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A severe earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale which struck Indonesia
on Tuesday had “little or no effect” on the Terri Schiavo case, the
24-hour news networks confirmed today.
The networks made the announcement to explain why they had for the most part
retained their massive media presence outside Ms. Schiavo’s hospice in
Florida while offering scant coverage of the Indonesian disaster, which has
so far resulted in a death toll topping 1,000.
“While the Indonesian earthquake appears to be a disaster of unspeakable
magnitude, it is difficult to see it having any lasting impact on the Schiavo
story,” one network source said. “The public trusts us to deliver
Schiavo news on a 24-hour-a-day basis and we do not intend to betray that trust.”
Consistent with that mission, the networks today asked the 11th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals for an emergency ruling that would keep the Schiavo story alive
at least until May sweeps.
Joining in the appeal was the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who told reporters today
that “we must do everything in our power to keep these television cameras
rolling.”
“There is no rational reason for disconnecting these TV cameras as long
as they are pointed at my face,” Rev. Jackson said. “As long as
there is publicity, there is hope.”
Elsewhere, to pay his respects to the late Johnnie Cochran, former football
great O.J. Simpson said he would take one day off from looking for the real
killers of his wife Nicole.
