Professional Apologists

Television’s continued quest to provide live coverage of everything from sporting events to car chases to large public protests, which we’ve documented, has its potential pitfalls.

It seems that news anchors and sportscasters have become professional apologists for people they don’t even know.

When you broadcast live, you get live comments.  Sometimes the vocabulary of those within earshot of the mic match the  George Carlin monologue from 1972 outlining the “Seven Words You Can’t Say on TV.”

It’s usually quickly followed by a “We apologize for some of the language you heard.”

Who’s to blame?  It’s not the TV station or network’s fault.  My index finger is pointed at the individuals “swearing like a sailor” whose parents didn’t teach them about how to act in public.

Society has changed. We’re seeing it before our eyes.  I’m not advocating for broadcasters to vary from their professionalism, but is it their job to offer up that regular apology?

Are people offended by “bad words” anymore?  Is it just the price we pay for wanting to see and hear events as they happen?

I’m not advocating for it, but it’s real people in real time  — whether we like it or not.