A little rational thought could have been thrown in.
The media LOVED the hype. They contested with each other to see who could get a crying reporter on the scene faster. Note that Fox News was one of the worst offenders.
That "ten thousand dead" number was treated as though it was proven fact by a LOT of people.
Man I love this game you always play where, after all the facts are known, you go back and pick apart all media coverage done before the facts were known.
Kind of reminds me of how the Iraq War is being treated. ;)
Seriously, there were holes in a lot of media stories the first week, and I documented some of them. If the media are going to just make shit up if they don't have enough facts on hand, what's the point of the institution?
The real lesson here?
What I posted September 2.