Personal Reflection: Reporting Shift #1

This past Tuesday, I completed my first reporting shift at KOMU 8 News. I was reporting nightside, which meant my shift began at 1:30 pm to complete a package for the 10 p.m. newscast. Let's just say, it was quite the memorable first shift.

In the middle of our afternoon story meeting, the news director received a press release detailing a 3-year-old girl in Owensville, MO, had been shot in her backyard and was in critical condition at a hospital in St. Louis. I immediately volunteered to take this story. After making a call to the Gasconade County Sheriff's Department, the Sheriff agreed to do an on-camera interview with me to talk about what happened. With more than an hour to drive to get to the Sheriff, I grabbed my gear and hit the road.

Upon arriving at the Sheriff's office, I quickly unloaded my gear and began the interview. Sheriff Randy Esphorst would not release to me the name of the victim or who the shooter was, but was able to give me the facts of what led up to this horrible accident. While in the middle of our interview, the Sheriff received a call the little girl had died. I was the first journalist to be informed this young victim had not survived. After making a call to my producer and sharing this news on KOMU's twitter feed, I finished talking with the Sheriff. 

Back on the road, I headed another 35 miles to Owensville. The Sheriff informed me the shooting took place in the little girl's back yard, located at her home on Highway EE. Upon finding the location, I pulled to the side of the road, which happened to have a bit of tilt to it. This was a bad idea, as it was also muddy, and my station car got stuck. The sun was also starting to go down, so I went into panic mode. I still needed b-roll of where the shooting took place and a reaction from a member of the community. After standing on the side of the road, Jeff Mades pulled over to help. It turns out he lives in Owensville and has a 3-year-old himself. He waited with me for a tow truck to get my car out of the ditch. While we chatted, he went on camera to share with me his reaction.

Meanwhile, across the street from where my car got stuck was a house sharing the backyard with the victim's home. This neighbor had seen me in distress and had also called a tow truck. As I asked him about the shooting, he got emotional and shared with me what had happened. He did not want to be identified or go on camera, but was willing to let me stand on his property to get b-roll of exactly where the accident occurred. 

As I was shooting b-roll, two tow trucks arrived to pull out my car. While only one was needed, both drivers stuck around to make sure the car made it out okay. After the car was back on "flat" road and was ready to go, one tow truck driver shared with me he knew the bullets had been shot from a house around the bend. After thanking the gentlemen who called the first two truck, the neighbor, and both tow truck drivers, I headed down the street to get some b-roll of the shooter's home as well as a paper plate target on a nearby tree. This target was similar to the one the shooter had been aiming for, when his bullet missed and traveled 365 yards, striking the young girl in the head.

At this point, it was nearly dark, so I packed up the car and headed to the station. Just over 1.5 hours later, I was back at KOMU 8 writing and editing my package. I was quickly informed my package would be the lead story. Was I nervous? Petrified is more like it. However, my adrenaline quickly kicked in and I got into work mode. Less than 2 hours later, my package was ready to go-with 30 minutes until air. Not too bad for a first shift!

This is a reporting day I will always remember. While it would have been easy for me to give up or quit because of the car situation, I "pulled up my bootstraps" and did what my duty as a journalist is: getting the story straight to inform our viewers about this horrible accident. I will never forget how a minor "bump" in the road turned into getting the story.

Read my story about the Glasconade County shooting. 

Journalism Reflection: The New Yorker

For my news reflection this week, I decided to review and discuss the article "Chin Music" by Louis Menand of The New Yorker. The writer discusses the current "war" between President Barack Obama's administration and the Fox News Channel. Political coverage is a main component of most news organizations, whether it is on a local, national, or international level. Reading about a "battle" between the current presidential administration of one of the most powerful nations in the world and a highly successful right-wing cable news network ought to make for an interesting article, I thought. 

Menand's statement, "...cable news, in short, is a sandbox. People throw things at one another, not just for fun but for profit," got me thinking. Is the drama factor of two opposing (in this case political) viewpoints dishing it out at one another on national television overtaking the meaning of honest journalism? Is cable news too sensationalized? Have these journalists lost sight of what their role is? It could be argued cable news requires its news teams to cover issues and topics in a different way than in traditional news outlets. On the other hand, it can be argued cable news should still be sticking to the methods of traditional journalism. Despite what your opinion or mine is, one thing is clear: whatever the Fox News Channel is doing, it's working.

The author reports in 2008, half the people who watched the Fox News Channel were over sixty-three. This makes it the oldest demographic in the cable-news business. Since Barack Obama took office, the channel's ratings continue to do well as the news network has taken an anti-Administration stance. Menand writes the current administration's decision to "declare war" on Fox News should only help the channel's ratings. 

Menand raises the question, "are Presidential wars against the press always futile and self-defeating?" President Lyndon Johnson attempted to make friends with the press, which proved unsuccessful. President Richard Nixon took the opposite approach but still managed to get reelected. Obama's spokespersons have been giving Fox News a substantial amount of material to work with, which Menand feels has contributed to the network's success. 

Menand does not deny the Fox News Channel has a certain agenda; it is a politically biased organization. Roger Ailes (under supervision of Rupert Murdoch) launched the network in 1996. He had previously worked with President Nixon to shape his "newer" image. Since Nixon's time, though, Menand argues news professionals like Ailes no longer hold the power to completely sway public opinion based on a newscast. He writes, "although political reporting today is both softer and more critical, it has less effect on how the public regards the President than it did back in the days of balanced disinterestedness."

The writer adds some interesting statistics worth noting. In a recent Pew survey, he writes, public belief in the accuracy of news stories is at a twenty-year low. Twenty-nine percent of Americans think news outlets have correct facts; sixty-three percent think they do not; sixty percent believe that reporting is politically biased. These are some eye-opening statistics to take into consideration. Menand believes, "...in a climate which bias is increasingly taken for granted, cable channels have every incentive to enhance their appeal to their core constituencies." Translation: Fox News is doing everything it can to maintain and add to its large right-wing viewer base.

As a young journalist, this makes me wonder how far an individual or group, such as the Obama administration, and how far a news outlet, such as Fox News, should go before enough is enough. To this, Louis Menand says, "...the state may, and should, rebut opinions that it finds obnoxious, but it should not single out speakers for the purpose of intimidating them. At the end of the day, you do not want your opponents to be able to say they could not be heard. It may be exasperating, but that is what the First Amendment is all about." So, for now, it looks as though the "battle" between the two opposing political sides will continue...all in the name of journalism, of course. 

Personal Reflection: VO Patrol #1

Today, I completed my first VO Patrol shift at KOMU. I have to admit I was very nervous. 

From 2 to 6, I was responsible for producing a VOSOT for the 6 p.m. newscast. Upon arriving at the station, I started to panic (just on the inside of course!)...I started to think "what's the process of getting out a station car?" to "don't forget to check your equipment" to "what if I don't make it back in time!" After 2 minutes, I said to myself "breathe, Lindsey, breathe, you'll figure it out."

After pitching several story ideas, the news director recommended I cover an event at Columbia Regional Hospital. Representatives from several local Kohl's stores were to present a check to staff from the hospital's trauma unit.  Before leaving the station, I gave the hospital's Media Coordinator a call. I realized I had worked with him before at another hospital event this past spring for a radio story. He remembered me and served as a great resource for my story. This proves that you never know who you may cross paths with again in the future! 

When shooting at the event, I put my knowledge from my broadcast classes to the test. I tried to remember to white balance before each shot, get shots from different angles, and try to get shots with "movement" whenever possible. Some things I wish I did differently include framing my interview tighter and getting more cutaway shots. Hopefully, I will not make the same mistakes again at my next VO Patrol shift (in a week).

Was my first shift a disaster? No. Was it easy? No. However, I survived. My greatest lesson learned from today is to never be afraid to ask questions or ask for help. Eight people answered different questions to help me get through today. While I felt I was being "annoying," I swallowed my pride and explained I am "just getting my feet wet" at the station. Each person I asked was more than willing to help. It was a good feeling to see my finished product air--on schedule--and an even better feeling to know members of the newsroom are supportive of one another!

Journalism Reflection: France 24

For my journalism reflection this week, I decided to discuss a report from French media outlet France 24. After browsing through various stories, I came across the headline, "Sarkozy 'nepotism' row puts country's reputation in the dock." Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, has been a focus of attention in international media for more than a year for reasons ranging from his remarriage to a former supermodel to his support for the recently elected President Barack Obama. I was curious to read why Sarkozy is making headlines this time.

On Thursday, the story broke that Sarkozy will be appointing his 23 year-old son, Jean Sarkozy, to become chairman of the EPAD agency. This is one of the highest ranking positions in France's top business district, La Defense. In the written portion of this report, France 24 compares the responses to this story from different media outlets throughout the world. An Italian newspaper accused the President of trying to create a "succession to the throne." A publication in Paris calls it an "act of nepotism." In a newscast, CCTV, China's State Television Channel, presented the President's son as an exception to all rules. It is important to keep in mind France 24 included only a few examples. However, it is interesting to read similar statements from news sources in different countries, seeing as each country has differing cultural and political viewpoints.

France 24's broadcast of this recent controversy begins with "On Wednesday, Jean Sarkozy was supposed to attend a meeting in Paris, but in the end, two ministers came without him." I thought this lead was a good choice for an introduction as it caused me, the viewer, to ask "why isn't he there?" The reporter grabbed my attention and I wanted to continue watching to get an answer to my question. This story presents both sides of the story, including the viewpoint that this is an act of "nepotism" and the viewpoint that Jean is a qualified candidate for the position regardless of the fact he is the President's son. You can view this broadcast by clicking on the video located under the story headline.

So, what's a dad to do after reading these headlines about his son? President Sarkozy responded today by saying his son has been "thrown to the wolves" by the press and feels Jean has been unfairly targeted. As a journalist, I cannot help but wonder did the press go too far? Where does one draw the line? Did reporters from these media outlets stay true to their duty as objective journalists? From this report, I believe many people have strong opposing feelings to the President's speculated appointment. Yet, as journalists we must remember we are to present the facts of a story, including both sides, in an objective manner. 

I am curious to see if President Sarkozy follows through with the decision to appoint his son (and it is approved by a board) or if another individual is chosen due to the response from the press.