Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!sugar!flatline!erict From: erict@flatline.UUCP (The Evil Mel Fujitsu) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: Engine cracks Summary: Why the media doesn't always follow up Keywords: Atlantis- media ignores it... Message-ID: <582@flatline.UUCP> Date: 9 Jan 89 23:14:09 GMT References: Organization: ROM construct -- /usa/tx/houston/south heights Lines: 49 First, let me state that I have absolutely no idea whether the information regarding cracks in the Atlantis main engines is substantiated by any facts. I'd also be interested in knowing what station (and network) reported this news. In article , armhold@topaz.rutgers.edu (George Armhold) writes: > While driving to work yesterday morning, I heard on the radio > that cracks were found in the main engines of the Atlantis shuttle. > Supposedly they were serious enough to possibly cause the shuttle to > explode during its last mission. After this brief report on the radio, > I haven't heard another thing about it! None of the papers said > anything about it, neither did the news on television that night. > Could someone please elaborate on what happened and possibly offer a > reason as to why the media has ignored it? A few reasons come to mind: 1. It wasn't true. Simple and to the point. A source misinformed the news agency. 2. NASA did a fast cover-up, making it impossible for other news agencies to confirm or deny the claim made by the radio station. I, as a news editor, would not like the responsibility of reporting unsubstantiated news -- especially when the US Gov't is teamed with NASA to restrict my access to information. Libel suits are far too damaging, making life tough for reform journalists (like myself) who want to fight the government tooth and nail for information. 3. More "important" news was going on while the Atlantis story was still fresh. There's only x minutes of time for news, and most news is selected for publication based on the size of the audience interested in the news. "If it bleeds, it leads." is the motto of most broadcast journalism, unfortunately. I suggest, if you want to know some good and hard facts, checking the _New York Times_, _Washington Post_, _Houston Post_ and _Houston Chronical_ archives for information related to the story. (I list the two Houston papers because we have NASA only 30 miles away and the shuttle is *very* important to local economy.) -- while !working { Skate(||) }; J. Eric Townsend -- smail: 511 Parker #2, Houston, Tx, 77007 UUCP: uunet!sugar!flatline!erict | EastEnders Mailing List(!): ..!bellcore!texbell!/ | eastender@flatline.UUCP