This Is The Big Story?
Reported by Chrish - January 23, 2008
Note: Guest blogged by Priscilla
On a day when there was major news on the economic front, a Federal interest rate cut meant to shore up the sagging American economy and the politics of upcoming presidential primaries, you’d think that the Big Story would have plenty of material. However, while CNN and MSNBC were reporting the big news of the day, John Gibson and Heather Neuart covered one story almost exclusively. Was it the economy? Was it politics? No, almost the entire show was devoted to the death of actor Heath Ledger. The only other “news” item concerned new developments in the case of the murdered Marine (Fox’s Greta is on the scene). While Ledger’s death was mentioned on CNN, it was a minor note among reports of major significance.
True to its NY Post style of “reporting,” the Big Story obsessed about all the details of the sad and untimely death of this young star. Various “entertainment” pundits discussed the possibility of Ledger having a possible substance abuse problem. Famous (or is it infamous) former LAPD detective, Mark Fuhrman, weighed in on the procedures involved in investigating suicides which are done in order to rule out foul play. (Comment: the two hosts seemed quite interested in that possibility). There were live shots outside Ledger’s apartment where a crowd had gathered. Reports of the apartment being thoroughly searched, including the ceiling, lead to wild speculation of what really might have happened. Judge Andrew Napolitano and Jeanine Pirro discussed the legal ramifications of the police probe. Because of the time spent on this “big” story, there was no “My Word” concluding segment.
Comment: Gibson did show some sympathy towards Ledger. I found this ironic considering his disparaging commentary about Brokeback Mountain which he felt was part of the “gay agenda.” While this is a very tragic death of a young man who was an accomplished actor, thus meriting a mention, this is not the death of Princess Diana. I could certainly understand Fox doing a “special” on this story; but I thought (silly me) that the Big Story had some pretense towards being part of Fox’s evening “news” format. I guess not!
Note: Guest blogged by Priscilla
