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Did you hear the latest from those damn unpatriotic, liberal, Commie sympathizer, whining news media types? You won’t believe this one. You better take a Valium because when you read the details you’re going to want to suspend the First Amendment immediately, if not sooner.
Can you believe while covering this tragic wildfire ravaging parts of Colorado, the TV stations in Denver and beyond dared to show video and pictures of burned out and burning homes?
Those heartless and uncaring ghouls. Actual burning homes where people once lived! I’m serious. They should take away the license of any TV station that does that.
The worst part is the TV stations continued transmitting these pictures after being warned by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
One of those shocking KDVR-TV images the sheriff doesn’t want you to see. Some folks think the TV station should be sued.
At times the journalistic imperative to deliver news clashed with authorities’ efforts to control the flow of information.
On Monday, the Larimer County Sherriff’s Office issued a request to the media not to show photos of destroyed homes out of respect to homeowners.
Station managers acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue, but turned aside the plea on journalistic grounds.
“While we have deep respect for what Larimer County is asking, at the same time we are hearing from the same community that they want to know,” said Jeff Harris, News Director at 7News. The outpouring of response regarding the station’s extended coverage has been rewarding, he said.
“We certainly understand the emotional nature of those images,” said CBS4 News Director Tim Wieland. “In fact, many news events in our community can be difficult to watch for those who are directly affected. However, while we take care not to show inappropriate images, our job at the end of the day is to cover the news.”
When did the people of Colorado elect Mr. Wieland or Mr. Harris so they could make these decisions about what we should see? Last I looked, Sheriff Justin Smith was chosen by the voters to be in charge.
Come on folks. Freedom of the press does not mean you can just go around shooting pictures and video of news worthy events and put them all over the television and the Internet for just anyone to view. That certainly isn’t what our founding fathers had in mind.
I’m sure what the guys who started this great country were thinking is more in line with what a man named Charlie Brown wrote on the Facebook page of KDVR-TV (FOX31):
The Larimer County Sheriff Dept needs to sue the hell out of EVERY News Media Station, especially FOX31, due to the fact they they announced they did NOT want any homes being shown (burning or not) on TV due to the fact it would cause emotional distress for the owners of the homes in the fire zone. Mitt Romney should sue FOX31 because the only commercials they’ll show on their station (containing his name) are anti-Romney commercials. I’m even gonna request to be one of Romney’s, and the homeowners Legal Advisory Board. You screwed up FOX31, accept the consequences for your actions.
To make matter worse, I have also learned there are now Facebook and Twitter accounts about the fires that were not okayed by the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office. WTF!
I quote from a press release yesterday at 4:00 PM by John Shulz, the public information officer for the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office:
There are no official Facebook or Twitter accounts for the High Park Fire. Any sites that exist are not authorized.
Seriously folks, we can’t be having this. It’s bad enough that the news media think they have the right to provide information to the public that isn’t approved, but now the average citizen is doing this through social media.
If we begin letting just any Joe Schmoe on Facebook, or some schmuck with a blog have their say whenever they want, without authorization, won’t that be the end of our free society? (BTW, someschmuckwithablog.com is one of those sites not authorized by any sheriff and it should be shut down immediately.)
Doesn’t this idea of citizen journalists with their posts, Tweets and blogs go against everything this country has stood for? When will it end?
Also on STATter911 …
- Elect Colorado’s Sheriff Justin Smith as the nation’s editor-in-chief. He’s the man who can protect us from all disturbing images. – June 20, 2012
- Colby, Wisconsin Lt. Jamison Kampmeyer killed in roof collapse at Abbotsford theater. Was also deputy sheriff. – March 5, 2012
- FDNY & others tweet through the night … a very rough night. Social media, both a beacon in the storm & one that can lead the public & the news media astray. – October 30, 2012
- To share is human. To be right, divine. Be skeptical. Stop helping the people who prey on your emotions. – April 16, 2013
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Dave, I’ve prepared a radically emotional response to this situation. I am currently awaiting approval from the Authority Having Jurisdiction where my butt is parked and typing, the AHJ at STATter911.com World Headquarters, and the AHJ covering anywhere that Al Gore’s internet is currently available for viewing so I will have the appropriate legal authority to state my opinion without ruining anyone’s coffee and donut break.
These same news media outlets continually shove the Kardashian’s, Justin Bieber, and President Obama in our faces, so I can see the Sheriff’s point. They obviously don’t know “disturbing” when they see it.
The fire is all Obama’s fault! Which is why I’m voting for Richard Nixon in 2012, he’s tan, rested and mumified, perfect choice in the year of the Zombie…
I almost went there myself Lizard, but figured someone would bring up the obvious for me.
Are you kidding or just insane?
It’s news, lousy news to be sure but it’s news.
I’m taking this a tongue in check becuase I don’t see any concept that the newsmedia is going to obey a sheriff’s request. All if see is the couple of burned homes built right in the middle of woods. I don’t see that as insensitive. I don’t have a clue as to how the news media could be sued. News video taken from a public vantage point.
What’s the problem? The Sheriff asked, the media said no. The Sheriff did his job, the media did theirs. End of story. Now, if the Sheriff tries to take some legal action against the media for doing their job, THEN you have a story. Nothing that doesn’t happen in dozen other places with a dozen other stories every day. Officials are always asking someone not to report some part of a story for whatever reason. Sometimes the media plays along, sometimes they don’t! Calm down, take a breath, go on to the next story.
bring in the evergreen 747 air tanker and roll that video!
The ghouls like Fox “News” will always be with us. The 1st Amendment wouldn’t work if officials, no matter haw well intentioned, could shut down communications or decide what is offensive.
I think that the Larimer County SO and Inciweb have done an awesome job of getting straight information out through social and traditional media. That’s all they can do and they have done it very well.
Yes David, the power over what we view, read and here should all be with the government. Now that Ray Bradbury is dead maybe we can actually get away with it.
“hear” not “here”. Sheesh, liberal media conspiracy!
“Tweets and blogs go against everything this country has stood for?” – So… does this mean Stater911 will be shutting down
I am just some schmuck with a blog. Nothing more. Nothing less.
I’m surprised they didn’t try the old “Back up, it isn’t safe to shoot video here!”
It’s a good thing this didn’t happen in Chicago…where PD could have their first amendment rights terminated.
Still… I think their rights to a discount at Sonic should be revoked.
This reminds me of the SOP my chief came up with forbidding us from wearing “mirrored” sunglasses. He said it was to prevent a patient from seeing just how injured they were
as if the pain, sirens, hurst tool running and guys telling them what was going in in addition to the TRAUMA HELICOPTER landing a few hundred feet in front of them was not a clue
just curious, without a road map…how will they know it’s their house if is burned to the ground?
LET THE VIDEO ROLL! (while keeping your brush trimmed and taking the shakes off your roof)
Funny you should ask that RJ. This part of the issue came up on Facebook. Let me share that post with you and my thoughtful response -
I hope this article is pure sarcasm.
press charges and arrest them….what makes them higher than the law……….
they are half the reason our country security is at risk anyway,,,,,our own worst enemy…..media
Ummm, just a second there, Perry Mason, arrest and charge them with what exactly?? Higher than WHAT law?
The Sheriff issued a “request”. What country are you living in where not complying with a “request” is a crime?
Imagine the fun the local PD could have with you knowing that you will blindly comply with any request they make, regardless of how ridiculous it is. I could come up with some fun ideas.
Arrest whom exactly? Who is higher than the law? There is no law preventing the news from shwoing the news.
… on The Big Bang Theory … Leonard holds up a hand written sign that says, “SARCASM”, so Sheldon will know … Dave – maybe you were too subtle !
I’m starting to think Dave may be older than he looks. Rumor has it he and Orson were pals writing for Mercury Theater.
You know Crowbar, it’s a long way from Larimer County, Colorado to Grover’s Mill, New Jersey. I am not sure how you could make such a connection.
Statter
I have no idea what any of you are talking about.
I just wanted to make a post!!!!
Dave, you never did do sarcasm well.This is tortuous. Though I am sure the Sheriff would say tortious. Stick to editorializing. You are much more cogent and effective that way.
There isn’t a sarcastic bone in my muscular, lean body.
LOLOLOLOL
OK, sure Dave.
So, the question I have, when I request of our law enforcement agencies that they don’t violate my privacy by flying drones over my house and property, will they comply?
kris thomas and others like you, have you ever taken a civics class? Constitutional law class? If not that, have you read the Bill of Rights for crying out loud? Seriously people. What law has been broken?
Lizard, I disagree. This is of course the result of the Bush administration’s failed policy on global warming\global cooling\climate change as well as all the cows in Larimer County which continue to fart and release methane. It’s obvious to anyone, or should be.
Finally, I would like to thank someschmuckwithablog.com for calling me a Commie sympathizer. That is something I never thought I would be accused of. (I need to log in with my phone so I can read the FB replies, I’m sure many of those are gems of intelligence)
Sorry, once again you’re wrong Mark. You will not be getting your KMA (keyboard media analysis) endorsement to add to your KIC. At least not today buddy.
I can assure this is not because of the policies of either president. Though I had first thought that myself. Instead there is a very direct tie in to balloon boy, which also happened in Larimer County. And this is why I don’t blame the sheriff’s department.
When you are dealing with these incidents, we all have to be on the same team. We all have to be patriots and take our direction from the man in charge. If not, the enemy, whether it be a wildfire or a balloon floating off into the sky, wins.
Also, to get your KMA (I assume the familiarity of that acronym was not lost on you) you need to have a much more severe case of COD, compulsive outrage disorder. When you see something like this on the web, whether it is true or not, you must leap in with both feet in your proclamations. In my judgment you were a bit on the wimpy side. Better luck next time.
Statter
Dang…….guess that’s why I don’t have a blog of my own.
Balloon boy, almost forgot about that one. Must be something in the water in Larimer.
Well, I have to go hoist my sickle and hammer flag. I’ll also work on my feigned outrage so in the future, I too, might be able to use the fabled KMA acronym.
Let’s have HH weigh in on that. Emphasis on weigh.
Request for authorization to read and comment on this blog.
Denied. This may be a blog not authorized by you local sheriff’s department. Sorry. Please go to someschmuckwithablog.com or is it somebloggerwithaschmuck.com.
Oy vey.
At least retitle your blog, so people know exactly what they’re getting when they click on it. Suggested title: Ghouls Gone Wild.
Looking forward to the first DVD release. Think of the candid footage you could film in Baltimore. Maybe you can get the Geezer guys to bear all…
Would that be bear or bare? You are right that I can’t bear them and if they dare to bare it all, I am out of there.
Sarcasm and wit. Dangerous combination.
Greetings from the Mile High City from an old Retired Chief . One who has turned into a free lance photographer in his golden years. Over the last four days I have watched the Larimer County Sheriff, his PIO and the Poudre Fire Authority Fire Chief in many a press conference . I have seen them on four separate TV channels. Up until now I would have given them a grade of A+, the A+ still stands for the Fire Chief. They have address every issue, answered every question repeatedly and been quite honest with their answers. I have been quite impressed with their compassion and ability to provide the citizens with the information they needed to hear. But now the Sheriff’s Department has crossed the line.
Since hanging up my white leather helmet, I have picked up a digital camera. I have shot many a fire ground in Colorado over the last few years. In each case I have delivered said pictures to the first due station and was I was greeted with the usual Fire House welcome. Also during the past few years I have experienced two situations where Colorado Law Enforcement Officers have ordered me not to take pictures of fire ground activity. In both cases I obeyed the order and backed off. (Seriously, I do not want to spend a night in jail.) In both cases I addressed my concerns to the departments in writing and never received a reply. Just last week I witnessed a Paramedic Supervisor yell at a few photographers not to take any pictures, “Yell” is an understatement, it was quite a verbal butt whooping.
Times are a changing. If the Po Po says something, you must listen and obey or suffer the consequences, be they legal or not. We are losing our First Amendment Rights at a fast pace. Once the government controls the press, they almost do now, our freedom is gone out the door.
Not being a fan of the press, I must stand up for their right to show the pictures. There is nothing illegal or even morally wrong with showing pictures of the fire or aftermath. My TV is on now and a non-Fox channel is showing pictures from the helicopter of a burned out building. Note: the Denver TV stations now all share a helicopter in order to save money.
As for Charlie Brown, stick to the cartoons.
Be Safe and Go Home,
Retired Chief
@Retired Chief,
I have to say that you took the proper course in not challenging the LEO when they told you to stop taking pictures. I don’t want to be arrested and hauled off for a night in jail. HOWEVER, do understand that IF this were to happen that you would have a pretty solid case against the LEO and their respective agency for violating your rights by arresting you “for taking pictures” (granted that this is provided you are in a public place and that you are not interfering or otherwise obstructing emergency responders – which I’m quite certain you’re not).
I can honestly say that I had a similar instance here where I am. Granted this was a motorcycle MVC, not that it really makes a difference. A state trooper came over, ordered me to stop taking pictures AND to delete the pictures I’d already taken. I provided him my identification, and I was (essentially) detained (because I could not just get in my vehicle and leave without my license). I did comply with his request to stop, and to go stand by my vehicle.
I contacted the state police and they were understanding and professional regarding this incident. Thankfully, it appears that they are aware of the laws and not trying to overstep their authority. It also helped that I was calm and reasonable when speaking with them regarding the incident (made it clear that I didn’t want the trooper getting into trouble over this, just that they be made aware of the limits of their authority – mostly because I’m still out there taking pictures, and I don’t need troopers having an attitude about me).
I was nearly arrested at at fire by a deputy sheriff (in the presence of a retired chief of department who saw the whole thing) because she “didnt think i should be taking pictures at a fire”. I conplained to internal affairs and got the “blue wall of silence”. In confidence i got word to who needed to hear it that i have been shooting fires since i was a teenager and this was the first time i have ever been threatened with arrest and i told them that i do not need to be a member of the media to take a picture of anything and if i am detained again at a fire, an IAB complaint is going to be the least of the sheriff’s problems because a sheriff that lets his deputies “make up law as they see fit” are a danger to the public.
I’m actually not sure if you are being serious or joking Dave.
Well. I don’t think that there is an issue with the filming of burning homes.
The issue is where the Sheriffs Office says no, and the media does anyway.
On the opposite hand, could the sheriffs Office say no to anything and the media must listen?
What if the media company is outside the Sheriffs AHJ?
Could the Sheriffs Office sue Fox News for showing media of the fire?
Wait a second…
I was watching cartoons…there is a fire someplace?
Please…someone … anyone…look up the meaning of the word “REQUEST” before we end up with the entire state of Colorado behind bars.
Dave, may I suggest: kingofallmediaschmuckwithablog.com?
Having stumbled on this “story” and site for the first time, I am thoroughly confused, perplexed, dizzy, at a loss, baffled, muddled, befuddled, unglued, bewildered, discombobulated, flummoxed, stumped, glassy-eyed, mixed up,puzzled, thrown off balance and flat out flustered. If this “dave statter” is serious, I’m pissed off. If this was all a joke, I am even more pissed off. I could have spent this time better spent weeding or dusting or staring at the ring in my bathtub.
Sarcasm FAIL…thesaurus WIN!
I am sure this has nothing to do with the fact that 1 lone lightning bolt managed to take out maybe 100 or more homes.
Dave you’ve really done it this time. You singlehandedly flushed out all the wacko’s.
I am, and will remain, on your side with this issue. I’ve been complaing for decades on how the news published sports scores without consideration of the embarrassment of the losing teams.
Is there no pity amoung us?
I have often felt for those players. And how about when they show the losing dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club show? Isn’t it cruel that the media puts the faces of those dogs out there for everyone, including other dogs (she may be a bitch, but it could be his mother) to see? None of that should be allowed. Heartless.
In making my statements yesterday I was trying to get people to think of the many consequences that come from the wide array of electronic devices which enable the media and public officials to not only alert the affected public but also allows the satisfaction of the “immediate need to know” of the curious public. Many public officials, including all levels of government as well as individual departments such as fire, police, public health etc., have struggled to come up with a media policy to provide information to the public without compromising the victim(s) privacy or confidential circumstances. Throughout my entire time with Red Cross, there have always been very stringent rules regarding client confidentiality. The same for the EMA/CERT and Medical Reserve Corps I also volunteer with.
In no way did I think anyone would seriously think I believed that the media should have been punished for not giving into the Sheriff’s request. However, I have to believe that immediately running the video of the damage could have been delayed a short time, 15 maybe 30 minutes if officials knew where the people of an area were evacuated to, so they can be told that there is a 90% probability that their house was lost. Any emergency or imminent information can still be verbally given and a statement such as “there’s a problem with the video and we’ll get it on as soon as possible”, can be made. I’ve often heard that statement during many stories.
When some people watch the video of the destroyed area by the media and then have it confirmed by an official afterwards it may and has allowed people to be hurt twice. The victim knows the likelihood is that the house is gone but hasn’t accepted it. When confirmed officially, the victim is hurt again, because the second time is the reality. I have seen this numerous times, at single family house fires where the client has watched the fire with their own eyes and can see the massive destruction yet states that it’s not that bad. With family members of plane crash victims who have heard over and over again that there were no survivors there’s always someone who says that that’s just because their loved one hasn’t been found yet and once recovered, that family member often falls completely apart.
As emergency responders the media can make or break how we respond to and then address emergency situations. Having a good working relationship with the media prior to an incident is, in my opinion and experience, an important element to successful reporting outcomes. When you take the time to educate the media on your expectations and then learn what their constraints are, it makes for a much easier working relationship where you might even be able to get them to “back off” for the time being. Having worked responses before and after developing that media relationship, I can say firsthand, that having the relationship in place has made a great working situation for all parties. Wouldn’t you like to have some agreed upon ground rules before the big one happens in your backyard?
From California.
Dave wasn’t this issue resolved in the Courts about a year ago or so? You showed a fire and an EMT took someone’s camera away and at about the same time,(days) the Courts decided in favor of a freelance journalist in a formal court case, that they could photograph/video record fire and Police Officers at work?
Anyway, under California Penal Code Section 409.5 (d)/409.6(d) which designates who can or should not be in a Disaster Area,ie., Fire,Flood, Earthquake and so on
Both specifically state:
” Nothing in this section shall prevent a duly authorized representative of any news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network from entering areas closed pursuant to this section”.
ref. http://www.firstamendmentcoalition.org/2009/06/media-access-to-crimedisaster-scenes/.
And, media exposure of the fire area can alert people within the immediate fire area to decide if they’ll evacuate the area in a more timely manner.
The madness never stops. Just yesterday, only hours after it occurred I saw close-up video on Facebook from Colorado of burning homes. I am sure this was posted well before the sheriff’s department was able to notify the homeowners. How awful of the news media.
Let me correct that. I looked again. The video is just fine. It was taken by a firefighter assigned to the fire and not those news media ghouls. They are the good guys, so it’s okay.
The US DOJ has been very clear about the First Amendment, recently they sent an Eleven Page Letter to Baltimore PD http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/Sharp_ltr_5-14-12.pdf
I am sure the Larimer County Sheriff will be hauled into Federal Court before long and receive a Not happy letter from DOJ.