The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-08-04
ABOUT HURRICANE BALoNEY.

j. Gaskil Mcdaniel, publisher of the New Bern Mirror
up with article about the costly
foohness that of much baloney by radio broad
the first hint that hurricane be approach
ing People the Dare Coast well of the fnan
loss they have sustained years past when tourists have
driven away too far ahead of time when tahappy
RADIO with urge to damaze and to be heard
staged takathons that weary the Here what
Mr.. Mcdaniel has to say:
WHOoPlNG 1T UP
No one appreciates value of radio in times of disaster
than do During thirty years OF covering hurricanes
on and water we've found the medium OF prime I'M
portance in getting the outside world Especially IS
this of shorwave sets operated by hams on an amateur
basis.
friends at stations in this area another hrr
cane season rolls around easy, fellows until there's
really something to holer ABOUT Don seS eaceu ps no
tre and pass that excitement along to the d ana the
gulible. ~,
Unfortunately as soon as someone spots of the
blows brewing far to the south of us-announcers here
about yield to the urge to into action prematurey spiel
ing omniousy as tones OF forebodng wiz aow tney I'M
ply quite strongly that catastrophe Tor our vicinity Is d.
most as certain death and taxes
1t matters not that the hurricane if it should put
into port several days away and that its possible con-
tact with land has established the general oca
ton of it's target determined The shouted
flood the anes and New Bernians who ought to
know better by reach for the pahic button
Once and for ALL let's get wise to the fact that hurrl
cane doesn't sneak up and slap you IKE etnao +b b
hunting techniques, there always
for adequate warning and ample e
that denotes urgency accompanies nothing worth
while 1t does no harm.
is fairly well known begin to get telephone calls from
lot frightened especially those persons who are cid
ery and alone feeble and ill to protect themselves
from the fury of elements hurricane does come
With quaverng voices they seek reinsurance ana ad
vice. It easy they scared and best we can we
calm their fears Sometimes, after we hang up the receiver
we have the futile feeling that what said will be quickly
eradicated by the very next broadcast. ,
When radio indulge in sensationalsm that
isn't justified by existing facts they aren't blazing new
trail reporter resorts to the same tactS
in an effort make good story BETTER or maybe we snoo
say horrible.
This fault among reporters crops up most frequently
among the eager beavers who haven't been around long
enough to outgrow their chdshness To cub reporter
news gathering the writing of what he has gathered is
an adventure calling for enthusiasm and dramatcs
There's nothing terrible wrong with enthusiasm and ORA
atcs but great deal wrong with distortion and
exaggeraton Getting the facts right and presenting them
properly public paistakng business ism quite
as thrilling as some woud-be reporters might imagine
Covering hurricane is just like any other reporting as
signmen accuracy concerned Ihat nere oan
ger involved reporter who tries to do his job is lore
gone conclusion have had close squeaks on occa
sion and couple of we'll carry to our grave are
hinder that big blow is nothing to play around wltn
Hurricanes bring death too One of the first hurr
reported sthand snufed out the lives OF ~
persons this costa There tragedy and great
struction and could again this the next
But why ask distress before actually comes? Let's
keep the frightening broadcasts and headlines out of the
picture until hurricane warnings needed And from that
point on, let's take necessary action.