CNN faked reporting about the Prius brakes?...

The news media makes money by selling fear. If they find a flaw in anything, they magnify it to full effect.

 

NBC lit a pinto on fire when the gas tank wouldn't explode on its own.

I think all the old big 3 channels have been caught faking things. What did Dan Rather say after he was asked why he used a source that he knew was lying. He did it because the story was true. The only place I hear about media hype is on this site. Everyone else knows that the 24 hour news stations are filled with opinion and hype.

sad, sad, sad.

Didn't watch the video. Was it today. Did CNN at least say the problem was being fixed?

 

Wait until someday (God forbid) the news media reports something bad about you.
Then, you will know how much of the newsreports (on TV, newspaper or else) are either distorted facts or made-up stories.

 

NBC lit a Pinto on fire, and ABC rigged a Ford pickup to explode when it wouldn't explode (like everyone feared) on their own. Rather than reporting that they couldn't duplicate the so-called problem, the news networks decided to create an artificially sensational situation so they could show video of flames and smoke in order to sell commercials. And yes, CNN, like any other commercial news organization, employs actors masquerading as reporters. That's no secret. And yesterday's story, about Prius' "rocketing" to high speeds was pretty embarassing, really. As ceric said, the news media will simply create stories to suit their commercial agenda. They want to sell ads, nothing more.

 

I've personally seen how the news/TV stations can manipulate and be easily manipulated, and it would be the same for the Prius story too. What you're seeing is someone's viewpoint. Sensationalism sells. What kind of news is it to report 'well some people have an issue with the way the brakes respond when going over potholes, and many others don't notice an issue.' Zzzzzzz.

It's not that there isn't an issue at all, but it's the way the information is presented. And I've seen how it's done first-hand. It's about ratings.

 

I'm an elected official. Need I say more?

Tom

 

I think that she characterized the problem accurately. I would be upset if she exaggerated the conditions under which the lag occurs, but she didn't. I can't really comment on what the process is like when one calls Toyota and reports an issue like this. However, if it is like far too many companies out there, I certainly don't think it is outside of the realm of possibilities for Toyota to give somebody the run around.

Yes, we all love our Priuses, but Toyota is probably not as cuddly of a corporation as some of us have rushing to defend.

One question I have after watching this is: Does this somewhat long segment really deserve this much tv time? I would say no, but then again (after being snowed in around DC with plenty of time to watch local and national news for a while), I've noticed that there are a lot of news stories that fall into that overplayed and useless category.

 

Just think of the news as entertainment and you're good to go.

 

Well, at least I know I'm not nuts. That's what I see, too, in the media. Negativism sells. In politics, too. Obviously.

Part of the problem is with the public. We are not a well-educated country at the K12 level, relative to other industrial countries.

 

I'm not a big fan of the "journalism" being practiced in the media these days, too many examples of journalists just out for the big scoop. But, the consequence of the current exposure may be that Toyota and their dealer network will become more conscience of their image and become more responsive to the consumer. They may have forgotten that the customer is always right.

After all the discussion in this forum and on the news, I still love my G3 Prius and the engineering that has gone into this product. Is it perfect? No, but it is fine for what I am looking for in a safe and economical transportation.

If I want to go fast, make alot of noise and be reckless, I'll drive my 600hp Corvette. If I want to carry 7 people on a trip I'll take my Yukon XL. I believe the G3 Prius is great for what it does, I feel sorry for those that have suffered with their Prius that did not meet their expectations.

It has been a slow news week back East but the journalists soon will lose interest in this subject and the din will gladly die off.

 

While that's true, the media hysteria is going to make anyone who doesn't know the true nature of the issue paranoid regardless of the education level. I come from a well-educated family and a few family members immediately contacted me in fear after the news broke.

 

I just wish people would get their stories straight! First they say the Prius is gutless, then it takes off with "scary acceleration". Which is it!? You can't have both!!

 

I like the second one better. I was sent one of the "take off like a rocket" articles as a joke. I wish it took off like a rocket. That would make me fell really good.

Not gutless, I drove an ancient camery with not enough compression, while I was deciding what to buy to replace my old car. But not really good acceleration. Anyone can see that on the test drive, so its not a problem for owners.

Dealers should be able to tell drivers how the cruise control works when they complain. Most of us that have driven powerful cars kind of laugh about the fast accellerating prius. I'm talking about gen 3, not gen 2 (cause I only drove one once), and not any of the uia cars.

 

We want entertainment like in the old days. Don't you sometimes go to scary movies so that your wife will scream. Now I just sit mine infront of the tv.

I think its parents (who are more scared than young people). Our school system doesn't do that. I may be biased. My wife taught in the public schools for 30 years.

 

Nothing new in this: think William Randolph Hearst and 'yellow journalism' and the Spanish American War.

 

There's an old story about a preacher who granted and interview to a local reporter. The reporter ask the preacher if he had ever cheated on his wife. the Preacher replied "No". He was then ask if he had ever taken money out of the church's offerings, again he replied "No". Next day the headlines read "Local preacher denys having embezzled church funds and extra marital affair".
Funny how news is made...

 

Funny video
the phone call is what you call a monoloog.

 

I think that from an international perspective the amount of media attention the Prius update, and indeed the recall for accelerators, has commanded in the US is entirely out of proportion. Perhaps this is a cultural thing.

Here in Australia it made the papers. Once. There was a clip on the news in a by line. Done and over with.

As to that piece from the CNN reporter, who is legitimate by the way as she is a high profile anchor for the station, I'm not actually sure what she was complaining about in her "phone call". There was nothing that anyone could resolve in her rant.

"You mean the onus is on me to bring my car in ?" Yes, moron.