I’m watching CNN, where they are in full BREAKING NEWS mode over the moderate 5.4 earthquake 30 miles east Los Angeles. The media are breathlessly trying to tease some exciting information out of the USGS spokesperson, but there’s simply nothing interesting, and no damage to tell of in a 5.4.
The reporters are reporting that life is normal, people are going to restaurants, etc… and they’re doing it in a way that makes it seem like these are resilient people bouncing back after an enormous disaster. They’re flying helicopters over the hills desperately looking for evidence, damage, anything. Reporters are running around looking for any kind of story. “I saw some broken glass,” says one contributor to CNN. Quick, get that guy in the studio for a live interview!
It’s hilarious watching these reporters trying to make nothing sound like something. Making a big deal out of a water main break, like they’d never seen one before and didn’t realize that yes, pavement buckles when the water gushes up. Wondering if officials are going to tell people what areas to avoid, and then finally showing shots of undamaged freeways while telling us about the potential for damage in earthquakes.
Last October we had a 5.6 seven miles east of San Jose, the third largest city in California. The media virtually ignored it. There were no panicked reporters roaming the street looking for damage, no helicopters peering at the epicenter in the hills, no live team coverage or weird commentary about how we “weathered this really well.” I can only assume that this is because there is no CNN bureau here, no big media companies headquartered here.
Or because San Jose simply isn’t as dramatic as Los Angeles.
