Thanks for your interesting comment – it has got me thinking. This spill has rightly received world wide coverage but what the consquences of the coverage are have been less thoroughly considered.

In my personal opinion, I hope everyone involved can learn lessons from this about how best to deal with such crises… and that does not just mean the oil companies or governments. As you say, the media have a responsibility in all walks of life to report accurately but fairly (whether that sells is another question).

Florida Governor Charlie Crist demanded, and received, $25 Million from BP to pay for advertising to counter act that misperception. He has also requested an additional $50 Million which BP has denied. A recent editorial referred to that as “an unconscionable decision” by a “corporate giant.”

Why aren’t the corporate giants that own the news media outlets responsible for cleaning up their own mess? Giants like General Electric (NBC, CNBC, and MSNBC); Time Warner (CNN); Disney (ABC); News Corp (Fox); The Times Publishing Company (NY Times). Why doesn’t Charlie Crist demand $50 Million, or free advertising space or at least the journalistic integrity to run news stories correcting the misleading reports from them? There are two reasons; as an evil oil company, BP is fair game; and politicians need a favorable media to get elected.

The First Amendment right that the media wraps themselves in comes with a responsibility attached. Their responsibility is to accurately inform the public. They are supposed to hold politicians accountable, not help them score cheap political points. BP acknowledged right up front that they are responsible for the damage caused by the spill. We should expect no less from the media.

Anything less would be unconscionable.

Do they pay you as well..?

As with any marine animal just back off if the animal looks like it i getting harassed or aggravated. Time to get out the water… there is always another dive