Balloon Boy: This Is Not News!

It's amazing what we sometimes consider new. CNN and other outlets followed the runaway weather balloon yesterday which was thought to contain the 6 year old son of the the builder of the balloon. Yes, that is a story. However; once it was discovered that all that happened was the boy cut the balloon lose and hid in the attic because he didn't want to get in trouble (a perfectly reasonable reaction by a six year old); it stopped being a story. Why is the father being interviewed by Meredith Viera interviewing the father on Today? Why? because there are so many news outlets out there that anything resembling news becomes news. A kid cut loose a balloon period! I understand the reaction and the desire for the outlets to cover anything that could end badly is, well, "human nature". But how does this stay a story once it comes to light that nothing really happened. Watching the "interview" by Viera was painful to say the least. Viera was implying that this was some sort of publicity stunt in order to promote this prototype weather balloon. Her questions are asked under the guise of "some people would say..." Of course it's her question and an attempt to keep the interviewee from getting hostile with her (didn't work). she also is asked if it's possible if the boy hid because he was scared because his father yelled at him. More inflammatory questions for the sake of getting a reaction out of the father. One may ask why the boys father went on the Today show? I imagine it was to defend himself since he came across very defensive.

This stuff is old. I'd like to see human interest stories treated as just that. Not become lead news stories on a major network because there is some video to support the story. I continue to be unimpressed with Viera as a "journalist". Maybe she should go back to "So You Want To Be A Millionaire". I think her "Talents" will be much more appreciated at that level. As far as the producers of these news shows go; please! At least put some effort into it.