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Column: 60 Minutes All American Canal segment gives Imperial Valley another national black eye

Posted by: Maven on May 4, 2010 at 5:39 am

From Brad Jennings, this column from the Imperial Valley Press:

“I like “60 Minutes.” I have been watching it for years, although I don’t watch it with any regularity.

I didn’t watch it this past Sunday night, but I wish I had. There was a segment on the All-American Canal, specifically about the deaths of illegal immigrants who try to swim across the canal.

I have long known that “60 Minutes” is a program with a point of view. Long before the partisan cable news programs of today, it was always clear on “60 Minutes” which side the reporter — or producer — supported.

This was in full display in the All-American Canal segment shown Sunday, which I watched on the Web on Monday. It was a story that was not unknown to locals: the canal is dangerous, people trying to cross it drown and this upsets a lot of folks. The segment did a good job of looking at the tally of those who had died, the side of those who want more safety features and of making Imperial Irrigation District Director Stella Mendoza look not only bad, but pretty much uncaring.

The IID sent out a press release trying to set the record straight, from its point of view, on Monday. But the damage was clearly done in the minds of many. … “

Continue reading this column from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.

May 4, 2010 · Filed Under Imperial Valley

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