WMTW & pregnancy

["Dan Billings" <billings@suscom-maine.net>]

There was a post here recently about a Boston anchor taking offense to her
pregnancy being announced on the air by her co-anchor.  WMTW has two
pregnant anchors, Elisa Boxer and Marnie McLean, and they are doing a series
this week using their own experiences to cover issues of interest to
expectant parents.  That alone is a typical health series common on local
news.  Nothing unusual or objectionable about that.

In tonight's part of the series, they featured tape of Ms. Boxer undergoing
an ultrasound.  Her husband, and fellow WMTW anchor, Doug Cook was also
there.  Ms. Boxer's very pregnant stomach was prominently featured in the
story while the ultrasound was being conducted.  It reminded of that famous
magazine cover featuring a very pregnant Demi Moore.  Now, I don't find
pictures of a pregnant women's stomach to be offensive, but I'm not sure
that a TV station ought to show their anchors in such a state.  Is video of
the birth next?  I would also question the merits of any journalist making
themselves the centerpiece of such a story.  The same story could be told
about others.

The story also showed the ultra-sound pictures of the unborn child with the
doctor pointing out how you could tell that the child is a boy.  So the
unborn child of TV anchors has not only made his TV debut before birth but
he has had his penis pointed out on the news.  Fortunately for the child, it
was on Channel 8 so hardly anyone was watching.

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine