Dateline NBC - Adoption Scammer

I wrote to Dateline NBC today with regards to a story they ran this evening on a woman who pretended to be (or thought she was) pregnant and scammed desperate parents who wanted to adopt her baby. I don't think I've ever written to a TV show, but sometimes I am just so enraged by the crap they pass off as journalism these days. So I did what any good citizen does -- I wrote a letter.

bridget mcgann
to dateline
More options 4:19 am (1 hour ago)
Dear Dateline,

I am writing with regards to the story about the adoption scammer I viewed on the August 28th episode of Dateline. I feel compelled to express my disappointment with the unprofessional manner in which Victoria Corderi interrogated Amy Cumbee and further encouraged Amy's victims to indulge in their anger towards her.

I am not implying that what Amy did was wrong and cruel, or that her victims haven't the right to be angry or even to confront Amy, but rather the fact that Corderi failed to practice thorough and unbiased journalism by not addressing what was very plainly a woman with serious emotional and possibly mental problems (such as clinical narcissism or pseudocyesis). It is irresponsible journalism in that it is an incomplete investigation, but also in that an exploration of the motives behind such behavior might have made for a more interesting story. But instead my family and I were made to watch in disgust as a very sick and misguided person was put on display for the entertainment of millions and all but stoned to death by a jeering public.

The bottom line is, all people, regardless of who they are or what they've done, should be treated with a certain level of respect simply because they are human beings. This woman, despite what her victims insisted, was very, VERY clearly upset and confused, and expressed genuine remorse for what she had done -- However insufficient it may have been to ease her victims pain, I saw very plainly that it was genuine. And to not see it is pure blindness.

This is not the journalism and integrity I expect from Dateline. Perhaps an investigative journalism 101 class is in order for Corderi. Or at least perhaps a corrective follow-up.

Bridget McGann
South Bend, IN

Blogship Enterprise

Well. I'm feeling social and have decided I just might have something to contribute to the world of blogging. I've had a presence on the interenet in various capacities for something like 13 years, but for some reason I have shied away from blogging...I think I just wasn't ripe enough. And while I still have a lot of work to do, I am finally at a point where I feel like I've got some things of worldly relevance to say.

...I always say that ours is a generation that seems to be struggling for some sense and relevance in a time of technological adolescence. Knowing that, I'd be remiss not to participate actively in it; as in the case of many of the social problems that face our generation, I risk becoming complacent in my inaction. Part of the problem, not the solution.

That goes without saying, I write this I pretty much with a known audience of zero. I have a pretty darn vague idea of how one acquires an audience in such a medium as this. Should I be so lucky, though, I pledge to you, dear reader, the following (which I expect you to hold me to):

- That I will hold grammar, spelling, vocabulary and dictation to the highest standards of my ability.

- That I will make every effort to be unbiased in my opinions, and where possible support them with solid fact. Where appropriate, cite sources.

- That I will pursue content that is diverse, relevant and present it in a way that prompts the reader to ponder the matter further.

- That I will not bother the reader with off-topic and/or personal details irrelevant to the intentions with which this blog was begun.

And lastly, this blog will, and should, reflect me personally in addressing issues that matter to me, and providing a glimpse of the world as I see it. I am an insatiably curious person, and an idealist. I have a strong faith in the scientific method of thinking and problem-solving, and in the importance of a constant dialogue between science and religion at all levels throughout the world. I also believe in the relevance of art in that it is a reflection of who we are and of the times. Since art is my background, expect to see a good amount of illustrative photography and poetry of mine and of others.

So, until I have something to say, perhaps you might check out el blog de Shawn McGann, my older brother of 27 years. Perhaps send him a nice little email and tell him to update.