Editorial #3- The Blogging Storm Over Recalls

This editorial addressed the recent recalls seen by Americans, and the effect modern day technology has had on the media's coverage f these recalls. The recalls brought up in the article, included the Toyota recalls, as well as girl scout cookies, and other food products. A large portion of this editorial was devoted to talking about how new technologies such as blogging and twitter have allowed consumers to cause the large amount of media coverage that these recalls have been getting. As the author put it, "What journalist could resist chasing a story where the outraged victims neatly line up before his eyes?" The author of this editorial seemed to give the opinion that theses recalls are not that important but that they get so much media coverage simply because of all the outlets and resources journalists have for finding angry consumers of the products being recalled. The editorial then continues to analyze different "myths that have been obliterated by the social-media-inspired public relations crisis." These myths include: the public won't care about it if it's old news, responding to bad news only spreads more bad news, and if mainstream news media tires of the story so too will the bloggers.

I agree with the author of this editorial that blogging and other social networking sites definitely result in an increase in the coverage of certain events. If the public shows obvious concern for something (which is easily done through blogs and twitter), then the media will want to focus on covering those topics, because their goalis to cover what the public will be most interested in. I am not sure however how much I agree with his opinion that the events covered as a result of it being an interest to public are not actually things the public needs to hear that much about. Sure the girl scout cookie recall is not all that important, after making sure people get rid of these cookies, not much else needs to be said about it, but when it comes to the Toyota recall, I think it deserved the amount of news coverage it got, considering the severity of the problem being recalled. I do agree with the author's proposed myths. The public tends to dwell on subjects and events that bring harm to them at the fault of someone else, so it is true they they will continue to focus on the issue after the media has finished with it, and it definitely does not makes things worse to make apublic apology, the people want to hear the makers acknowledged their mistakes, and apologize for them.