I hate CNN. This morning I woke up to the web site in full Terrorism/Celebrity Trial Outcome Mode with the headline “BLASTS ROCK LONDON.” Which is, you know, a perfectly fine and reasonable headline. It’s obviously big news, and a horrible thing to have happened. But then I went to lunch and now the headline reads — still in 30 point font — “‘WE WERE WAITING TO DIE.’” The afternoon shift editor must have come in, seen the old one, and said “NOT SENSATIONAL ENOUGH. YOU’RE NOT PLAYING TO PEOPLE’S FEARS. MORE DEATH AND TRAGEDY.” Assholes.
(Update) Robert: The Washington Post’s front page layout sucks, requires registration to read any articles, and has a terrible privacy policy. Thanks, but no thanks. (And their usage agreement appears to possibly infringe on fair use rights, but even if it doesn’t I don’t need to agree to be required to follow the law.)
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[...] On that note, I continue to be disappointed in US news outlets, CNN in particular. They give the terrorists exactly what they want: they sensationalise the attacks, make them look as frightening and real as possible, and call attention to them as much as possible. At the time of this writing, the current CNN top headline, in a font size reserved for the largest of events, is, “LONDON BOMBERS HUNTED”. Yes, in all caps. Apparently, earlier it was, “WE WERE WAITING TO DIE”. How’s that for giving the terrorists exactly what they want? Come on, people, get a fucking clue. [...]