The Tragedy at Sago Mine- Thanks to the Media

Be sure to give the majority of the media a thank you note.
By turning off your TVs or radios. Fox News may be the exception, but please, by all means, boycott the other major players- the CBS's; the ABC's...etc.

The families of those lost in the Sago mine explosion in Tallmansville, West Virginia early Monday morning had every reason to believe that their loved ones were alive. After all, the rumors that there were 12 survivors spread like a Texas wildfire out of control. As we all know, the families jumped for joy, thanking the God in Heaven for such a miracle. Then, of course, came the truth several hours later. And it was seemingly as if that same Jehovah/Allah God decided to say a mighty "I was just fucking with you", just as She/He was ripping the families' hearts out. Yes, the families lashed out at the people who operated the mine-Mine Owner International Group, and its' CEO Ben Hatfield. But it's not the mine group's fault for what was faulty news.

The blame lies solely with the media.

Now, to their credit, the newspapers and TV/radio outlets on the West Coast put the truth on their front pages, and on their newscasts, respectively. But the other papers- published mainly on the east coast- got conflicting reports, saying that the 12 had survived in the papers, yet on TV and radio, they're goners. "Who's right? Who's wrong?", our east coast friends asked .

The sad truth is that the media that we turn to for news and information has, instead, turned into the equivalent of the 'National Enquirer' or 'Star' (or worse, 'Weekly World News'. You know, the freaks known for "Bat Boy is Pregnant", etc...). What the reporters should have done is just waited until the truth of the matter came out. Yes, the families still would have grieved, but at least they would have been spared the rude roller coaster that they've endured over the 48-plus hour period awaiting word of their now deceased- save for one- loved ones.