Katrina: Lack Of Network Is “A Comment On That Story’s Newsworthiness”

Aaron Barnhart explains the problem with the lack of network coverage of the aftermath:
“When broadcasters shunt coverage of anything off to cable, they are in effect making a comment on that story’s newsworthiness. By shunting Katrina coverage off to cable, they are saying it is not that much of a concern for the rest of America.

By contrast, after 9/11 dozens of broadcast and cable channels aired continuous coverage for three days, some for nearly a week, before returning to regular programming.

As I argued in 2004, it doesn’t matter if the coverage can be found somewhere else. When it’s offered by broadcast networks, more people are informed and the overall sense of urgency rises. This is what happened in 9/11. It happened in the war…Coverage = importance. That’s what makes broadcasting broadcasting.”

Barnhart has more on TV Barn…