Al Mayo: Reporters-Feeding The Beast

I’ve seen, heard, and answered a lot of questions over the past few weeks, about journalists and reporters. More specifically the role of news gathering outlets during crisis events like the Boston Marathon bombings, and the Oklahoma tornadoes. Many people on Facebook, and via e-mail have asked me why reporters ask what seem to be insensitive and intrusive questions durig such trying times. The simple answer? It’s their job. Whatever viewers, readers, or listeners might say, they really do want to know what’s happening. It’s all part of the non-stop news cycle that has emerged in the past twenty or so years. The beast must be fed. No finite deadlines, no morning newspaper to fill, no 6:00pm news to make for your deadline. It’s non-stop 24/7 and sometimes feeding the beast can get messy.

I agree there are some reporters, and news organizations that probe too much, and go much too far, but the majority of the time they really have little choice. A true reporter’s job is to gather and report news. Not to interpret stories, or spin them in one direction or the other. Obviously total objectivity in news coverage is sorely lacking these days in any direction you may look. This pains me and sours me on national news in a big way. But, local news in most American cities is still relatively free of this bias as long as it’s not sweeps week. (That’s ratings to the uninitiated.) Local news reporters seldom like to pry, or ask nasty questions. We live there too. Put unfortunately it’s sometimes also part of the job.

When the tragedy in Boston erupted, networks and cable news outlets were almost all forced to use local affiliate feeds and on-camera reporters. While The Boston Marathon is a big deal, not many national outlets had crews there for the actual event. I will honestly say that the coverage from the local stations far outstripped what I expected. This was in many ways, a triumph for TV as it covered breaking news. Same thing in Moore, Oklahoma. The local stations and other local media did a great job. They reported what was going on, and they did it with more than a few of them thinking their own loved ones might be in danger. Breaking news usually gives the public the most unfettered, and clear idea of what is actually happening. The pressure is on to simply report facts. Not to twirl around the area and search for sidebars or obscure tidbits. Local Boston and Oklahoma stations did this very well.

In Boston, as more national media arrived, more opinion began creeping in. Fox News and MSNBC both weighed in with ideas of who may have done such a despicible thing. With the siuation in Oklahoma, there was an initial feeling of everyone being in the thing together. National outlets arrived pretty quickly on scene, and just as happened in Boston, speculation began about other parts of the story. Why didn’t the schools all have underground shelters? Who was at fault for the lack of shelters? Again, a case of the media sparking and feeding a firestorm by slanting coverage.

Back to my original premise. I would submit that hard and unpleasant questions would not have to asked if the beast was not so ravenous for fresh meat for continuing coverage. I would tell you from experience, that I have asked dozens of questions I wish weren’t neccesary, but it’s not from spite or meanness. If any reporter goes back to an editor, or news executive and has to explain why those questions were not asked, it would likely mean firing or at least reprimand. Most reporters do the job because they like it. I can safely say these situations are NOT among those which anyone likes to cover. A reporter is damned if they do or don’t so they do ask the hard questions.

When 9/11 broke, I was sent to cover an interfaith church service. I went and did my thing. I got reaction from citizens, and the attendees. This was around noon on 9/11 so the full extent was still not realized when I left to head for the assignment. When I got ready to return to the newsroom, the radio was blaring all the new details. I can assure you I was not the only reporter who cried that day, nor were there many dry eyes in Boston when it was all over for the day. We saw at least one example in Oklahoma of a reporter breaking down on live TV over what happened. Reporters cry–we hurt for crime victims, and families. We’re human and we don’t always like what we do. But we do it anyway. Try to understand–we’re just messengers trying to do our best. No one is out to hurt anyone else. Remember, we live there too.