Yesterday, I had the unforntunate task of covering the Philly BIO-convention protests. I use the word 'unfortunate' because there were more ingnorant and close minded people there then i've seen at a protest in quite some time.
You see, a Philly Civil Affairs Police Officer died of an apparent heart-attack while working at the height of the protest/rally. My news station reported that incident pretty much as I described it, during our 6pm show. Well, it goes around by word of mouth to quite a few of the remnant protesters that the 'corporate media' is reporting that they (the protesters) killed a police officer. Now, how fucked up is that? No journalist that I know working the protests had any doubt that this cop died of a heart condition and NEVER placed the blam on the protesters. I mean, how can you cause someone to have a heart-attack? Did the protesters SCARE the man to death or will his heart to stop working?. It's a shame it happened during a protest, but it could have happened at any time in this man's life. He was overweight, it was hot, he was moving around alot, and was over the age of 45.
So, for the rest of the night, I get into arguments and word battles over the situation with people who DIDNT EVEN SEE THE NEWS REPORT. I can understand bad feeling towards the media whether they are warranted or not. But to dive head first into a propanda blitz without bothering to learn the facts is a big pile of steaming horseshit. I HEARD from someone else that ALL of the media said we KILLED the COP?? Give me a fucking break. Just the fact that during our live broadcasts, the protest was in full swing, marching from LOVE park to the Art Museum shows. We didnt even have protesters AROUND us to view the reports during the newscast. And I sure as Hell didnt see any protesters with portable TV's dangling from their sides.
The sad thing is that I believe in alot of what the protesters were there for. Genetically manipulated food, animal testing, overpriced medicines, corporate greed...all of these things bother me, and I was glad that someone could take the helm and voice their opinions. I even convinced my newsroom on Sunday to let me cover the 1st of the protests at the 1st Constitution center (I was the only member of the media that even showed up). So, to have a bunch of ignorant slacks yell at me while Im there to COVER what they're doing is a slap in the face to me.
You see, a Philly Civil Affairs Police Officer died of an apparent heart-attack while working at the height of the protest/rally. My news station reported that incident pretty much as I described it, during our 6pm show. Well, it goes around by word of mouth to quite a few of the remnant protesters that the 'corporate media' is reporting that they (the protesters) killed a police officer. Now, how fucked up is that? No journalist that I know working the protests had any doubt that this cop died of a heart condition and NEVER placed the blam on the protesters. I mean, how can you cause someone to have a heart-attack? Did the protesters SCARE the man to death or will his heart to stop working?. It's a shame it happened during a protest, but it could have happened at any time in this man's life. He was overweight, it was hot, he was moving around alot, and was over the age of 45.
So, for the rest of the night, I get into arguments and word battles over the situation with people who DIDNT EVEN SEE THE NEWS REPORT. I can understand bad feeling towards the media whether they are warranted or not. But to dive head first into a propanda blitz without bothering to learn the facts is a big pile of steaming horseshit. I HEARD from someone else that ALL of the media said we KILLED the COP?? Give me a fucking break. Just the fact that during our live broadcasts, the protest was in full swing, marching from LOVE park to the Art Museum shows. We didnt even have protesters AROUND us to view the reports during the newscast. And I sure as Hell didnt see any protesters with portable TV's dangling from their sides.
The sad thing is that I believe in alot of what the protesters were there for. Genetically manipulated food, animal testing, overpriced medicines, corporate greed...all of these things bother me, and I was glad that someone could take the helm and voice their opinions. I even convinced my newsroom on Sunday to let me cover the 1st of the protests at the 1st Constitution center (I was the only member of the media that even showed up). So, to have a bunch of ignorant slacks yell at me while Im there to COVER what they're doing is a slap in the face to me.
VIEW 13 of 13 COMMENTS
I know what you mean about the protesters. I feel the same way you do about them. I seriously considered walking over there with a poster that read "Stay off my side". But then I realized I had a million things to do to get ready for next week's move.
2AM and I just finished packing the 3rd floor.
i hate it when everyone points the finger. you were an thir side man!