By now, you've likely heard of the furor over remarks that Joplin CVB CEO Pat Tuttle made regarding the development of a visitors map that would show the path of last summer's devastating tornado. Whether the reporter embellished the story or Pat got carried away, we'll never really know.
But, the news that such a map would be developed has spawned an amazing community discussion over whether visitors are welcome in Joplin, if all they want to do is tour the destruction. The Mayor sees it another way, that of visitors coming to see the progress...and he's good with that.
But the fascinating part of the story to me is that the Weather Channel's Mike Bettes did an editorial smackdown of the CVB (which has apparently been removed from their website), saying that making money from a weather disaster was a bad idea.
Really, Mike? Because, err, isn't that what the Weather Channel has been doing for the past 30 years?
Just sayin....
And I guess if any of the media would come back and cover the recovery stories, we wouldn't have to do these kinds of things to prove that we're alive again, now would we...
Posted by: Maura Gast | February 13, 2012 at 13:12
True...but to Mike's defense, he was back in Joplin doing a recovery story when he threw the CVB under the bus. Glad that the Weather Channel is beginning to realize the negative impact its reporting has on regions hard hit by weather (and its coverage). It's just a little disingenuous to chastise others...
Posted by: Bill Geist | February 13, 2012 at 13:26
I'm pleased that weather channel has started to realize the negative impact its reporting has on region too. It is simply inhumane and unfair.
Posted by: Davis | February 14, 2012 at 08:40