Looking back on our coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and their impact on different facets of our industry, I recall nurturing a budding hope 10 years ago that certain positive media developments might come out of the tragedy.
For one, I thought 9/11 could serve as a wake-up call for mass media, triggering coverage of more serious news and stories, phasing out the tabloid journalism values that had become mainstream much to the detriment of our society. Clearly with the benefit of 20-20 hindsight, my wish was pure Naivetß.
I also thought 9/11 would bring us all together in a lasting way. It undeniably has in some respects yet at the same time hasn’t made a dent in the polarization that plagues us and which has grown exponentially over the past decade. Again, my Naivetß is showing.
My two wishes didn’t come true in large part because there’s too much profit in tabloid fare and in the ratings-generating polarization that seems more intent on creating a riled-up electorate rather than an informed one. I have no problem with commentators stirring the pot but it seems to be taking time, resources and priority away from the thoughtful news and reportage that can make a truly positive difference in our lives.
But before this sinks into a diatribe on what ails us, there are reminders all around of what’s great about this country as the 10th anniversary of 9/11 is commemorated. And thankfully part of it is evident in the media landscape, sans the bluster of cable and radio personalities, and instead conveyed in the voices of everyday Americans who suffered the greatest losses of all on 9/11. Capturing those voices is StoryCorps, the national nonprofit oral-history organization. For the past five years, StoryCorps has worked to record one story to honor each life lost on Sept. 11, 2001. Thus far, survivors, families, friends and rescue workers have memorialized nearly 600 individual victims of the attacks through StoryCorps interviews.
And three of those stories have been made into short films, animated by the Rauch Brothers. Created with the assistance and consent of the families of the victims memorialized, these shorts are:
• Always a Family. Monique Ferrer remembers her last conversation with her ex-husband, Michael Trinidad, who was killed in the World Trade Center.
• She Was the One. Richard Pecorella remembers the love of his life, Karen Juday, a secretary for Cantor Fitzgerald, who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks.
• John and Joe. John Vigiano Sr. lost both his sons on Sept. 11. John Jr. was a firefighter like his dad; Joe was a police detective.
All three shorts debuted on storycorps.org/animation, are being broadcast on public TV stations nationwide, and on Sept. 11th appeared on YouTube’s homepage. (See all three shorts below.)
These stories are emotionally moving and a reminder of a tragedy that I had hoped would be moving enough so that our media would behave differently and more responsibly. Perhaps if those in positions of media power look at these stories with an open mind, they can now find the inspiration to act accordingly.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More