Pixelated Semantics

Magic moment in media ethics

One media outlet's morning TV news personality has re-defined the meaning of 'ambulance chaser'; David Koch was seen on footage (Channel 7, 6pm News, 9 May, 2006, Brisbane) climbing (apparently uninvited, from the edit shown) into the back of an ambulance to speak to one of the just-rescued Beaconsfield miners--moments after the fellow had been allowed to walk from the mine, after 14 days in a small cage underground, to a stretcher in the back of the ambulance.

The footage showed an ambo somewhat quizzically looking on as Channel 7 filmed through the door of the ambulance, while Koch inelegantly leaned forward out of shot and spoke briefly and inaudibly to the man. A policeman of serious expression was then shown walking alongside the van towards the door, apparently early in the process of asking the 'personality' to leave. The package then cut to footage of the miner, solo, in the back of the now departing ambulance.

As if such an act needed further flourish, the lead-in to the story actually used the words 'magic moment' to describe what is arguably an ethical lapse of instant notoriety.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 4:22 pm ::