Oh, why can't those *&%$in' OWS protesters lay off the bongo drums and comb their hair when there are TV reporters lurking nearby?

Occupy Wall Street! From: theresident| Oct 7, 2011



2 updates below

Lori Harfenist("the resident") writes: "You know I wouldn't be doing my thing if I didn't have a little fun, but in all seriousness, I very much am in support of what these folks are doing."

Maybe this is true, but I'm skeptical; I've posted other videos of Harfenist's before, generally appreciating them, but in at least one she comes across as a bit of a reactionary. Obviously she doesn't have to be supportive in her stance towards OWS to report on them, but I wonder if her interview subjects were mostly chosen to make OWS look like a bunch of flakes.

I get the impression this is a common establishment media tactic. I couldn't help but notice that lots of more clean-cut looking persons kept passing by in the background during the first 30 seconds while she talked to the guy who said he intended to stay until there was change or "the world blew up." The older man she talks to in the very next sequence suggests that the younger people who are there aren't in need of work, which sounds in context like a criticism of the first subject, who never mentions jobs, and the narrative sequence suggests he has all the time in the world. Finally, I would have been interested in seeing more of the person interviewed in 1:45-2:10, as he seemed articulate and thoughtful. (Note there's a jump cut in the middle of the segment which makes you wonder what was taken out.)


By contrast, there's this from Occupy LA from this past Saturday October 15th, uploaded by "wrestlingdivanewyork"

Look at those decadent Californians, trying to fool us by looking so...normal.

You know they're up to something.


wrestlingdiva:I heard them coming in, and had to catch this for you all to see, the estimate is there are 10,000+ people here.



Occupy Austin(Texas):
WHEN : 10/6/2011 @10am - 12/6/2011 @10pm


Occupy Portland(Oregon):


Occupy Columbus


Occupy L.A.


October 8th: "Democracy is for those who show up"

Let me be clear: I'm not saying the "hippie-looking" and "flaky-looking" protesters are less important or that their views have less validity. It's just that the reporters seem to zero in on them as an editorial strategy designed to make OWS seem foolish, and it needs to be noted. It's not just Lori Harfenist by any means. Her report reminded me of the CNN clip from Erin Burnett I posted the other day, and if anything Burnett's piece seems even more brazenly slanted.

update:

Ms Xeno in comments writes,

When it comes to reality shows or sports, the mass media can't get enough of funny outfits or goofy behavior. Why shouldn't they duplicate such priorities in their coverage of OWS? After all, the media's real job is to trivialize an important event and render it as disposable as they possibly can. What better way to do this than to use the same techniques they use to cover trivial, disposable events that are meant to be consumed like popcorn and then promptly forgotten...

also, Rob Payne mentions this from Pam Martens in Counterpunch:

Meet the “Lower Manhattan Security Initiative” Wall Street Firms Spy on Protestors In Tax-Funded Center

update 2:

Also, as I mentioned in comments, you should really check out Jodi Dean's recent posts regarding OWS.

And from Good Media, "Fox News Won't Air Wall Street Protester Who Humiliates Fox News"


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