The lure of iReporter fame encourages dangerous tornado chasing Moving at the Speed of Creativity
Wednesday night I posted “Webstreaming Storm Trackers” to the
ISTEconnects blog, and noted how webstreaming technologies along with
more pervasive cell tower connectivity is empowering a new generation of
storm trackers / storm chasers to broadcast “live” from the field as severe
weather hits local communities. Actual storm spotters, in contrast to amateur
storm chasers, perform a vital role during severe thunderstorms in providing
on-site reporting about suspected tornados which have a characteristic,
tornadic radar signature.
Clearly CNN producers know this, and although the CNN interviewer makes a
statement at the end about viewers not endangering themselves to get
footage for iReports, the implicit message here is, “This is exactly what we
are looking for when it comes to citizen-produced media and journalism.” In
some respects, I think it is unfortunate CNN chose to broadcast and amplify
these moments of foolishness and poor judgement by Michael Ambrosia, since
the rebroadcast of his video will likely encourage more people (probably
young folks) to go out and attempt similar videography near tornados. This is
a grim prediction, but I strongly suspect it is only a matter of time before we
hear a news report about a tornado chaser with a flash-based camcorder
who gets killed because s/he got too close to the storm. I hope that will not
be the case, but it seems we’re on that sort of trajectory.
Irresponsible Media Storm Chase Practices
As more and more chasers head out to the plains each spring to "feast on
the smorgasbord of atmospheric violence," the roadways get more crowded
and hazardous near storms. This is a well-known trend, discussed in several
other forums. Yes, there are irresponsible bozos out there who have no
business chasing, and who don't represent some TV station. However, we
want to spotlight a particularly dangerous trend of behavior we see among
those in the broadcast media who cover severe storms for their newscasts.
What?
Falcon Heene and 'Storm-Chasing' Family Appeared on 'Wife Swap' -- PopEater
The "science-obsessed" family of Falcon Heene, the missing Colorado boy
believed to have been carried away in a homemade balloon Thursday, were
featured in an episode of 'Wife Swap' in the past year.
On ABC's site for the show, the Heenes are described as a "storm-chasing,
science-obsessed" family of five. "When the Heene family aren't chasing
storms, they devote their time to scientific experiments that include looking
for extraterrestrials and building a research-gathering flying saucer to send
into the eye of the storm." -- Photo: Falcon is seen in the middle:
Family known for storm chasing, extreme science experiments - CNN.com
PUSSIFIED
Typical American Kids
They're all over the internet and t.v.
White Kids "Rapping" about how they are not "Pussified"?
Then contraditory video of boys crying over dog poop?
There is also an CNN iReport, where the Heene Family are stormchasing
in a minivan with all the kids in tow,
in the eye of a Hurricane.
CNN now showing possible still photo of debris falling off balloon.
possibly boy.
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Generally speaking, a celebrity is someone who gets media attention and
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called a reluctant celebrity.
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