Cooper in Africa
In a recent post here, I expressed the wish that some media outlet would take a good, careful look at the torture issue. A few days later, I had to comment that Anderson Cooper had done just that on his CNN show, Anderson Cooper 360.
Last night, I had to do a lot of “busy work” — I had to work on my computer, but it didn’t require much concentration, so I had the TV on in the next room, tuned to CNN. AC came through again, spending a lot of time on a very important story I’ve heard little about from big media outlets. This time it was on the tremendous violence and suffering going on in the Congo — and then other stories from Africa, especially Darfur. Yes, the show also spent a good deal of time on the recent “page scandal” in Washington. But they also spent a lot of time on Africa — and seemed to do a very good job. Cooper himself is broadcasting from Africa, with John Roberts anchoring the show and doing the domestic stories. Looking at their list of transcripts, Cooper’s been doing a lot of important stories from Africa in the last three shows (I’m writing this on 10/4/06, so I’m looking at the dates just earlier than that). I recommend reading the transcripts. (The Sept. 29 story, “Where Have All the Parents Gone?” is an Africa story; it’s about AIDS orphans in Africa.)
As I noted in my previously mentioned comment, Cooper said this while covering the torture issue:
Why do you think, though, this story, this — what is happening really hasn’t gotten much attraction? I mean, people don’t want to hear about it. I mean, I know the ratings for this segment are going to go down because people turn this stuff off.
My guess is that the Congo story was also a big “turn-off.” But they opened the show with it. (See the transcript for the first hour of the show, starting at the very top.) I found it very hard to listen to at places, especially while conveying the brutal nature of the gang rapes taking place.
I don’t know whether there will be more from Africa tonight.
Posted by Keith DeRose in Television | Permalink
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Comments
Oh, and here’s the link to do so:
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?10
Posted by: Matt Westbrook | October 05, 2006 at 10:50 AM
My email to Anderson Cooper, sent off five minutes ago:
Anderson,
I can’t express my appreciation enough about your coverage of what I call in my religious tradition “social justice issues.” The plight of Africa is front-and-center in my opinion. I also appreciate the very important coverage of the torture issues. Your work in this area reminds me very much of Edward R. Murrow in that you are able to understand the value of the story in relation to the value to the nation. Few today are able to use such criteria especially when it contradicts sound marketing principles. Your work in Africa, of course, reminds us of the value of the story to humanity.
I applaud you and encourage you to keep up the very difficult work.
Matt Westbrook
I encourage all others so inclined to do the same.
Posted by: Matt Westbrook | October 05, 2006 at 10:42 AM