COLUMN: Weep for media

It didn't end according to the master news script. Casey Anthony was found innocent! Lest we forget, reporters and editors convicted her so long ago that most Americans forgot about the presumption of innocence.

How could 12 mere mortals exonerate her of killing her child? I think I know, the jury wasn't from Orlando and they were sequestered during the trial and couldn't hear Geraldo, Nancy Grace and others, along with every talking head they could round up to be on 24/7 cable news in the campaign to convict. The jurors actually listened to the testimony, evaluated the lack of evidence and quickly decided.

Poor media - they lost another campaign while wasting America's collective time and distracting us from issues of real importance. You know, those pesky issues like - our country is going broke, the great recession that won't end, wars that continue to rage, and a president who is clueless to find solutions while looking good and dividing our country with class warfare.

I spent my entire career in TV news and consulting broadcasters and networks on their news. I fully understand the pack mentality of journalism. This was a salacious story; a sellable story. It's all about selling content to boost ratings, get advertisers and make money. It would have all worked out well for them if the jury had followed their 'news script'.

America, you were conned by media that's far more interested in itself than the truth. Wake up! Those media owners, editors, reporters and cable news stars do the same every day when it comes to politics and the issues of importance to South Carolina, America and the world. It's there clever slight-of-hand focusing on "facts" that fit their story line. I began my journalism career in 1965 and my bosses were old school - the "Get It Right" school of journalism. During my more than three decades of news consulting I stressed these key elements of being a good news person:

Be curious. Go beyond the obvious.

Be skeptical. Ask probing questions; dig deep.

Be tenacious. Be resourceful in getting to the truth.

Be fair. Balance the news by telling all sides of stories.

Be passionate. Demonstrate a passion for the journalistic craft.

Shortly after the Casey Anthony verdict was delivered, media types weren't soul-searching. Instead, most were furious with the verdict and the jury. Why? Those jurors didn't follow the news script for the movie they were making.

If I recommend to editors and reporters they be skeptical in their coverage, I double that advice for all who follow the news. Be skeptical of every news story you read or view, whether it be from the lame-brain-media or the blogger next door. Everyone should learn from this tawdry episode - don't be conned again.

Bill Taylor represents District 86 in the South Carolina House of Representatives.