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.
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Delay TikTok Ban
President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Friday to pause the potential TikTok ban from going into effect until his administration can pursue a "political resolution" to the issue.
The request came as TikTok and the Biden administration filed opposing briefs to the court, in which the company argued the court should strike down a law that could ban the platform by Jan. 19 while the government emphasized its position that the statute is needed to eliminate a national security risk.
"President Trump takes no position on the underlying merits of this dispute. Instead, he respectfully requests that the Court consider staying the Act's deadline for divestment of January 19, 2025, while it considers the merits of this case," said Trump's amicus brief, which supported neither party in the case and was written by D. John Sauer, Trump's choice for solicitor general.
The argument submitted to the court is the latest example of Trump inserting himself in national issues before he takes office. The Republican president-elect has already begun negotiating with other countries over his plans to impose tariffs, and he intervened earlier this month in a plan to fund the federal government, calling for a bipartisan plan to be rejected and sending Republicans back to the negotiating table.
He has been holding meetings with foreign leaders and business officials at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida while he assembles his administration, including a meeting last week with TikTok CEO Shou Chew.
Trump has reversed his position on the popular app, having tried to ban it during his first term in office over national security concerns. He joined the TikTok during his 2024 presidential campaign and his team used it to connect with younger... Read More