Friday, September 19, 2008

Imagine if there was no financial meltdown ...

The crisis with the American economy appears to have reached epidemic proportions. The next President of the United States of America will no doubt have his hands full, grappling with the crisis and leading the country in rebuilding the economy over the next four years or eight.

But what is the American legacy? Obviously one of heavy metal. Here's a story from ABC News about how they built a special store in 1924 for some very solid stuff. Read all about it here ...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

The human spirit

'After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.'

CNN reports an amazing story of a father and his autistic son who were swept out to sea and their dramatic survival and rescue after 12 hours in the Atalantic Ocean. Read all about it here ...

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Trial by media?

I firmly believe there is more good in human beings than bad. In a court of law an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Often though, the media report events in a manner that could permanently damage the lives of those accused, irrespective of their innocence or guilt. In the UAE, I find the identity of the accused is safeguarded by some newspapers using only the initials of the accused and not their names.

My mind is drawn to media coverage of two people accused of misbehaving on a public beach in Dubai. Even before the courts have had the occasion to try the case and make a determination, international media have published accusations, names, and photographs and virtually condemned the accused to a lifetime of ostracization.

Would it not be respectful of the courts and fair by the accused to await the decision of the courts?

Although the right to privacy is hotly defended particularly in the west, media intrusion is defended as a right to information.

In the past, those accused of sensationalism and undue intrusion into the private lives particularly of celebrities, were the tabloids. Today, the mainstream media appear to be following suit.

Could the mediated reality create a fundamental change in the way media itself is structured? Time will tell. Let’s wait and see.