CAMP Raid in Nor Cal, video news piece (online)

[danlevine]

Hey All,

I havent posted here before, but I figured people here would find this interesting.

I work for Current TV, the new television network that Al Gore launched a few months ago based in SF. We have some samples of our content on our website, and we have just posted online two short news pieces about marijuana raids. One of our staff journalists traveled along with some members of the CAMP (campaign against marijuana planting) taskforce as they raided some farms in Mendocino.

The two video are:

Bud Business (http://www.current.tv/video/?id=5646&WT.mc_id=bud_business_dl) and Narco State (http://www.current.tv/video/?id=5651&WT.mc_id=narco_state_dl)

While the end result is nothing new, the piece at least is a new perspective on this kind of thing.

We also have a discussion thread (http://www.current.tv/studio/community/thread/1256659.htm?&WT.mc_id=pot_thread_dl) about the pieces set up. Please come tell us what you think...

Happy holidays!

Dan

[lemonboy]

"We can't even imagine how much we're not getting." -Barney Fife

Well then what is the fucking point? How, as a law enforcement official, can you go to work day in and day out eradicating marijuana plots when you KNOW you aren't even scratching the surface? What a pointless and humiliating job that must be. Yaay for capitalism!

Interesting videos though. I don't really think I learned anything I didn't already know. Lots of observing going on but not too much actual journalism. Journalism challenges. I didn't feel like the subjects nor the audience were challenged. It was more like "here is what is happening" and while that is great, you said it yourself... nothing new. Perhaps she was a little too polite.

Not too sure about the McNews style of reporting done by Current TV either. Sorry for being so critical but the public really needs to see the brutal reality of DEA raids... not some rednecks with chainsaws in the middle of a national park.

[danlevine]

Thanks for the feedback lemonboy ~ not too critical at all. Please explain more what you mean by McNews style of reporting.

[lemonboy]

A TV network designed to titilate a generation more interested in what brand of clothing they are wearing than whats on the news. It seems wrong to cater to a target so vulnerable to suggestion. I could be wrong though.

We need to see the impact of the recent holiday raids on several California dispenseries and what it has done to the sick and dying in California. I need to see women on the screen that could be my grandmother. Plenty of these people exist and the media ignores them. There is your story: the assault on legal marijuana.

[scobbie]

here here the interview never done nothing for the people who are sick said to me bad guys growin weed in the forest telll people about the good weed does for the sick man join the movement

[danlevine]

Different stories for sure. We have done pieces on medicinal marijuana as well, but they are not posted online. If you click through some of the other stories on that page, especially in the Current Journalism section, you might find we do more than titilate fashion hags.

http://www.current.tv/video/?id=253 -- piece about the Death Train, latinos trying to get into America

http://www.current.tv/video/?id=1187335 -- piece evaluating the White Phosphorus contraversy

And this is just a sample of what is on air.

We also have some cartoon parody pieces that are a bit lighter:

http://www.current.tv/video/?id=1208075 -- santa takes bush to task on the environment

thanks for you input though, always good to know how things come across.

dan

[scobbie]

good site have e mailed it to friends keep up the good work