The CBS evening newscast begins by providing headlines for the four main stories of the night. It proceeds to the first story, which describes the current situation in Libya with the rebels and their insufficient arms. After reporting on this, it moves onto describe Syria, as well as the current oil prices and Obama’s response to the issue at hand. Likewise, it describes an update on current circumstances in Japan. Following this story is a report on a new super-bug apparent in Alabama hospitals. The newscast begins with a brief overview of this new strain that appears immune to most antibiotics and has killed nine people (while seriously affecting ten others) in Alabama hospitals. The newscast begins with the usual anchor, however it switches to another anchor who provides audio statistics while spectators view numerous images that aid to the presentation of the argument being presented. For instance, a hospital bed is shown being pushed urgently to help convey the message of the urgency involved in the matter. Eventually, the camera cuts to a man affiliated with one of the hospitals experiencing this super bug, who then provides his perspective on the issue at hand. Footage of IV’s as well as the pharmaceutical company involved is shown because both are known causes for the infection that “ attacks patients with a compromised immune system.” Two other individual commentators contribute as well by providing expert information on how the strain mutated, and precautionary actions hospitals are taking to prevent it, as well as other statistics involving the deaths associated with this, and other neighboring bugs that are also affecting hospitals everywhere. Consequently, the newscast displays yet another doctor who provides some insight on the subject and ends the newscast by saying, “this super-bug as well as several others are complexly resistant to every FDA approved antibiotic and there is no treatment for these bacteria.”
The news program consists primarily of individual commenter’s, primarily doctors who supply the public with the majority of the information on the issue. In addition to the main anchor reporting on the issue, Mark Strasman the supporting anchor provides a lot of the specific statistics involved. While the program fails to mention its source for statistics given by the anchor and co-anchor it does supply the show with several credible doctors who assure viewers that all the information given is reliable and accurate. Additionally, we see all the names of the speakers, as well as their specific occupation, which is provided in the sub-heading below their name. The first doctor spectator’s see is Dr. Francois Blandeau the Medical West Hospital physician. We then see Donald Williamson who is involved in the Alabama Department of Health. After several seconds, Dr. Arjun Spinivasan the CDC healthcare associate from the infection prevention program interjects the news with his perspective which is followed up by the last speaker of the night: Dr. Brad Spellberg the infectious disease specialist from the UCLA Medical Center.
The newscast was very informative and provided a clear depiction of the situation, addressing every possible aspect consumers would inquire while watching the show. In addition to this, the story consisted of several reliable sources, which added to the stories credibility, and presented an interesting alternative to usual anchor reliant story. Also, it gave more in-depth and specific answers that were provided by people actually experiencing the issues or experts in their field allowing them to professionally address the issue.
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