August’s Inflated News

This week’s videotapes showing Al Qaeda poisoning dogs and training for terrorism were trumpeted by Cable News Network as exclusives, over and over--at least until another network started airing one of them. CNN also said it did not pay for the tapes. Later it said it did.

But aside from exclusivity and money, the tapes must be incredibly important because they’re broadcast endlessly, right? Not necessarily.

August often is slow for the media, with newsmakers being out of town. Sometimes there are stories in August that would not be featured as prominently in November.

Remember last August, with the frenzy over Rep. Gary A. Condit (D-Ceres) and the then-missing former intern from his district, Chandra Levy? How about nine Augusts ago, when Heidi Fleiss was all over the newspapers and television screens after she was accused of procuring prostitutes for celebrities? The Al Qaeda tapes at least compare favorably in news value with either of these.

This week, CNN is showing excerpts from the 64 tapes it bought, selected from more than 100 offered by a seller it did not identify. Monday’s video featured, again and again, short and long versions of the moment-by-moment poisoning of a dog, apparently the subject of testing of chemical agents to see whether they could be made into weapons. It was a sight that no doubt had parents everywhere lunging for the off button. On Tuesday, we saw Osama bin Laden conducting a press conference with Pakistani journalists several years ago. Wednesday’s installment showed techniques for kidnapping or assassination. Today is billed as explosives-manufacturing day.

Experts in terrorism say the tapes do not contain startling new information, though they are a reminder of the danger of the organization that declared war on the United States and caused havoc Sept. 11. The videos did represent a coup for CNN, which had seen its ratings decline thanks to stiff competition from other cable networks.

After CNN acknowledged it paid for the tapes, reportedly about $30,000, it insisted that none of the money went to Al Qaeda or anyone connected with Bin Laden. It did not say how it could know that. CBS News, which also showed a version of the tape of the poisoned dog, said it too paid a fee.

Some tapes were made several years ago, and at least one was made on or just after Sept. 11. They are good television, or, as the CNN anchors keep saying, “fascinating bits of tape.” They also may help to identify Al Qaeda members. However, CNN says it registered only a modest increase in ratings, so folks at the beach apparently concluded they did not have to rush inside and turn on the set.