24 Jan Meek slags Ormiston’s grief porn

Herald columnist Jim Meek takes a shot at CBC reporter Susan Ormiston:

In one story, the viewer was treated to moving pictures of CBC-TV reporter Susan Ormiston, who held the hand of a small Haitian child as they walked through a devastated, crowded neighbourhood.

Ms. Ormiston later collected the tired child into her own tender arms, and on they marched. The made-for-TV pictures provided proof of Ms. Ormiston’s compassion, and I did wonder for a moment if the reporter or the youngster’s family was the intended focus of the story.

I didn’t see the piece in question, and I winced to see Ormiston (a friend) treated so harshly by Meek (another friend), but I’m pretty sure I would have shared Meek’s dyspepsia. During Friday night’s telethon, I did see, and was faintly nauseated by, CNN’s Anderson Cooper repeatedly tousling the heads of Haitian youngsters rescued after days entrapped in earthquake wreckage.

The reason for my discomfort is the same as Meek’s. I detect no curiosity or informational value in these cameos, rather an effort to confirm the reporters, and vicariously the audience, as Truly Caring People. We’ve come a long way from Edward R. Murrow reporting the Blitz from the steps of St. Martin-in-the-Fields.

Meek again:

This was all part of a drama in which the CBC tried to connect the kid’s mom by phone with a relative — the father, I think — back in Canada.

It was a quest story, a tale of a journey taken in search of a prize, and it even had an ending that was both poignant and happy. The family was connected, but only by phone.

Ms. Ormiston’s report, a becalming pastiche of journalism and missionary work, revealed all the elements of good visual story-telling — real people, a narrative you could follow, great pictures.

But even as I couldn’t stop watching it, I knew I was being manipulated. Still, I might have been moved by this little saga if it had been less contrived, patronizing, and scripted.

Instead, I was struck by what our response to the Haitian crisis says about our national broadcaster, and our national character.