Amazing Reporting for Hurricane Rita

I am not really a media pundit but I have been overwhelmed by the fantastic reporting of Hurricane Rita from CNN. What is interesting is that I don't usually like a lot of the CNN reporters but I have really been impressed by the professionalism and poignancy from Anderson Cooper and Miles O'Brien.

Anderson Cooper has been reporting from Beumont, Texas, a location that has borne much of the brunt of the storm. I usually agree with most media pundits that having reporters standing in the middle of a hurricane fairly dumb. However, Anderson's reporting has been more than just watching some poor, hapless reporter getting bandied about by wind and rain. His reporting communicated what it was actually like to be in the hurricane. He repeatedly made comments about the frightening, haunting and howling nature of the sound of the storm. He also demonstrated an emotional response to the storm as he talked with in-house meteorologist Chad Myers. As Chad gave estimations of how long the wind intensity would last, given the radar images at his disposal, Anderson actually seemed comforted by knowing what was to come. Just about 4:00AM CDT, Anderson gave, I think, his best report of the storm. Click the graphic to see the video of his amazing report from the height of the storm's fury.

Not as amazing as Anderson, but Miles O'Brien's reporting was good as well. Miles is pretty smart and handles himself in the field pretty well. Miles is not nearly as goofy and clown-like as Geraldo Rivera but is more expressive and animated than most reporters.

The only individual that could give Anderson and Miles a run for their money is Max Mayfield, the on-air representative from The National Hurricane Center from NOAA. Max is the most adorable and surprisingly cool weatherman on TV. He is the most popular and consistent feature on TV during the last two hurricanes as all the networks interview him. He is so calm and collected and his graphics always work well and he never tells the commentator what to do and he never looks tired (he should be, he's on every channel, national and local). Three Cheers for Max!!
- h/t: the Political Teen, Wizbang!

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Technorati Tags: Hurricane Rita, Anderson Cooper, Max Mayfield, Miles O'Brien, CNN, Rita.

Comments

[Samsidah]

How can we get unbiased reports on what is happening? Ids the reporter in the middle of the storm the best we can do?

[PSMike]

LOL....theora....love you!

[theorajones]

PSMike, what you have to understand is that Mr. Cooper falls prey to the most insidous of all biases--Fact Bias. When the facts are biased, he reports on the facts and not on what the Administration would like us to hear!

Anderson Cooper. Victim of the evil Fact Bias. Thank GOD for Fox News, which really fights vigilantly against fact bias. Sometimes it slips in (their hurricane Katrina coverage was really fact biased), but mostly they stay unbiased and report what the Administration would like everyone to hear.

[PSMike]

I haven't laughed so hard in days!
"..not an Anderson Cooper fan...does not always present an unbiased opinion...I much prefer FOX..."
damn..people accuse ME of being sarcastic!

[Kiks]

*sigh*.... Anderson... *watching-the-hurricane-report-with-dreamy-eyes*

[Kenneth]

Excellent post. I couldn't agree more about Anderson.

(If interested, I mentioned him, too, in my Sept. 13 post.)

[joanie]

Anderson Cooper is one of the best newsman that I have watched in a long time. I think he is very compassionate, caring plus will ask the hard questions.
I think he is great.
Joanie

[Tish]

I love Anderson and while it may seem he is out there for the "wow" factor at least he is out there and not in some comfy studio trying to tell us how bad it is while not experiencing it.

[The yankee]

I agree with Matt, it seems like he is just standing in the storm for the "wow" factor. I am not an Anderson Cooper fan since he is a bit whiney and does not always present an unbiased opinion. I much perfer FOX news over the cast of CNN.

[PSMike]

C'mon Matt..in a country where 90% of the adults have no real idea where Iran, Iraq, or Afghanistan are really located (other than "somewhere between Saudi Arabia and Israel"?), a few inconsistencies about Texas aren't worth cryin' about.
Bravado, more than bravery, is a hallmark of journalism....but do you want them there or telling us more about 'The Aruba Girl', Michael Jackson, Scott Peterson, 'The Runaway Bride' or some other opiate. After years of lies, either outright, or by omission, a little effort to report real news is kinda nice.

[Jamie Dawn]

I think you are making FUN of that CNN guy.
That is sooo mean.
Keep it up, okay?

[Matt]

I don't know, CNN may have been the least bad of the networks (with MSNBC being the most awful), but the ignorance of simple geographical details from where they were reporting just annoyed me. I'm also extremely tired of the "look how brave I am" reporting from all of them. They act like they're reporting from a war zone when all they have to do is go inside and be safe.

To me it seems like purposefully making yourself part of the story rather reporting. Like standing in the middle of a busy intersection and yelling in surprise every time a car almost hits you.