They have corporate media, but we have this sign

Danny Schechter (Media Channel):

OH NO……

Sunday night: I was just watching the documentary awards at the Oscars. Some great films. The Cove won. Congrats to all but during their acceptance speeches, one of the winners, Ric O’Barry, held up a poster with what looked like a number to call to protest the killing of Dolphins in Japan and by the Japanese fishing industry.

And what did ABC do?

Turned the camera away to an audience shot. So typical. A small moment that illustrates a much bigger lesson about the willingness of to show problems but rarely provide air time for even symbolic gestures for offering solutions. What harm would have been caused had the people been able to see what the sign said? Instead, we saw people looking at it from the audience. Disgusting.

I have yet to see the Cove and noted that its budget was over $2 million, hardly a typical documentary budget. That just raises the bar for documentarians who are, for the most part, having trouble raising any money for our work. As for the film, The Hollywood Reporter reported:

“The Cove” director Louie Psihoyos denied that the best documentary winner was anti-Japan. “The Japanese press likes to present this that it’s about Japan bashing. This movie is a love letter to Japan,” the first-time winner said. “Our hope is that the Japanese people see this film and decide for themselves.” Writer Mark Monroe, meanwhile, addressed the recent Sea World tragedies. “There have been two Sea World killer whales that have killed two trainers in the last two months. Most people don’t know about that. We’re asking the public to please, do not buy a ticket for a dolphin show. That is the solution. The government isn’t going to fix this problem; the consumers have all the power.”

Howie P.S.: Kimberly Butler discusses New Media Watchdogs, video (07:39) with Dan Rather, Geraldo Rivera, Tim Zagat, Amy Goodman, Rachel Sklar, Carol Jenkins, Bill Pullman, Bob Simon, John Ziegler, Juan Williams, Kevin Macdonald , Mary Alice Williams, and Stephen Cannell to see what they had to say about the changing face of our news media.