The Media Is My Friend…honest!

[mycrofft]

It is an entertaining pass time to read these stories then try to tease the elements of realism, if not truth, out and discuss them.

Mostly they are sensational treatments skirting libel with strong input by lawsuit attorneys or self-serving public officials. Some are outright lies, and some are entertaining lies (satire).

What are your feelings about how EMS and other safety workers are treated in the press? Is it fun to read these and quarterback them?

 

[mycrofft]

It is an entertaining pass time to read these stories then try to tease the elements of realism, if not truth, out and discuss them.

Mostly they are sensational treatments skirting libel with strong input by lawsuit attorneys or self-serving public officials. Some are outright lies, and some are entertaining lies (satire).

What are your feelings about how EMS and other safety workers are treated in the press? Is it fun to read these and quarterback them?

As above

 

[vcuemt]

Local news always uses headlines in the vein of Upworthy.com - sensational and not really reflective of the contents of the story, a la "The One Secret This Woman Used to Lose 50 Lbs. in 50 Days Without Diet OR Exercise!" or when the newscaster at 6 begs you to stick around until after the commercials because "you won't believe which popular local restaurant is lacing your food with lead!" But the contents of the stories aren't usually wrong, and to call them libelous like that's common practice is ill informed on your part. Libel is a legal term, but even the spirit of what you're saying is a stretch. Journalists have a set of rules they live by, and they hate retractions. The popular perception of journos in things like The Wire and House of Cards makes for good TV but actually being a journalist is about as exciting as actually being an EMT. And they aren't actually wrong about the big stuff most of the time.

If you're referring specifically to the DC firefighter story... can you really not close your eyes and see this happening? I can. Some protocols exist to protect us as practitioners of our special brand of medicine but some are simply political. There are always those who can't tell the difference between the two.

 

[mycrofft]

I refer to virtually all press releases regarding safety workers and especially the ones cited here.

 

[DrParasite]

What are your feelings about how EMS and other safety workers are treated in the press? Is it fun to read these and quarterback them?

They are treated like crap for a few reasons:
1) the staff directly involved are usually forbidden from talking to the press. So they other party can tell their side, but the EMS personnel can't. So it is a very one sided story

2) The agency won't comment on the news while its hot, citing an investigation or "pending litigation." Then once their investigation is complete, the story is cold, and the news don't care.

3) you also have politicians making comments (ie, the mayor of NYC condemning the FDNY dispatchers who were involved in the pregnant asthmatic dying) based on emotional outrage or without all the facts.

many EMS agencies still think no news is good news, and if they ignore it enough, the press will go away. All too often the media asks for our side, but management refuses to comment. So you end up with reasons 1 & 2.

 

[mycrofft]

10-4

 

[medicdan]

They are treated like crap for a few reasons:
1) the staff directly involved are usually forbidden from talking to the press. So they other party can tell their side, but the EMS personnel can't. So it is a very one sided story

2) The agency won't comment on the news while its hot, citing an investigation or "pending litigation." Then once their investigation is complete, the story is cold, and the news don't care.

3) you also have politicians making comments (ie, the mayor of NYC condemning the FDNY dispatchers who were involved in the pregnant asthmatic dying) based on emotional outrage or without all the facts.

many EMS agencies still think no news is good news, and if they ignore it enough, the press will go away. All too often the media asks for our side, but management refuses to comment. So you end up with reasons 1 & 2.

I think we fail to be our own vest advocates often. We should be proactive about tooting our own horn, getting our good news stories into the press. Those same sensationalist reporters who we are scorning also loves the field delivery by long time partners or the community CPR class, or the investment in new technology.

We can't complain about the bad press unless we are proactive about the things we can change. Look at what KCMO has done, or Professional Ambulance in Cambridge, MA.

 

[AtlasFlyer]

If you want to hear about our agency in the news, tonight on WTHR's 11:00 news (www.wthr.com) there will be an "investigation" into our response times and having trucks out of service for lack of crews. Should be an interesting watch...

WTHR livestreams their news, so anyone can watch the from anywhere via their website.

Here's a "teaser" clip for the upcoming segment: http://www.wthr.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=9791509

 

[mycrofft]

Here's how laypersons learn about street EMS.

 

[Jim37F]

Here's how laypersons learn about street EMS.

Lol

But sadly, too much truth as well

 

[unleashedfury]

Here's how laypersons learn about street EMS.

And see how "cool it is" on TV and can't wait to become a EMT/Paramedic

Then learn that hey most of my patients are IFT's with a GCS incompatible with life. wondering where the cool Chicago Fire stories are..