Hey MSM - Answer Me This

The truth is the best news gathering organizations in the world are the major media outlets of America, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and significant daily papers. When I was in service I always read the AJC.

Now take a look at this deal that first got my attention here.

We know that the two security guards have been released. But in a previous statement, page 2 here, we also know that Deputy Police Chief Jan Van der Straten said this:

there is additional evidence beyond statements from the three teenagers that implicates John and Jones, but he would not elaborate.

What evidence? More importantly, what happened to it? Or was the media simply lied to?

Having studied Journalism and worked in it for awhile before my business career, I'm qualified to speak from two perspectives to those too quick to bash the MSM for questions like the above going unanswered. It's important because, while maybe not that particular one above, little questions like the above can be the threads which unravel the truth of a story.

Reporters of today are as good as, if not better than they ever were. Media organizations are larger and have more resources than they ever did. Yet, the press paradigm in America is, in large part, broken preventing us from getting to the little answers to little questions like the above that are necessary to assure the public that there is or isn't a competent police force; is or isn't a cover up; or a man is guilty, or he is not. And it isn't someones fault that the paradigm is in trouble.

An email received today suggested I was probably the envy of a lot of reporters in certain ways, as I am free to stay on whatever story I want, or explore whatever angle I want within a story. Yes, I lack their resources - and no I could never replace them. That blogs or new media, or whatever will replace the MSM is a myth propagated by some heady people who are seeing a revolution, when all we're facing is an evolution. The same thing happened in the way many came to characterize the dot com explosion of the nineties as a revolution.

That technology didn't suddenly emerge over night; it was the natural evolution of much hard work and development undertaken over a long period of time - and technology continues to evolve today, just as it did then. And the same thing is happening in media.

Competitive pressures and economic realities force reporters into stories and off of stories and few enjoy the relative freedom they might have once been allowed. And if you want to fault the "corporations" that finance our media, than you are really attacking the capitalistic underpinnings of America - and only the misinformed, the overly liberal, and fools seek to do that.

Individuals with access to media, but apart from it at the same time can have a role in healing the hurting of American media today - but it's a longer story and it's late - so, can anyone answer the original question as to where that evidence went, if it even existed in the first place - and now, please? Not to mention the all too many little questions I fear we are starting to leave unanswered from what increasingly appears to be an illogical, or possibly ill-conceived investigation.

I said "now," because I'm not sure how long Big American media can afford to keep its eye on this case. And I also know there isn't some "new media" today capable of gathering up all the threads being left behind.

Allowing this thing to decay down into many sad and unanswered questions which only some cable crime channel might try to address ten years from now simply isn't going to get it done for me given the way I feel tonight.

Update: A reader comments -

Dan, untill know you have been a very good source of objective coverage, that has stuck to printing fact instead of rumour. But you dropped the ball in this blog sadly. If do not know what happened to that evidence you did'nt do your research well enough. ... oh the answer to your question? the evidence should be still out there, but under the arubian (dutch) legal system a prosecuter is not allowed to make statements in the media about his case untill formal charges are filed, so if there is evidence he can't talk about it.

ROFLMAO! Good Night! One last thing about bloggers ... a great many of us often seem testy - can't imagine why! G'night.

Comments

[lee]

Dan, I read on another forum that somebody that knew somebody said that one guard was thought to have stolen a camera or two from the MH HS students, and infact , one camera was found at one of the guards house...

all second hand knowledge,I know.....

but I think that discovery was after the cops went after them and had them in jail......

[Christa]

Dan,

A recent interview with Mickey Johns suggested he had something to hide. He could not look the interviewer in the eye.....at all. Someone suggested he was "reading' responses, as he just looked down to give his responses. I doubt it. His mother seemed totally honest and believed in the innocence of her son. She boldy looked straight at the camera!

For someone that was wrongly accused of a murder and imprisoned, he sure was taking it lightly. He had a wishy-washy attitude. Perhaps relieved that he "got off"? I think a "normal" person would be majorly pissed off.

And, what's with the other guard? Why isn't he giving interviews and such? Maybe he doesn't want to look like an ass when the truth finally comes out......

[Martin]

Dan, untill know you have been a very good source of objective coverage, that has stuck to printing fact instead of rumour. But you dropped the ball in this blog sadly. If do not know what happened to that evidence you did'nt do your research well enough.

... oh the answer to your question? the evidence should be still out there, but under the arubian (dutch) legal system a prosecuter is not allowed to make statements in the media about his case untill formal charges are filed, so if there is evidence he can't talk about it.

[KID CD]

Dan,
I work for a major Cruise Line as a Cruise Director. This case has taken more energy than I have to expend. I have been to Aruba several times, and have a younger sister who is the same age as NH. If you would like to converse, simply post a reply on the board, and I'll get in touch. I've been reading this blog (for the past week), in addition to Scaredmonkeys, and am more captivated than ever expected. I have stayed at the HI, I have been to C&C, I have been to Arashi Beach (once a week for 6 months!), I have been to the Light House, the church, the old gold mill, etc..etc..etc... In other words, I know Aruba like I do my own town. Compound that with the similarities of Natalee and my sister, and you receive my undivided attention. I have no more information than you, but I'm a guy that knows the island and it's tourism business (and some of it's major players for that matter) should you want to chat in a non-public arena.
By the way..nice reporting.

[Rick]

Christa,

Lay off the 'weed'. The smoke have you halucinating.

Yep -- "the two black guys did it". Watch them.

Join Joran and company.

[barbara fleming]

I noted the discrepancy in the earlier statement by the police chief regarding evidence that implicates john and jones, but whatever that evidence was, I feel that natalee's mom had knowledge of it and agreed that it had nothing to do with natalee, or she would NEVER have called for their release. She would have demanded that they be held.

As for johns not looking at the camera, he probably is in trouble, or has been in trouble, for theft or harassing tourists, or some type of thing. Remember, he was well known for trying to pick up women, or bumming cigarettes, etc. according to earlier reports.

There is something bothering me. If the brothers are correct in saying they left joran and natalee close to the hotel, and they went home, HOW DID JORAN GET BACK HOME? Did his dad pick him up? Did his brother pick him up? Did he take a taxi?
Did a hotel employee give him a ride? After all, he knew all of these people, so how did he get home. If he sent text message to the brothers, have the police researched his cell phone records?

thanks, barbara from san antonio

[Getagrip]

Picking up on what barbara said, I remember Rick Leventhal of Fox News mentioning that they had found items belonging to some of the students of the Alabama group, but I can't find that in print.

That may or may not have been true. Maybe there are Dutch laws that allow the authorities to give false truths to the media? :)

All they needed to hold these 2 guards was a 'strong suspicion'.

From http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159006,00.html:
- Trapenberg (Aruba gov't spokesman said:
"The three witnesses gave information about the two guys [already in custody] and that is why they were held. If one of those two has an alibi, then the story [given by the three witnesses] doesn't fit and therefore the two may then be released depending on the proof."

- the article goes on to say:
"According to Aruba law, only strong suspicion — not evidence — is necessary to continue holding a suspect."

I would also like to know how Joran got home that night (or early morning). Greta Van Susteren (oh, what do you know, Dutch origin? just realized that - I wonder if she speaks Dutch) had someone take her on a tour of the places in question. From the lighthouse to the HI, they said it was a 5 minute car ride. From the Marriott area to the HI, it has been reported that it's about a 10 block distance. From the HI to Noord where the VDS;s live? No idea...it seemed to be about a 5 to 10 minute car ride. Did he walk? Did he catch a cab? Did he have access to a car parked at the HI, since he seems to frequent the casino there?

[Ah Smoking Mi Pipe]

Joran is a "pimp". A pimp always has a ride. The man had his blackberry.

[cc]

"And if you want to fault the "corporations" that finance our media, than you are really attacking the capitalistic underpinnings of America - and only the misinformed, the overly liberal, and fools seek to do that."

This *opinion* suggests you may lack the historical cred to make such a judgement. The government allowed a few corporations to buy up the majority of the major media outlets, and just like with radio, it has let to a dumbing down of the news to the least common demoninator, and has driven them to pursue ratings above the public good. It is not a mystery how this happened. Our government allowed our capitalist system to commit a wrong. News, especially TV news, did not used to look the way it did now. If you had ever worked in a major news outlets (ie, one with multiple international bureaus), you might understand that.