By: Billy BeerSlugger
What’s up with the Police or whomever releasing 911 calls to news stations and entertainment websites like TMZ.com? You would think that these calls would be considered private between the caller and the personnel at Emergency Services. Who authorizes these calls to be released to these news and entertainment outlets or are they just leaked. If they are leaked these people need to be fired.
Imagine you are a quasi-celebrity and something terrible happens to you or a friend or family member. Do you want the whole world to hear a broadcast of the 911 call detailing the emergency and the frightened people trying to get help? Do you want your family crisis to be exploited for ratings on the news?
It’s standard these days that when a person of note passes away suddenly that the 911 tape is released. It’s “Breaking News” when the networks receive the tape. “Next, the frantic 911 call trying to get Michael Jackson help!”.
Caller: He’s not breathing.
911: Ok, help is on the way.
Is this really necessary? I know these news networks have 24 hours a day to fill with stories but I think some things are better left private. What possibly does this contribute to the news story? I know people are obsessed with some stories as evident by news stations covering kidnappings, lost persons and celebrity deaths and the 911 replay is just another way of keeping you glued to the station between commercial breaks but why does the general public need to hear the 911 call. If things are still under investigation then I think that only the investigating party should have access to these calls.
Just doesn’t make sense to me but then again a lot of things, especially in mass media, do not make sense to me.
But I could be wrong….
tapes are not “released” or “leaked” you moron! its a government agency and hence the you can file for the information under fredom of inforamtion act. as for people using them as news, i agree that is not in good taste.