Many years ago, an acquaintance of mine opined that the reality program, Survivor, was the best television show ever made. I didn’t share her excitement and replied, “I saw a man walk on the moon on television. I thought that was pretty good.”
Needless to say we are no longer on speaking terms but it’s reasonable to conclude that what occurred on Sentosa Island Singapore yesterday lies somewhere between the two.
While my memory of Neil Armstrong placing his right foot on the Sea of Tranquillity may be a little hazy, I distinctly recall the coverage of what remains the most outstanding event in human history, was not appended by almost endless commentary and addle-headed speculation from journos and other so-called experts.
The reporting of momentous events has changed considerably, and I think for the worse.
Yesterday I spent the day watching the coverage of the summit on Sky News and a range of US cable news channels on my iPad while ABC 24 was on the television in the background. The ABC’s dedicated news channel was hard pressed. During the many long moments of waiting for anything of any significance to occur, news presenters various sought comment from reporters on the ground in Sydney, Singapore or Seoul.
The fact is the reporters knew almost as little about what was happening than I did. They were forced to stretch as they say in the biz, waffling on about what may or may not be happening and how an outcome they could not possibly know might affect the world in the short and long terms.
It was filler, plain and simple. Most of it worthless commentary or pointless speculation.
The US and North Korean delegations were behind closed doors. The photo-op of President Trump and Chairman Kim shaking hands for the first time had come and gone. Cameras rolled revealing a closed door where Trump and Kim would emerge eventually. They were late as the subjects of press conferences or photo ops often are, leading to even more panicked cutaways to more reporters adding their eight cents’ worth.
For once I would like to see a reporter under questioning from a news presenter offer the succinct three-word reply, “I don’t know.” It might not make for great television but at least it would be honest. The reporters did not know. Not one reporter, commentator or talking head present in Singapore or indeed anywhere else in the world, did. They did not know what had been agreed to by the two delegations or indeed if anything had been.
Even after the two leaders had signed a memorandum of understanding, no one was quite sure what they had signed up to. On ABC 24, the questions put to reporters were of the tedious “Is it good that Trump and Kim have met?” variety. The answers from the reporters on the ground invariably were yes with a but or no with an if, often played over the top of a lot of file footage of missiles being launched, possibly from North Korea but they could have been from anywhere.
Is it good that Trump and Kim have met? Unequivocally yes. The fact that the two nations were on the verge of a nuclear exchange just three months ago and now the two leaders were shaking hands and generally glad handing each other is very good news. It takes the temperature out of arguably the world’s most dangerous hot spot at least in the short term. Beyond that, who knows?
See, I could have answered that question and many others like it promptly and I was four and a half thousand kilometres away at the time.
When something unusual did happen, it was overlooked. After Trump and Kim did finally emerge for the signing ceremony photo-op, a North Korean guard wearing rubber gloves stepped forward to examine Chairman Kim’s pen, presumably to determine if it was some lethal CIA gimmickry, some ghastly tool of assassination. Satisfied it was merely a harmless writing implement, he placed it back on the table and Kim commenced scribbling his ornate autograph.
This was barely discernible on ABC 24 where the camera operator had opted for tight shots on the two leaders but elsewhere it was more obvious. It raised the question, were the North Koreans so paranoid they thought their supreme leader could be knocked off by a poison pen while the rest of the world looked on?
Call me old fashioned but I pine for the days when a network would cut from regular programming to a major news event and then once reported, the scheduled program would resume. I noticed SBS did this yesterday. They ran some old repeats of Nigella Lawson whipping up some scrumptious offerings in the kitchen and interrupted only when something important was happening in Singapore.
But ABC 24 can’t do this. During quiet moments the channel can and does revert to other news which essentially is news that is four hours old or older and therefore not news. The same could be said for scheduled bulletins elsewhere on the ABC like the corporation’s flagship 7.00pm bulletin.
If you spent the afternoon watching ABC 24 as I did yesterday (albeit with a bit of bored flipping to a bit of Nigella on SBS) by the time the seven o’clock bulletin came on, you’d have already seen everything, even some of the lightweight magazine guff that runs between the sport and weather that we in the news caper like to refer to as “cat that does the ironing” segments.
Do yourself a favour and examine the lag between television reporting of an event and what appears through trusted news sites on the web like this one. You’ll find what comes up on the web is at least an hour faster. Worse, once that news is reported on television, it will be reheated and rehashed, almost always without revision sometimes for a day or more.
While the debate rages over the diplomatic and geopolitical consequences of the summit, one question was answered: television news is often not news at all.
Happened upon some cricket last night after the world cup game. Some incredible shots that went on for far too long for my liking.
Not talking about that
Some bloody good sixes there TV
Optus has announced all World Cup matches will be simulcast on SBS from tonight until the end of the group stage due to ongoing Streaming problems with OPTUS, Mr Insider. Meanwhile, Telstra shedding 8000 over 3 years and if ever I saw a Company ripe for an overseas takeover its Telstra imho. If either Company was an Aeroplane you wouldn’t want to fly in them!
https://tinyurl.com/y8jlwwkf
An interesting article on multiculturalism.
https://pjmedia.com/homeland-security/the-folly-of-multiculturalism/
I have always thought the Aussie version worked fairly well.
Interesting jack, thanks. We’re a multi-ethnic not multi-cultural. Cultural relativism is something that should only be discussed around a bong as it’s just intellectual laziness. But, that’s how we got here.
Some sad things about that article, among others: the absurd claim that the whole of culture springs from religion (which is arse-about, because religion is obviously only one aspect of culture); the author’s inability to use the word racism without putting it in scare-quotes; and his belief that a nation can only survive if everyone in it thinks the same way, a deeply illiberal and depressing notion.
Oh, and he seems very confused about cultural relativism, equating it with the belief that one’s own culture is not really a culture but universal and superior to all others – which is the exact opposite.
Anyone been to Moscow in September? Will I need to dress like a Cossack?
Nothing flamboyant.
True story. My wife and her girlfriends all hate my earring. Oh well.
You got an earring, Dwight? How cool!
Err, no. Not if a guy’s over 21 but each to their own I guess.
31 years I’ve worn one, Boa. Thought it made me look younger.
As long as your hair is longish to match it Dwight. Short back and sides with earring is a “no no”
It’s something I’ll use as a bargaining chip down the road–or just a birthday present for her. Just wasn’t about to shed it for some Eastern European cultural reasons.
Johnny Depp
Really hot in Pirates of the Caribbean Triv. Even better with the eye makeup too! Poor Johnny is not looking at all well these days though.
No, you wont need to dress like a Cossack. But if you wish to be immediately recognised as an American tourist that would be the way to go.
Been there in April. I have a sheep’s wool hat I can lend you from the Caucasus region. That will make the Muscovites leery of you. Might keep the pickpockets and scallywags away. Taxis might not pick you up though.
Sheep’s wool hat and an earring? In Russia! Yeah right Mack. I can hear music, sweet sweet banjo music.
Dearie, dearie me, Mr Insider, Russia wins their 2nd game in the World Cup thrashing Egypt 3-1. Your humble coreswspondent is hot on the trail of a World Cup boilover here as “Team Vlad” wipe the floor with anything in thier path. However if they did win the World Cup I would in all amazement declare Global Warming is real and that Man has never been to the Moon, thats how confident I am!
https://tinyurl.com/ybtkfded
I firmly believe the Apprenticeship system, devised in England during the Middle Ages, is the greatest system devised by humans to progress the handing of skills, and the passing of knowledges, to the following generation. The trades are the coalface of civilisation, a cohort of skill, that enable civilisation to be civilised. Your house was built using skills passed by hand, from Master to Boy, for centuries. It’s sad when the young are not getting their chance to acquire skills because there are no willing employers, but sadder yet when an employer has a position and it goes unfilled. Here’s a lady with a position available, and valuable skills to pass down, and she can’t find an apprentice. If I wasn’t so old I would apply, just to help her out. Any takers?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-20/stripper-seeks-apprentice/9790306
I am not familiar with Ms Bonnie Wells here in QLD, Wissendorf, but I too fall into the same willing category as you but alas age has caught up with me too plus my Princess would not understand my desire to better myself in that direction. Alas. Cheers
Perhaps we can find a TAFE course…
Thoroughly recommend Love Island for those on here who haven’t seen it. Television at its finest.
You might find “Slutever” more inspiring Milt. Right up your alley. I was switching between that and “Full Custom Garage” last evening.
Picked up some useful tips on chopping a 38 Tudor and the correct way to pull on a latex dress.
Is this babe hot or what!
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=chopped+38+Tudor&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiR3Mqe2eDbAhVMHJQKHeP_BIwQsAQIJg&biw=1366&bih=622
Please promised we’re not going to see pix of you in latex.
Oh you will, as soon as I find a pink latex dress in my size at Vinnies. Meanwhile, cop some lycra from our school reunion. Hubba Hubba!
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=fat+man+in+lycra+image&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjH-4bdl-LbAhWHiLwKHae-BC0QsAQIJg&biw=1366&bih=622
Oh jeez JB tell me it isn’t true…😭
There’s fat but then there’s lycra fat & here I was imagining you as a hunky french sort!
Old men should not wear Lycra. I’ll leave it at that
In fact “it’s a lie.”
Fear not Ms Bella, your instincts serve you well , I am dashing, debonair, devastatingly handsome and built like a Greek God.
Obviously you ‘re fully aware of my brilliance.
Well PHEW I’m dizzy with relief Jean. My world has now resumed it’s rotations.😗
Yairs, from those “useful tips” Slutever is more my scene. And a terrible name for a show imo.
Actually it’s a great name. I don’t bother with the box much but when I saw that title I couldn’t not look.
Surely you jest Milton but then who knows right?
How woeful is free-to-air television these days that caters to a large chunk of our society who chooses to be so dumbed down by ‘reality’ dating garbage, home reno comps or game shows over factual reporting programmes the ABC do so well like Four Corners.
Nothing like a few (or fifty) home truths to spook those Libnats hey?
Certainly a jest, Bella. smoke has a good take on it!
Television at its finest.
REPLY
Yes . Turned off
Looks like Chairman Kim has got the travel bug, Mr Insider. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has landed in Beijing, in his first visit to China since his historic meeting with US President Donald Trump. Could also he likes the Chinese Food and doesn’t want to “order in”?
https://tinyurl.com/ya778f3y
Good to see Henry, but just so you know, your man Trump made no actual ‘deal’ with North Korea. A deal has terms, requirements, dates, numbers & consequences for violations of the deal & none of that has come close to happening yet.
A meet & greet is all well & good but it’s not a historical moment for world peace.
I believe the last time Trump made a ‘deal’ was with Stormy Daniels. 😬
He’s going Ok Bill Leak’s lad,
actually, he’s going a bit better than that.
His old man’s style and sense of humour. Another great cartoonist in the making.
Agreed. Didn’t fall far from the tree.
Uncircumcised snakes can get mad too.
TMI
I confess I have used the phrase in the past, but I can see now that I need to be more inclusive.
But what of the snakes that might appear to be cut yet identify as uncircumcised.
I don’t recommend having a stick beak to check out their status!