenta"... a significant risk that something might happen sometime.
The One True b!X on 03 Aug 2004
Nitpick followup: Tonight's portion of the story included the assertion that "City officials" gave security in these buildings, when shown KOIN's tape, a D minus. Of course, it was one City official who said this, not plural.
Baloo Ursidae on 04 Aug 2004
What do you expect from KOIN? We're talking about the same TV station that almost got slapped with a slander/libel lawsuit by the Beaverton School District after a report they did about my alma mater right after Columbine. They're easily the worst news in the area. If you're going to watch TV news, you're better off with KATU, KGW or NWCN.
KOslund on 05 Aug 2004
What do you mean "almost slapped". That's like near miss. Pretty irresposible, like what you all are saying about KOIN.