NBC has caught a lot of flak for airing a murderer’s video. Many of the victims’ families requested that they stop showing it and, for the most part, NBC has complied. What annoys me most is that NBC said they had some “tough decisions” when they received the package.

Unless the “tough decisions” were between airing a 2-day or 3-day report and whether or not to include anything else in the show(s), I call that BS. They were probably wetting their pants thinking of the ratings and viewers they were certain to attract. Imagine how much a one- or two-night boost of a few million viewers can skew the numbers. Imagine the advertising revenue. Imagine the notoriety of being the ONLY newsroom with that video. Exclusive. That has to be worth more than gold to a TV station. Drop that after your name and it means something. NBC exclusive. Sounds a lot more important that something pansy like “special.”

The complainers have apparently forgotten that news is no longer about just bringing the information to the people. It’s a business now, it’s entertainment. Gone are the notions of the bare truth and honest journalism, replaced by ratings, agenda, and hype.

One person who knows the good and bad of ratings and hype is Katie Couric. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS sources say Katie “may leave CBS Evening News, probably after the 2008 presidential elections, to assume another role at the network.” Her hiring was a clinic on hype, and it worked. Of course, after a couple days the hype died down and CBS News dropped back to third in the ratings, where it has remained ever since.

On a side note, that article is itself a great example of hype. After the 2008 presidential elections. That’s over a year and a half from now; not exactly bringing the hammer down, are they? I guess they’re trying to get whatever they can out of their investment before they’re forced to dump it.

Just give me the info, I’ll ask for your opinion if I want it.

Immigration Activists Call for Boycott

The so-called “Great American Boycott II” is being planned for May 1, organizers for the March 25 Coalition said Monday. The group is made up of immigrant rights organizations and others who frequently plan rallies around the country.

I think Mr. Rodriguez should march his ass, along with all his followers’ asses, back to Mexico or wherever they hail from and stay there, just to prove his point. PROVE that we need you. I dare you. I double dare you. Teach us a lesson, Mr. Rodriguez, please. Maybe we’ll finally settle the discussion about who needs whom.

I hope anyone who walks out without permission is fired. If you ignore your responsibility, you should pay the penalty. Even if we don’t agree with the laws, we must follow them. If you don’t like it, there is a system in place to let your grievances be heard. The solution is not to selectively follow some laws and ignore the ones you don’t like.

If they really believe what they preach, they shouldn’t have to worry about it though, because they think we’ll be begging them to come back before long.