August 04, 2005

Truth in Advertising

I don't know about you, but when I read the news, I tend to skim the headlines first and then stop and read anything that has caught my interest. I suspect most of you are probably about the same. Yet I have found that sometimes, the headlines don't accurately reflect what's really going on. Take this morning, for example.

From CNN:
Brain-dead woman dies after childbirth
Fox News:
Brain-Dead Va. Woman Dies After Giving Birth
CBS News:
Brain-Dead Woman Gives Birth, Dies

I've heard of this story, but haven't really followed it much. From skimming the headlines, it sounds like the mother held on just long enough to have the baby and then gave up. Sad in a way, but maybe better off in the long run. Then I get to the Washington Post.

Brain-Dead Mother Is Taken Off Life Support

Now I don't know about you, but to me, that conveys a COMPLETLY different story. I'm not trying to start another debate over the rights and/or wrongs of removing someone from life support. That is an arduous debate that certainly will not be solved on a blog. But what I do want to point out is what I want from my news, which is the truth. Plain, simple, unvarnished truth. After all, if euthanasia is such a good thing, why aren't you coming out and saying that that's what this was? I don't think I'm asking too much of a news outlet to simply show enough respect for me, its readers and even the woman who died to just tell the truth of the matter instead of leading us to think something completely different.

By at 06:11 AM | |