TODAY'S SENATE TESTIMONY - Transcripts
"Community Y2K Preparedness: Is There News They Can Use?"
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WITNESSES: Media Panel
Kerry Brock [DYNAMITE TESTIMONY]
Director of Broadcasting and Programming, Media Studies Center
Many news organizations are not digging into the technical vulnerabilities of their towns, cities, and states. In part, because of a lack of leadership from the federal government. Not only a lack of leadership, but also a lack of consensus within government entities charged with gathering these facts.
The governments' own Y2K Czar, John Koskinen, advises journalists to continually drive toward the facts . Though it seems obvious to journalists in the know, Mr. Koskinen seems to avoid facts. Always in a calm and low key presentation, he tells us the power industry nationally has done well but he's concerned about local power companies. He thinks the national telephone systems will work but he is concerned about the 1400 small telephone companies. He indicates we should not worry, but we should worry.
senate.gov
Lawrence T. McGill
Director of Research, The Freedom Forum- Media Studies Center
"Late last year, the Media Studies Center determined that the news media had a vital role to play with respect to informing the public about potential problems stemming from the Y2K computer glitch. At that time, it was unclear whether Y2K ought to be a matter of serious concern to the public and it remains unclear to this day."
"What I have to say today boils down to a single question: "Is it acceptable if half of all Americans choose to do nothing to prepare for Y2K?" If nothing changes between now and the end of the year--if the government continues to release mixed messages on the potential impact of Y2K on the public, if the news media continue to portray Y2K as an issue that might or might not be resolved by January 1, if so-called Y2K experts continue to waffle as to what sorts of Y2K problems are likely to occur and where--then a large number, perhaps a majority, of Americans will choose to do nothing in preparation for the turn of the year."
senate.gov
Barbara Cochran
President, Radio-Television News Directors Association
[Well now I know what my sister's gonna be doing New Years Eve. Working. She's a "cameraman" for a FOX affiliate.]
senate.gov
James Adams
CEO, iDefense - y2ktoday & past CEO of United Press International
"So it is not surprising that these traditional media have addressed the Year 2000 Problem as befits the bent of their particular news outlet. If they are catering to a staid, conservative audience with an interest in the status quo, they tend to downplay the potential effects of Y2K, if they mention it at all. If, however, their ratings depend on sensationalism, they portray Y2K as an impending, unsolvable disaster. They are no longer providing a balance."
"But the media are only as good as the sources that are available to them, and in the case of Y2K the political leadership has abrogated its responsibility and left the stage empty."
"In part, this poor performance by the media comes about because the media itself does not thoroughly understand the problem we are facing. Y2K is an unprecedented event. The outcome is uncertain. There are no easy answers. Therefore we have not seen the kind of media effort that there would be, for example, in wartime to mobilize public opinion, mobilize public awareness, and drive this issue to the front of the public consciousness. We also don't see the media rigorously questioning the statements of public officials or corporate leaders about Y2K. The public is ill served by the ignorance of the media."
"This combination of ignorance and entertainment is very dangerous and will make the crisis that inevitably confronts us far worse than it need be."
senate.gov
Rich Jaroslovsky
President, Online News Association & managing editor of WSJ Interactive
[This guy didn't say much of anything. What a waste.]
"Let me offer for example the efforts of Ziff-Davis's ZDNet ..."
senate.gov
Schedule & Real Video
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Cheryl
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