2008 Woodie Awards
Professional news media lacks grace, politeness
Reporters do whatever they can to get the exclusive story, offer no apologies to those they step on
By: Karen McGlenn
Issue date: 10/26/06 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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When I first decided on a career in journalism, it was a no-brainer that it would be print journalism. First, I love to write and I think I am fairly adept at it. Second, who really wants to see this mug on the boob tube? Besides, I talk too much and I sometimes trip over my words. So print journalism was for me, but I respected those who had the cojones to venture into broadcast journalism. It can't be easy trying to break into television news with of all the competition out there - you gotta be tough and ambitious. And apparently willing to screw over your fellow journalists.
Last month, I helped cover the Abby Woods kidnapping for The Missourian, the local newspaper out of St. Clair. Abby was a week old when she was kidnapped after her mother's throat was cut. She was found unharmed a few days later and the alleged kidnapper was arrested. Abby's mother survived.
There was massive media coverage from all over the country. As a mother, I was horrified to hear of such a story, but as a journalist, it was thrilling to cover. I was right there in the midst of it all, which is where I discovered the talking heads on television were going to get the story, no matter whose toes they stepped on.
The television news producers and reporters were rude and snobbish. They argued openly with one another about whose interview with the family would air first. I heard a producer say into his cell phone, "As long as they only talk to us, not them."
They completely dominated the sheriff's time. When my editor and I managed to get a few minutes here and there with the man, they interrupted our conversations and pulled him away, not bothering to apologize. These people acted like they were better than us because they were on television, that what they were doing was so much more important. We were merely the local newspaper. Weren't we all on the same side? Didn't we all have the same goal, to bring Abby home safe and sound?
I realize this was probably not all that unusual. For a long time, the media, including print, has been portrayed as intrusive, pushy and willing to do anything to get the story. Not always a fair assessment, but certainly true in some cases, I'm sure. With 24-hour news channels giving minute-to-minute updates on stories, maybe being intrusive and pushy is the only way to make it in the business. Newspapers are always trying to scoop each other, so reporters might feel compelled to be overly aggressive.
Last month, I helped cover the Abby Woods kidnapping for The Missourian, the local newspaper out of St. Clair. Abby was a week old when she was kidnapped after her mother's throat was cut. She was found unharmed a few days later and the alleged kidnapper was arrested. Abby's mother survived.
There was massive media coverage from all over the country. As a mother, I was horrified to hear of such a story, but as a journalist, it was thrilling to cover. I was right there in the midst of it all, which is where I discovered the talking heads on television were going to get the story, no matter whose toes they stepped on.
The television news producers and reporters were rude and snobbish. They argued openly with one another about whose interview with the family would air first. I heard a producer say into his cell phone, "As long as they only talk to us, not them."
They completely dominated the sheriff's time. When my editor and I managed to get a few minutes here and there with the man, they interrupted our conversations and pulled him away, not bothering to apologize. These people acted like they were better than us because they were on television, that what they were doing was so much more important. We were merely the local newspaper. Weren't we all on the same side? Didn't we all have the same goal, to bring Abby home safe and sound?
I realize this was probably not all that unusual. For a long time, the media, including print, has been portrayed as intrusive, pushy and willing to do anything to get the story. Not always a fair assessment, but certainly true in some cases, I'm sure. With 24-hour news channels giving minute-to-minute updates on stories, maybe being intrusive and pushy is the only way to make it in the business. Newspapers are always trying to scoop each other, so reporters might feel compelled to be overly aggressive.
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