WHERE WAS THE COVERAGE?

     An historic and brutal confrontation played out in North Dakota and most of the media was missing.

    The Standing Rock action against the DAPL (Dakota Access Pipeline) was met with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons in sub freezing temperatures. Hundreds of people were attacked by police and security.

    Social media provided live streaming but the story was ignored by major networks and newspapers 

     Here's a sample of the Twitter feeds that kept people informed.

Josh Fox

Verified account

‏‪@joshfoxfilm

Calling upon ‪@BarackObama and ‪@LorettaLynch to immediately step in and stop ND Police from further violence &abuses in ‪#standingrock ‪#NoDAPL

• Dr. Adrienne Keene ‏@NativeApprops 5h5 hours ago
  
  Tonight, protectors are being heavily gassed, sprayed with a water cannon, & trapped on the bridge by that illegal police roadblock. #NoDAPL
  
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• Dr. Adrienne Keene ‏@NativeApprops 5h5 hours ago
  
  I just left Standing Rock. My students are out there right now. I feel physically sick thinking of them and my other friends I left. #NoDAPL
  

    There are several strands to the controversy that make this newsworthy. More betrayal of Indian rights, legal challenges, the determination of those who are there to protect water and land rights, behavior by private security and the impact on the pipeline. 

    Many of the posts questioned why major media have ignored the story. I wonder that as well.  Given the media's current penchant for visual events and the sensational, I'm curious why the dramatic confrontation didn't get attention.

    The Standing Rock occupation and protest carries a link to the founding of the American Republic. It's time it gets more attention from major media. Fortunately social media helps fill the information gap.

     See you down the trail.

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CONTROVERSIAL PHOTOS & ZEBRAS TOO

DUMB MOVE

I'm all for a free and unfettered press, but I'm also for fair play.
The Newsweek cover of Michelle Bachman is a cheap shot by editor Tina Brown.
It is not the first time Brown has created  a cover that infuriates, but this time
it is uncalled for.  I am not a fan of Bachman and she has made statements
that deserve examination and scrutiny, but finding such an unflattering shot of an attractive and even glamorous woman is bogus.  Shame on Newsweek.
THE OTHER PHOTO FLAP

This photo, released by the White House has set off another round of comment about
media access at memorial services or the the ceremonial reception of bodies of fallen US service men and women.  It has been the policy of the White House and the Pentagon
to restrict media access if family members object to a media presence.
It is a sensitive issue of course and ultimately family wishes have been observed.
We have seen some photos, when family members permit a media presence.
I believe in full access and think that arrangements can be made to respect the decorum
and sensitive nature of such moments.  Some were unhappy, even some on the White House staff, that the picture above was released.  It is a good thing to have such a captured  moment for history and to show the honor afforded by and the solemnity of the Commander in Chief in paying respects for our fallen troops.
It is not unlike battlefield access. When American troops are put into harms way, on behalf of the nation, then we have a right and an obligation to watch, see and consider the full impact and obligation of committing to war. We in this case being we citizens, on who's behalf the troops are in harms way.
Not to see can too easily put the unpleasantness out of mind.
DAY BOOK

ZEBRAS ON THE CENTRAL COAST

A part of the herd on the Hearst Ranch.

Remember the controversy about the shooting of a couple

of the herd back in January. Link here.

See you down the trail.