I don’t know why I can’t just leave this alone… (Update at end of original post)

Before you read anything I say or comment you MUST READ THIS: The Atlantic
I don’t want to write this post and I probably shouldn’t but sometimes something riles you up so much you can’t help yourself. This is one of those times. For the record, I am not even going to share my opinion on the abortion issue, it’s a moot point in this case, I’ll explain why.

Part of the reason why I didn’t want to right about Kermit Gosnell and especially the issues with lack of media is because I’m Canadian and American news issues shouldn’t really affect me and is really none of my business, but you know what, it is. Just as US politics greatly affects us, what is broadcast in the US is usually broadcast here, either directly through American TV channels or on our own.
I first heard of this story on Twitter from @beentohellpal, I went to the link he gave me. Kermit Gosnell is a monster, he has done things that Charles Manson would probably chastise him for, why wasn’t the news covering it?

All News From Yahoo.com using “Kermit” as a search word in Google Chrome controls

Some of the biggest news stories I’ve come across are about why there is no news story.
Why?
Because the news agencies are afraid it’s an abortion issue. Seriously? Time to do a little more digging you morons. It’s not a liberal versus conservative issue nor is it pro-choice verses pro-life. It’s murder and not just one but several, IT’S NEWS.

It’s terrible that the conservative faction had to dig it up and get the ball rolling to bring it to anyone’s attention, why? Because they want to herald it as a strike against abortion and they are probably saying that the so-called “Liberal Media” isn’t covering it because they are pro-choice. First of all, in my time in the US which was quite extensive all I heard on talk radio across the country, and on Fox “News” (I’ve heard it isn’t even classified as a news channel by the FCC) all I ever heard about was the Liberal Media, I never actual heard anything from the Liberal Media themselves. Secondly, I don’t care if you’re Micheal Moore or Ted Nugent I don’t think anyone could stand up and say that what Kermit Gosnell did was right and there are no sides to be taken (just for the record I believe in innocent until proven guilty, but I think it’s fairly safe to assume guilt in this instance).

I think the real problem in media is not whether they’re left or right leaning, it’s the fact that they have lost sight of what news is. News is the stuff that people don’t want to know about but should know anyway. There is no bloody way I want to hear about Kermit Gosnell, never! I would much rather know about why an Adorable Baby Video Went Viral. That isn’t the job of the news, the news is to inform, not entertain. Celebrities are not front page, top story items unless they’ve killed a bunch of people, started a war or cured AIDS. That what TMZ and Entertainment Tonight are for. News is for news. Yeah, I love a feel good story, throw one in at the end please, but the rest is N E W S.

Why is it important that Kermit Gosnell’s trial be aired? It’s not a matter of sensationalism (another “great” reason for news to get picked up), it’s the fact that so many failed to stop him even though they were given ample opportunity. People need to know that these things can happen. The people who were effected by what he did need a voice and not just in court.

There’s a chance that somewhere else another abortion clinic, or doctor, or even any medical centre is operating the same way. What if someone watching the news, sees the story and thinks, “oh shit, this sounds too familiar!” That person then starts digging through records, asking questions and discovers their very own Kermit Gosnell and stops them before they can do any more damage.

So, media people, get your heads out of your Liberal/Conservative asses, stop worry about where the bias can lay in the story or how the public will receive and do your fucking jobs, report important news!

Update: I found a really great blog by Justina Tran on Lovlyish.com which pretty much echoed this post. Read it!

My question is why, when I search for things about Kermit Gosnell are blogs from fashion sites in the top searches? Because the swell of disgust over lack of media coverage is from people who are not part of the media. In her post, Justina posted some passages from Irin Carmon of Salon’s post on Gosnell. She said that it had been covered, kind of a “been there, done that” excuse. So what. Since when did the news only cover the arrest and not the trial (or the marriage but not the divorce which in today’s media gets more coverage)? Once again I would like to reiterate, this is NOT a matter of ideology, there is no hidden agendas or controversy, this is the case of a sick, sick man who committed heinous crimes enabled by lackluster inspections, reporting and follow-up. The abortion issue, the socio-economic (racism) issue is merely a back-drop, a small part of the story. The real reason this needs more attention is because this is happening, could have been prevented and the public needs to know because it should never happen again. Stop blaming liberals/conservatives, and just report the friggin’ news. It’s not up to biased loud mouths what is news, it’s up to you!

DISCLAIMER:

This is my opinion, I am not a professional blogger, pundit or activist. I have no qualifications to give my opinion as anything other than a concerned citizen of the world with the ability to voice his concerns and opinions over the world wide web which I rarely do. This post was poorly researched and likely even more poorly written.