Media coverage of illness outbreak is just really…bad.
Over the past week it seems that every major news outlet has covered the illness outbreak after this month’s DOMAINfest conference.
Take one part Playboy, one part illness outbreak, mix it up, and you’ve got everything the media needs for a story. It’s even good enough for Jay Leno.
But man, has that coverage been bad. Flat out wrong at times.
When you see how wrong some of these stories are it makes you wonder if the rest of what you read from these outlets is correct.
At one point Ron Jackson stopped returning reporters’ calls because he got so frustrated about being misquoted or taken out of context. TMZ even ripped off one of his photos without permission or attribution.
To be clear, here’s what we don’t know:
-Where people got sick
-How they contracted the illness
-What the widespread illness is
On the last point, we know what some of the individual diagnoses are, but we don’t know if everyone is getting the same thing.
Last night someone sent me a video clip of what epitomizes bad media.
In this video, Fox News’ Shepard Smith tries to get to the bottom of the Playboy illness outbreak in a three minute segment. In order to figure out what happened, he called on a an expert.
A medical doctor? Nah. A former Playboy Playmate, Izabella St. James
Well, I guess she did write a book about what goes on at the Playboy Mansion. But I’m sure she’s not on the news in an effort to promote that.
Smith “gently” leads St. James to make his story work.
The breaking news: people have sex at the Playboy Mansion.
And here I thought Hugh Heffner was the 84-year-old Virgin.
Smith asks St. James if she ever saw the water get changed in the grotto. She doesn’t recall ever seeing it.
Really? You mean they don’t make the playmates do maintenance rounds?
(At least Smith points out that you can keep a pool clean with chlorine. Which is how most people do it.)
The Playmate is multi-talented. She’s also an expert on food preparedness. She thinks the Mansion might not be prepared to serve food to so many guests. Like sushi. Oh, and the pond and animals there could be a source of illness.
I’m glad Smith helped us get to the bottom of this.
S. W. says
During February sweeps, there never seems to be a shortage of playmates and swimsuits on television in place of the actual news.
Matt says
And more shocking, unprecedented breaking news: “Fox News uses phony expert to push a preconceived narrative that sensationalizes, simplifies and distorts reality” (Still need help with pithy headline.) A good reminder why I get all my news from DNW 😉
Truth Seeker says
… proving once again that you can’t get to the bottom of something … if you’re looking at the wrong bottom.
And it wasn’t just TMZ. Many other media also ripped off Ron’s photos w/no attribution.
May everyone still sick get better soon.
shuwix . says
Insider information leak:
All people caught Jeff Cockietzky scammer desease.
Rob Sequin says
Conan did a joke on it last night. Didn’t mention that it was a domain party but did mention the Playboy mansion and that people got ill.