How many news outlets, CNN included, have satellite vans broadcasting in the middle of a gravesite?

[Fred Sanders]

How can they get away with this desecration? I can imagine those fields dotted with satellite trucks, high capacity lights,tents stretching through this crime scene...it is macabre.

And using pieces of wreckage, night lit as well, as background props? No one see a problem with that I guess, maybe the families of the deceased might have the right to say.

Even as they complain about the crime scene being contaminated and evidence compromised they step all over the place at the main crash site and complain about restricted access....remarkable.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. I don't expect them to bury the dead in the fields

Frankly, the more news organisations there are there, the less chance of the local thugs shooting at the investigators. The OSCE has already backed off once because of warning shots, and they think some of the local gunmen were drunk.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Why are they broadcasting in front of pieces of wreckage yards away, in the middle of a crime scene?

I know there is a lack of authority and control, it is a remote area of a war zone, but where is the respect for the dead and respect for the crime scene?

They can not have it both ways. I wish I could say the nation in which the plane crashed has sovereign authority, let them do as they wish within reason, but what nation is that?

Surely Ukraine has a national transport safety authority with experts that would normally handle this, but.....

Seems to me the media is taking advantage of the confusion for ratings as much as anyone.

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Because there is a lack of authority and control, and it is a remote area of a war zone

Therefore, no, if Ukraine does have an authority that would be able to handle such an investigation (and that's by no means certain - not every country sets up a large authority waiting to investigate crashes), they can't go there, because the local gunmen tend to shoot on sight people sent by Kiev.

With the talk of the black boxes being sent off to Moscow, and general lawlessness at the site, any outside with a camera is more likely to get things left where they are rather than being tampered with.

If you don't like the visuals, then don't watch. TV normally broadcasts from as close as they can get to crime scenes.

[KurtNYC]

4. It is sickness. Suffering turned into entertainment

They churn out a 24/7 barrage of anger, blood, mayhem, irresponsible speculation, shilling and celebrity worship. Why would today be any different? I really think they all lose their perspective and mooring in the info-tainment business

I am reminded of Romney's visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Poland. In their world the suffering of others is just a photo op and background for their spin and stage craft...

"Kiss my ass," Gorka said. "This is a Holy site for the Polish people."

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/31/1115305/-Romney-aide-Kiss-my-ass-This-is-a-Holy-site-Show-some-respect#