Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Funny this thing they call news......so who should we believe?


“Catalyzing a bloody encounter”, “gang assault’, “acted like savages”;  (Candiotti, Watkins,  & Botelho, 10/2013) anyone who watches or listens to national news is fully aware of the assault a group of bikers created against a family of three. This story has become headline news for over a week, breaking news coverage’s across the nation has produced and investigated the story bringing to light story after story, which all seem to have a few things not in common. News organizations such as CNN, FOX, NBC, and ABC have given this story top priority, giving the viewers all of the facts, all while creating some un-parallels.

A family of three, husband, wife and two-year-old, were driving down the freeway in an SUV. An extremely large group of street bikers surrounded the SUV forcing the SUV to stop. Fearing for their lives, the family of three immediately took off, striking three bikers with the SUV. Eventually coming to another stop because of traffic conditions, the SUV was surrounded by the group once again, while one particular biker attempted to open the door of the SUV. Immediately taking off again, the SUV tried to get away, but to no avail, the driver of the SUV was pulled out of the vehicle and beaten. There has been major controversy as to who is to blame.  (Candiotti, Watkins,  & Botelho, 10/2013)

News organization: CNN was the only media coverage to give as much information about the story as possible. CNN gave full facts, allowed quotes from the bikers, family of the bikers, and the family of three involved in the attack. Reading CNN’s article, there was no visual bias, and CNN did not allow any fingers to be pointed. One unique fact CNN had delivered, was the investigation now derived about one undercover cop who was a part of the bikers, and visualized the attack without intervening. This undercover cop had not wanted to “blow his cover”.  (Candiotti, Watkins,  & Botelho, 10/2013)

News organization: Fox News was extremely bias while covering the story of Bikers vs. SUV. Using phrases such as: “Catalyzing a bloody encounter”, naming the assault as a “gang assault” and blaming the first motorcyclist by stating he “set into motion a chain of catastrophic events”. Fox news also “threw under the bus” a few of the bikers by explaining most were unemployed and are working as “food workers”.  (FOXNews.com, 10/2013) It’s crystal clear which side of the playing field lays Fox News. Fox News is quick to point fingers to the bikers, and putting the bystander who intervened on a pedestal, hailing him a “hero”. The difference in Fox News’ investigation is that they were quick to say there were no undercover cops involved in the attack, or even witnessed such attack.  (FOXNews.com, 10/2013)

News organization: NBC immediately investigated the possibility that there were not just one, but six undercover cops involved or who had witnessed this attack without lending hand, or intervening. NBC seems to have just a “juicy story” but is without sources and facts. NBC failed to release any quotes or witness statements. The journalist who covered this story, produced a witness that stated a “biker went for the wife” (NBCnews.com, 10/2013); although all other coverage’s explained the wife and toddler were not touched or harmed in any way.  (NBCnews.com, 10/2013)

News organization ABC News, gave very little information, but created a story much like NBC. ABC News explained there were two undercover cops, one an undercover narcotics cop. This news coverage also stated there were 3 other undercover cops nearby who could have intervened. ABC News produced existing police records of some of the bikers, stating they have prior criminal convictions. Similar to NBC, there was one witness statement that a biker did indeed come after the wife. There are no other facts, statements or information given.  (Shaw, 10/2013)

It is clear, that in the information given by all News Organizations: CNN, FOX News, NBC News, and ABC News, could be completely different and inaccurate. The investigative reporters did however produce the main facts precisely, due to the fact there was clear evidence of the entire attack given from a YouTube Video.  (Candiotti, Watkins,  & Botelho, 10/2013) Every encounter not seen from the YouTube video, tends to be different and inaccurate, for example every news organization besides CNN gave a different account of the undercover cops who were or were not involved. CNN did not give account of any undercover cops, maybe due to the lack of information provided. All of the names News Organization provided a story for the viewers, recounting the attack upon a family of three; however, every News Organization gave a completely different statement, some becoming bias on the attack, and some with hardly any information.






 



FOXNews.com. (10/06/2013). More Bikers Face Charges in NYC beating of SUV driver. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/06/two-off-duty-police-officers-may-have-been-in-frenzied-motorcycle-group-reports/

NBCnews.com. (10/06/2013). Police Arrest another Biker. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53204387/#53204387

Shaw, A. (10/06/2013). NYPD Investigation of Off-Duty Cops. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/off-duty-cops-witnessed-alleged-suv-driver-beating/story?id=20488628&page=2

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