5 chapters across the catalog
The "value-for-value" model is proposed as the only sustainable future for local and interest-based media. Meanwhile, independent video reports on YouTube claim to show empty hospitals that contradict mainstream media reports of "war zones." An anecdote from a news magazine reporter describes the effort required to find empty streets in Los Angeles to stage "ghost town" shots for television segments.
Gun Stock Trends, Media Dramatization Techniques
The hosts observe that gun stocks typically rise following mass shootings due to fears of new gun control legislation. They also criticize ABC News for using dramatized medical footage in their reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's transport to the hospital.
Hurricane Statistics, Iceberg Calving Stock Footage
NOAA reports that 2012 was an active but not exceptional hurricane year, with ten busier years in the last three decades. Additionally, a listener points out that dramatic iceberg calving footage used by ABC News is often stock footage from "Calving Cafes" where tourists on cruise ships watch ice break off annually.
Nicholas Kristof, Media Access and Syria Propaganda
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is critiqued for his comments regarding the difficulty of "galvanizing" international action without professional television footage from Syria. The hosts suggest Kristof is a "shill" for interventionist policies, comparing his role to George Clooney's activism. The discussion highlights the use of cell phone video as a tool for creating "critical mass" for UN and Arab League intervention.
The hosts deconstruct a news report claiming that footage of rocket attacks was obtained from a cell phone dropped by a Gaddafi soldier. They dismiss the story as a fabrication used to justify the use of unverified B-roll footage in the absence of actual combat recordings.
