Between the DUI-related fatal crashes and the dangers of highway 12, it’s been a tragic month in the area. Each story is accompanied by on-camera appearances by the victims families–not family spokespeople, but spouses and children. In their rush to be first to the scene and get the highest level of access, I think local news agencies are throwing common sense and good taste to the wayside.
The March 31 fatal crash on Highway 12 was reported on News 10 by Karen Massie (video), who reports on the safety improvements underway and talks to several witnesses and local residents who know firsthand what is going on. (Karen Massie always seems like one of the good reporters — a real news person. Stands there with a mic and tells us what happened.) At the time of her report, apparently the victim’s name had not yet been released. But at some point over the weekend the news bravely put the victim’s family on camera.
I can’t remember where I saw it nor could I find it online, but there was the victim’s wife, nearly tearing up, remembering how her husband had remembered to say “I love you” that morning, like he always did. There were the victims’ daughters, being comforted by friends and neighbors.
This came to a head for me when I saw Mike Teselle’s interview with the 8-year old daughter of Annette Brodovsky. Brodovsky was killed Monday night by a drunk driver in the Arden-Arcade area. In what is proudly touted as “exclusive video” Teselle points his mic at this little girl, who says “she was strong and gentle, as many women are.” (Want a little heartbreak with your Wednesday afternoon? Watch that clip.)
I tend to ramble on and on at home about this topic. As sad as this is, I’d say, it’s not even really news once you get past the details of what happened, and don’t they have anything better to report? This is about when my wife threatens to take away my soup and my Matlock. She reminds me that some of this reporting is necessary — trouble spots for DUI arrests and car accidents, whether the CHP is doing enough to help, or simply the story of this fabulous woman and the community her death has affected.
I get similarly worked up about creepy creepy pervert stories, but even then I need to be reminded that some good can be reported — tips for parents on how to avoid this stuff, for example. (Mrs. Cool can bring the snark, but she can also bring the snark back down to earth when that’s needed.)
Here’s the thing, though: I don’t think that for the most part this is why the news agencies report what they do. I know I’m not the first person to complain about this. But I don’t think news reporting always has its priorities right. I don’t see any need to interview an 8-year old daughter who has just lost her mother — especially when part of the “story” is that it happened during a holy time for the victim, an Orthodox Jew, so it’s a special time compounded by the loss — except that you know it will get eyeballs. Obviously I was watching the news, so my eyeballs are among those.
I am in no way blaming local media outlets for not doing enough to stop DUIs or pedophilia. I think all I’m really saying is no more exclusive video interview of the victim’s family. Provide a service by informing us of what is happening. If you do that better than the other guy, more people will watch. What do you say, Sacramento?
The Sac Rag 
I understand where you are coming from, however, the reason we all interview “the family” of these victims, is to drive the story home and get people’s attention.
It has much more impact, when you hear and see the story through the mouth and eyes of those directly affected.
A “spokesperson” provides no emotion and isnt directly affected.
I know at times it can appear exploitive, but I can assure you, we do care, and do this because it will bring light to the issue and get the piece watched. And thats not a bad thing for the family involved…especially when they want the issue or tragedy brought to light.
Im not going to remember a person, by hearing a “spokesperson” talk about them. I will remember a crying little 8 year old daughter and the loss this family has suffered.
Not letting the audience forget or turn away from the issue, is why we interview those CLOSEST to the story. That is our job as journalists.
-Local Reporter
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I think since Hearst-Argyle TV moved into the Sacramento market, the character of local TV journalism has changed. “Our News” has been commoditized into the familiar menu Hearst-Argyle offers in all major US TV markets.
If you survey the coverage of Hearst-Argyle stations across the country, you will see a familiar footprint, a homogenized “sense of urgency” special of the day, with the same buzz words, and the detectable trend of coverage which ripples from market to market as stations seize on “what’s hot” in the same way Walmart decides what to place on special sale, and on which endcaps of the store layout to maximize sales.
I would not be surprised if other west coast stations begin to focus on “killer roads”, are encourage by Hearst HQ to do special reports, and also produce some canned interviews and stats graphics to peddle to the affiliates.
It would also not surprise me if the advertising time slots during these segments/coverage were sold to auto/life insurance companies.
What is interesting to me is that Hwy 12 has, for years, had a higher rate of fatal collisions than other roads, and had worse years than 2007 has had so far, yet during this past week’s news cycle, it caught the fancy of the news machine because of it’s human interest value and the statistical fluke of tragedy.
Had these accidents been separated by more time, they’d be no less tragic and unnecessary, but the news machine would have probably found them unremarkable.
I wonder if this coverage will lead to state transportation bills appropriating more funds for Hwy 12 projects that have been on the back burner for over a decade.
If the stations had an end game to not only inform the public, sell soap and insurance ads, but to help make Hwy 12 safer with the goal of putting media pressure on the legislature to take action, this coverage wouldn’t leave as bad a taste in my mouth.
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I remember years ago when flight 800 something? crashed in Scotland and the news crews were able to get to the airport and film the families reactions as they were told that the loved ones they were there to pick up had perished. It was awful and I have never forgotten it. I can’t believe that those reporters don’t regret that choice.
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DMZ, you’re right on.
Some reporters have exponentially more class and tact in dealing with sensitive situations (Karen Massie, as you noted, and Edie Lambert come to mind), but all too often we witness some of the more green reporters aggressively pursuing the soundbite that they think will best complement their “hard-hitting journalism.”
I’ve never been a fan of the “if it bleeds, it leads” philosophy (not that life is all kittens and rainbows), but there is a level of appropriateness that is often lacking. That’s when I change the TV channel or radio station.
Why do I suddenly have Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry” going through my head?
Proeats, I totally remember that Lockerbie disaster and ensuing news stories — truly sickening. A recent example locally was when accomplished videographer Mr. Johnson was shot by a meth addict in Elk Grove about a year ago. KFBK ran the audio of his sister when she first found out about his death.
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Name Withheld: I guess there is just a fine line between “what will get the piece watched” and what is appropriate and/or necessary. I definitely don’t imagine all reporters as heartless bastards. Personally, when I watched that little girl talking about her mom, or that widow in Antioch, I wished I could be hearing from a spokesperson. If you’re trying to reach viewers who really honestly can’t just imagine how it would feel to lose a spouse or a mother, then I think you’re probably aiming a little too low.
I’m not afraid to spread the snark around a bit. Mrs Cool reminded me that the “first to the scene” reporting from the DUI accident in South Land Park had an on camera interview with the father of one of the victims. He was literally asked “how do you feel” and had the reaction some of us always wish they would have. “How the frak do you think I feel!?” (He didn’t say frak, or the non-Colonial version either.) I don’t understand why these family members agree to go on camera! I think I’d probably go Sean Penn on even Mike Teselle if he stuck that thing in my face.
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15 years ago when I was in journalism school, we had to take a media ethics class that covered this exact topic–a grieving family’s right to privacy versus the right of the media to cover the news. My recollection of the tone of the class is that protecting family’s right to privacy–especially where children are involved–outwieghs the public’s right to know in those instances. While there are no laws prohibiting the media from interviewing/printing photos of grieving family members, media outlets used to have internal policies regarding this topic. I think the print media still adheres to some skeletal moral guidelines, but not so much the TV news outlets.
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I think my right to know what that little girl is feeling at that moment is probably the least important right ever conceived of by a society.
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Apparently you missed the memo.
Journalism is dead.
Now whatever sticks eyeballs to the screen is what goes on television.
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The best way that you news types can show you are not exploiting a situation is to make sure that you plaster a great big caring “EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE” across the screen. Or, better yet, make sure your anchor qualifies the coverage with the always non-exploitative “…a story you’ll only see here on News/CBS/KCRA-#.”
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Update: The Bee’s Sam McManis responds…
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With all due respect, “Local Reporter” is full of it. And I know because I’ve been a TV reporter.
There’s a mentality in TV that every story must be told through “real” people. No one wants to hear “officials”, goes the rationale, they only relate to real folks.
Bull. It’s all about tight shots of tears, emotions, angst. Ever wonder why TV rarely digs into things like policy issues, societal issues, etc? Because… yep… real people can’t tell the story.
The little girl was only the symptom of a larger problem in TV news. It’s so superficial of the day’s “scanner traffic” as to be the equivalent of news cotton candy.
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I always wonder why the family members would want to be on tv? When my sis lost her son in a deadly crash, she could barely speak for a month, and didn’t come out of the fog for at least a year!
When that little girl spoke of her mother and other strong women, my husband and I just stared in disbelief. Then Dave says, “she’s got to be from an acting family or something..what kid her age talks like that?” I’d be crying my head off.
Sticking a mic in someone’s face is not cool, but I’d be running away from the mic if I had a loved one die.
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Melly…
I agree with you. I often think to myself when covering these things: “why would they talk to me? I wouldnt”.
There are many reasons why.. ie: they want the world to know who their loved one was…
they want the world to know the injustice that was done..
they want a killer caught…
..they want someone to talk to.
last… we are so used to seeing other people talk about it on the news that it seems normal to do so.
I dont know when we got to that point.
I often also think..if a family member of mine died..the LAST thing on my mind..is whether or not I am going to talk to the media about it. At that point…I want nothing to do with ANYONE..let alone the news.
This is the worst moment of my life. I could care less about the rest of the community knowing about it…
Second, if my brother died in a car accident, and my parents called me (the reporter) and said: “News Channel XYZ called…what should I tell them?” I would advise her: “Politely say No. We dont need our tragedy aired in public.”
I think different motivations drive different people to either talk or not talk about their grief.
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And to “Another Reporter”..yes.. no one wants to hear from “officials”, including me. If I hear a police officer say: “Joe Shmoe from Auburn was killed in a car accident”… That doesnt move me. Its just a number..just a name.. I dont know him..
Seeing his wife show me his picture and tell me about what a great man he was. Then that moves me. That gets my attention. And it gets everyone else’s attention too. Making people CARE is why we do that.
-Local Reporter
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