Am I the only one getting tired of CNN's iReports?

In My Humble Opinion
1

At first, I thought they were a pretty decent idea - an interesting way to extend the culture of interactivity to the news. But lately, it seems almost sleazy.

The latest example is the shooting at Northern Illinois University. CNN eagerly asks “Are you there? Send text, video, photos” This happens with any sort of catastrophe. “Are you in the middle of the blizzard that’s killing people left and right? Come show us what you got!” Obviously, that’s paraphrasing, but that’s how it comes across to me.

On the other side of the spectrum are the completely useless ireports they actually put up. “Woman teaches her dog to give her a massage” Now, I didn’t actually watch this one but really, is that really important - or even entertaining - enough to put on the front page?

I guess I can’t imagine calling someone up and saying “Hey, I hear five people got massacred at your school today - don’t suppose you happened to have your cellphone camera handy…”

What do you think? Am I being oversensitive? Is this just the shape of the future? I’m all for embracing technology, but not at the expense of what seems to me to be just basic human decency.

2

I stopped watching CNN because of Lou Dobbs’ rants.

What you describe is beyond the pale. Glad I’m not a CNN viewer anymore.

3

Sorry - I should clarify that these are things from their website. I don’t have access to CNN broadcasts so I’m not sure if they actually do it on TV as well.

4

I am in complete agreement with the OP. CNN iReports are trivial and embarrassing. All that “I once shared an airplane with Heath Ledger’s hairdresser, who told me he was a great guy” sort of stuff is beyond lame.

5

I haven’t noticed that on the shows that I watch, but can see why it would be annoying. The thing my husband says over and over is that if I was trying to fill 24 hours with news my definition of what was news would expand rapidly. Since the only people likely to check this thread are CNN watchers I hope you’ll indulge a slight hijack.

Does anyone know why they don’t let Candy Crowley go inside? It seems that regardless of what she’s reporting on they have her speaking from a driveway. Everyone else gets to go inside. Who has andy angered?