🚀 go-pugleaf

-From: sbooth@lonestar.utsa.edu (Simon E. Booth)
-Subject: Re: Government-run programs  Was: Re: Justification for the Space Program
-Date: 2 Jan 93 04:54:16 GMT
-Organization: University of Texas at San Antonio

-Concerning public opinion about the space program, IHMO those opinions can
-and are greatly influenced by the media's depiction of space exploration.
-Next time watch news coverage of a shuttle flight.  Invariably some reference
-is made to the cost of that particular mission, plus any important technical
-information is either watered down or omitted.

-I've had people tell me that the media doesn't cover the space program very
-much because people aren't interested.

-But here's somethin to think about: did people lose interest and the media
-reduced it's coverage in response, or did the media cut back coverage and then
--convince people that they weren't interested in it?

It's true that there's not as much "big three" network coverage as there
used to be (other than occasional specials), but with the explosion of the
number of channels available on satellite and cable, there's a tremendous
amount of material being shown. Even not counting NASA Select (which every
space enthusiast should get if at all possible), there's  "Inside Space"
and "The Science Show" on the Sci-Fi Channel, space shows on the Discovery
Channel and the Learning Channel, PBS programming, a weekly science update
on CNN, etc. CNN Headline News had very good regular coverage of the Dante
mission (complete with video), until the fiber optic cable broke and the
mission was discontinued. (Incidentally, one of the NASA Select commentators
claimed that the purple color was chosen for Dante because it didn't frighten
the penguins, then admitted that was just a joke. The newspapers picked that
up and reported it as being the color penguins prefer. (Not many penguins
inside the volcano.))

The Washington Post gives very good coverage of space missions.

John Roberts              |       Portmeirion Village 
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