Neda

When Reporting the News Becomes the News (CNN, Don't Fail Me Now)

There's a danger in our current world of having such a hunger for news that we'll take it anywhere we can get it. With expanding technology and exploding social media, there's an expectation of constant up-to-the-minute news reporting, even when it isn't easy or practical.

Such was the case Saturday night when thousands of viewers, anxious for updates on the aftermath of the controversial Iranian election, took remotes in hand and flipped through the various cable news channels hoping for coverage.

There wasn't any.

MSNBC was running a documentary. CNN had a rebroadcast of Larry King Live interviewing the stars of 'American Chopper.'

Viewers sought to fill that void by turning to the Internet, where reports and rumors were coming steadily out of Iran and elsewhere around the globe, and it was difficult to separate fact from fluff. Social media became a haven for those seeking news updates. Then, something unexpected happened.

Reporting the news became the news.

In collective disappointment with various cable news outlets, Twitter users started appending hashtags of #cnnfail, #msnbcfail, and #msmfail to their tweets. Fairly or not, they turned on the mainstream media for a perceived lack of reporting.

The difficulty in this kneejerk response is that it didn't take into account the number of challenges involved in reporting out of Iran. For a network like CNN, which prides itself in reporting facts, there are particular obstacles in reporting in the absence of verified, or easily verifiable, facts. It didn't take into account concerns for safety of journalists in a volatile situation or their ability to report under a burden of oppression or communication blackouts.

Particularly in a post-9/11 world, global citizens have come to rely on networks like CNN to be there for every major breaking news event on a 24/7 basis, as they have so often in the past. We expect a loving nanny to hold our hand and put us to sleep after entertaining us with bedtime stories, not always caring whether the stories are true or not. We expect presence, a sense of security from knowing the news organizations are on the case. In a very real way we expect, we demand, a theatre of reporting. We want CNN to be on, even if it's only with talking heads and few facts, and pretend there's something more substantial being reported.

In fairness, we should be glad CNN doesn't run on air with every unsubstantiated rumor, or fail in its quest to pin down facts. We should be glad they realize, ultimately, that the challenges of the circumstances are also part of the story, and worth reporting.

We're entering completely unchartered territory when it comes to media. People will come to expect 'more,' 'faster,' and might forget about the 'solid credible reporting' part of the equation, or that gathering the story is sometimes itself the story.

As Sunday progressed, and the events in Iran in the aftermath of the election continued to unfold, it was clear CNN was present, and reporting, trying to pin down facts and expose fiction, even reporting on the challenges of the task at hand.

What does a network do when they become the news? If they're smart, they report it, they learn from it, and everyone is ultimately better for it.


Kathy Riordan spends far too much of her time on Twitter trying to sort fact from fiction. Follow @katriord on Twitter.

Swine Flu? No problem. Easy tips for clean hands.

There used to be a woman in our community who was famous for wiping down surfaces everywhere with alcohol before she'd use them. I once entered a ladies room only to find her disinfecting it stem to stern with a little square of alcohol, proclaiming it "ready." (She even offered me one in case I wanted to use it.)

I don't mean to make fun of someone that careful; most of the time, we run to the opposite extreme and tend to be fairly relaxed about handwashing and public hygiene in general. Unless you're a surgeon or a health care worker, you probably don't think about it a lot, and even then, outside a medical setting, you might not take as much care. We thumb our nose at germs. Literally.

So now we're faced with an unusual situation, germs trolloping around the globe at a steady pace spreading a virus for which humans have no current defense except good hygiene. What's a person to do?

I recommend these simple tips, all of which, while they might feel silly, will help:

1) Use your shoulder or elbow to open or close doors. Instead of grabbing that doorknob, use a part of your body that isn't in contact with other things, like your face, to open and close doors that swing in or out, or don't require handling the doorknob to do so. The same hands-free policy can apply for turning on and off light switches.

2) Use a clean paper towel, tissue, or toilet seat liner in public restrooms. When you enter a public restroom stall, after pushing in with your elbow/shoulder, grab a clean piece of paper to close it. Hang onto the paper until you leave the stall, and keep it handy for leaving the room. Set it next to the sink while washing up (great place to park your cellphone or other hand items).

3) Learn to turn water faucets on and off with your elbows, instead of your hands. Many water faucets these days are designed for hands-free operation, using a forearm to turn them on and an elbow to turn them off. If they require hands to turn on and off, consider using a clean paper towel or tissue.

4) Pretend you're a surgeon. Learn to wash your hands properly. Use hot water for washing your hands, not lukewarm or cold. Lather up the entire hand area with soap and hot water, rubbing together for longer than you ordinarily would. Rinse well under hot water. Pretend you're scrubbing up for surgery, minus the scrubber. You'll quickly learn which public restrooms don't even provide hot water to their sinks, but should.

5) Don't drip dry. Use clean paper towels or the hot air blower in a public restroom to dry your hands (be sure to turn that blower on with your elbow, not your hand). Don't wipe your hands on your clothing as you whisk out the door as a substitute for paper towels or a dryer.

6. Get rid of the community towel. In home bathrooms and at the kitchen sink, get rid of the community hand towel for wiping hands after washing, and use paper towels or disposable hand towels instead.

7. Toss the handkerchiefs. They look sophisticated and polite, but use tissues for blowing or wiping your nose, then discard immediately, instead of carrying around a soiled handkerchief for re-use. Clean your hands thoroughly after using; if soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer. Keep the handkerchiefs in your pocket.

8. Use the handwipes at the grocery store. Most grocery stores these days have sanitizing wipes to wipe down the handles of grocery carts. Use them.

9. Carry hand sanitizer. You can't just stay home all the time and avoid contact with germs in the outside world, so carry a small container of hand sanitizer with you, or wipes, for those situations when soap and water aren't available.

10. Adjust your social habits. Find appropriate substitutes for the handshaking in the meantime. Be creative. Elbow bumps work. So does a friendly wave.




Kathy Riordan, full-time writer and part-time handwasher, first learned how to scrub up working in a small rural hospital in southwestern Wyoming and found it immensely useful when her husband was a patient at Mayo Clinic for several months, where she probably washed her hands a few thousand times.

Follow on Twitter at @katriord

Live-Tweeting the Presidential News Conference

Lest anyone think it can't be done in 140 characters or less, here is my live-tweet coverage of the Presidential News Conference of April 29, 2009, marking President Obama's first one hundred days in office:

POTUS prime-time news conference: First item is swine flu outbreak. Be prepared for school closings. Use appropriate precautions.

Gratified that House, Senate passed budget resolution. Thanks Reid, Pelosi for working to accomplish that.

Can't go back to economy built on house of sand. Have to lay new foundation for growth.

Have closed GITMO, banned torture. Off to a good start, but it's just a start. Not content to rest on what we've done so far.

Expect us to work on health care reform, energy legislation, new rules on Wall Street.

Expect us to work on credit card legislation, procurement reform.

We will endure as a beacon for weary travels from distant shores. Look forward to the next hundred days, and all the hundred days to follow.

Q (AP): Time to close the border from Mexico?

A: Time for deep concern, but not panic. Health officials have not recommended border closing; akin to closing barn door after horses out.

A: We need to treat this like other flu outbreaks; have to take additional precautions. Asked for additional $1.5 billion if worst case.

A: Key now is to maintain great vigilance. Individual families need to start taking sensible precautions that will make huge difference.

A: If you are sick, stay home, keep sick children home from school, stay of public transport, aircraft, etc. Wash hands; take care w/contact

Q (Detroit News): Have you considered bankruptcy inevitable with Chrysler?

A: More hopeful about Chrysler than I was. Unions have made huge sacrifices. Details not yet finalized. Am more optimistic.

A: GM, need another 30 days to assess. Would like to get US govt out of auto business as soon as possible.

A: Need auto industry help to not be short-term fixes, but long-term help.

A: Chrysler bankruptcy filing was prudent thing to do, to prepare for possible contingencies. Not clear they'll have to use it.

A: No denying there is significant hardship involved with auto workers and their families. Will try to help them land on their feet.

Q (Jake Tapper/ABC): Do you believe the previous administration sanctioned torture?

A: Waterboarding violates our ideals, our values. That's not just my opinion. We could have gotten info in other ways consistent w/values.

A: British during WWII had 200+ detainees; Churchill said, "We don't torture." Start taking short-cuts, over time that corrodes character.

A: Strongly believe steps taken to eliminate torture will make us stronger, safer over the long term. Hold true to ideals even when hard.

A: Puts us in better position to work with allies. Hope American people over time will recognize this is best, even w/unscrupulous enemy.

A: (to follow-up) I believe waterboarding torture, and whatever legal rationales used, it was a mistake.

Q (CBS Radio): Did you read Cheney et al's comments about interrogation techniques saving lives? Can you envision using those techniques?

A: Documents classified; can't discuss. Could we have gotten info another way? Are we safer?

A: I will be judged as Commander-in-Chief on how safe I keep the American people; will do whatever is required to do that.

Q (Chuck Todd/NBC): Can you reassure Americans that if necessary US could secure Pakistan's nuclear arsenal from falling into wrong hands?

A: Yes, primarily because of Pakistani army recognizing hazards. Strong military-to-military cooperation. Gravely concerned about Pakistan.

A: More concerned civilian govt there is fragile, can't deliver basic services, rule of law. We need to help Pakistan help Pakistanis.

A: Obsession with India as mortal threat to Pakistan has been misguided; they are starting to realize that.

Q (Jeff Mason/Reuters) : Does large-scale violence recently in Iraq affect strategy now?

A: Political system holding, functioning in Iraq. Called for gradual withdrawal because more work needs to be done on political side.

A: Confident in new ambassador, Chris Hill, and others working with Iraqi govt after natl elections. Serious work to do there still.

Q (Chip Reid/CBS): How big is Sen. Specter's defection? Is this beginning of one-party rule? What does this switch say about state of GOP?

A: Think highly of Sen. Specter; he has always had independent streak, will likely continue. Will not march lockstep, have strong opinions.

A: I think having him in Dem caucus will liberate him to cooperate on critical issues like health care, infrastructure, job creation.

A: Vote on Recovery Act was classic example. Overall, it is a positive. Under no allusions I will have a rubber-stamp Senate

A: Majority will be determinative in resolving hard core differences.

A: Politics in America changes very quickly; things never as good or as bad as they seem. I was 30 pts down in polls in Iowa.

Q (Ed Henry/CNN): Giving commencement speech at Notre Dame, do you still intend to quickly pass abortion legislation, Freedom of Choice?

A: My position on abortion is consistent; those who are pro-choice are wrong when they say it's just about women's freedom, no other issues.

A: I am pro-choice because I don't think women take that position casually; they are better to make decision than lawmakers.

A: I would like to reduce # of unwanted pregnancies to reduce abortion, esp. teen pregnancy. Working on consensus on that.

A: Freedom of Choice Act is not my highest legislative priority; need to tamp down anger, find areas of agreement, will be my focus

Q (NY Times): What in first 100 days has surprised, troubled, enchanted, and humbled you most?

A: Surprised: # of critical issues all coming to head at the same time. Iraq, economy, other problems, didn't anticipate that.

A: Troubled: Sobered by fact that change in Washington comes slow. There is still quotient of political posturing and bickering.

A: Would like people to take time-out from political gamesmanship.

A: Enchanted: by service men and women, profoundly impressed and grateful to them for what they do. They are really good at their job.

A: Humbled: by the fact that the Presidency is extraordinarily powerful, but we are just part of a much broader tapestry of American life.

A: Make best arguments, listen hard, coax folks in right direction. Ship of State is ocean liner, not a speedboat.

A: 20 yrs from now, kids will say now is when things started changing for the better, hopefully. I have longer time horizon than candidates.

A: Humbled by American people who have shown extraordinary patience.

Q (Telemundo): What is your strategy on Immigration reform, timetable? Will you reach out to Sen. McCain on immigration reform?

A: We reach out to Sen. McCain on whole host of issues, will continue to do so. Told Congressional Hispanic Caucus we want to move process.

A: Would like to convene working group of legislators to start looking at framework to shape legislation. Take key admin steps in meantime.

A: Need to show more thoughtful approach than just raids on handful of workers. Napolitano working on border issues already.

A: I see process moving this first year, as quickly as possible, on immigration. I don't have control of legislative calendar.

Q (BET): Given unique desperate circumstance of blacks in recession, what specifically will target those communities, timetable for results?

A: Every step taken is designed to help all people, but most vulnerable most likely to be helped, because they need the most help.

A: If economy is strong, that will lift all, as long as it is also supported by college affordability, job training, tax cuts for working.

A: Need to level playing field, assure bottom up economic growth, which will help African American communities.

Q (TIME): How does your view of state secrets differ from President Bush's?

A: I believe doctrine should be modified, is currently overbroad. We had court filing w/in a week of taking office, couldn't reform quickly.

A: There are going to be cases where natl security issues will be at stake; you can't litigate w/out revealing info that will compromise.

A: There should be addl tools so judges can review, not such a blunt instrument. Holder, others working on it as we speak.

Q (WSJ): As largest shareholder of AIG, auto companies, what kind of shareholder will you be?

A: Shareholder looking to get out. I've got 2 wars to run already; have more than enough to do. We are in unique circumstances.

A: Need for significant intervention was there with TARP. Helping auto companies restructure at this time is not inappropriate.

A: Need to help them restructure to prevent systemic risk; as soon as they're stabilized, we need to get out, find private buyers.

A: Don't think we should micromanage, but we have right to scrutinize, make sure money not being thrown down drain, strike balance.

A: My job is to ask US auto industry why they can't do what Japanese do. Give me a plan, build off your strengths.

A: Hopefully US automakers will be able to do well globally, not just in US, following restructuring. Don't enjoy meddling in private sector

A: Would love a nice, lean portfolio to deal with. That's not the hand that's been dealt us. Every generation has to rise up to challenges.

(The above comments were from the Presidential News Conference earlier and were characterizations, not my own comments.)

Wearin' of the Green

Guinness - The Perfect Pint

Anachronism Alert

I'm not one to court controversy, so you won't see me posting a link to last night's episode of the HBO series "Big Love" here. I don't even get HBO. For a reason. And that's not it.

I know all about the series, though, and have seen snippets of it here and there during the time it's aired on Home Box Office. More importantly, I know the subject matter, since Mormonism and polygamy are two parts of my richly diverse heritage.

What I want to talk about is not whether HBO or any other media outlet should air or depict religious rltuals that are considered sacred by their adherents (television and film have been doing that for years).

I want to talk about anachronisms.

For heaven's sake, people, if you're going to depict a particular cultural group, get it right. It's not enough to get it 85% right, or 94% right. Get it right.

Teapots.

The burning question on my mind, and everyone else's, this morning, at least anyone who's halfway savvy about Mormon culture, is what on earth was in Ellen Burstyn's teapot?

I can't think of one time in my entire life that I've ever gone into an LDS home and had a Mormon mother pour anything from a teapot into little porcelain teacups.

Never.

Unless of course you count my Great-Grandma Elsie, who was a convert from England transplanted as a young girl to the sagebrush of Wyoming, and who late into life still liked her tea in the afternoon.

Other than that, no. It's a non-starter. Mormons don't drink tea or coffee. Postum went out a couple of generations ago, with my great-aunts.

The only hot drink you'll find in fashion in LDS homes, worldwide, is hot chocolate. Cocoa. Due to a particular variable interpretation of Doctrine and Covenants 89, the Word of Wisdom.

I can't think of one time, ever, I've seen it served in porcelain teacups as though someone were coming over for sewing club, or bridge, to chat with the girls. It would be served in steaming mugs with marshmallows and lots of calories. Not in teacups.

So that's my beef, HBO, and everyone else out there plying craft. You want to depict a cultural subgroup? Get it right.

Ellen Burstyn wouldn't have had a tea set. Except for show.