Apparently NBC is getting it all wrong in their coverage of what's happening tonight at Standing Rock.
www.nbcnews.com/…
The person responsible for this PR piece on behalf of DAPL is Tim Stelloh
here is his email:
tim.stelloh@nbcuni.com
And just for kicks, here is what I just sent him:
Tim- After reading your coverage this evening that was filed at 11:15pm, I was disturbed and angered.
Even a cursory view of the livestream will show that the water cannons were being repeatedly used on unarmed American civilians in temperatures below freezing. The fact that the sheriffs office days something different does not make it real. In short, you are reporting a falsehood as fact.
Furthermore, did you get the "independent confirmation" as to the truth of that statement that you seem to require from the reports of rubber bullets being used? That double standard is just one of many in the short piece. Simple choices of language that you have chosen to include as quotes such as "flanking" reinforce the military framing of an activity that this nation is built upon and has protected for centuries: protest.
Another very basic "fact" that you may have gotten wrong was the cause if the fire. There are several reports that police flares started the fire. I have not reviewed that first feed yet, but it is there for you to do so. Finally, the fact that there are no comments/quotes or other apparent reporting from anyone but law enforcement is a dereliction of your duty as a journalist. A free and functioning press is also vital to a functioning democracy. Please do not shirk this responsibility. You have published a piece that is a PR piece for DAPL. Please correct.
Thank you, David
Sent from my iPhone