Nerves of glass

I was crunched up like a baby on the couch – heart racing – deep breath – tight fists – and nerves of glass – as I watched JetBlue 292 BUR-JFK makes its emergency landing at LAX on live broadcast last night. It is not often that the broadcast of such an air incident is televised live – usually we get the amateur video clips shortly after the incident, but this was a case where the nation was watching in anticipation. I suspect that it happening in California was no surprise where many live events (car chases for instance) are tracked by helicopter eyes in the sky. I have always wondered if there is a good that comes from reporting such events live. Sure – the networks will delay the images in rare cases where someone’s safety is in jeopardy (usually law enforcement), but even beyond that – what good does live recording these events bring except increased advertising dollars? Isn’t this just the American need for an adrenaline rush every now and again – or is there truly a public service being accomplished in those live moments?