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TRENDS
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Breaking
News
Local TV Stations Deliver
Massive Amounts of News
While Performing a Public Service
By Laurie Burstein
Following the tragic events of September 11, local broadcast stations
played a major role in two critical ways: first by getting out huge
amounts of information very rapidly; and second by informing viewers
as to how they could help.
News directors and station managers say the need for news has never
been more urgent. Lynn Beall, General Manager at NBC affiliate KSDK-TV
(Channel 5) says, “We have a huge responsibility to both inform
and to help. The number one priority is getting out information
quickly and accurately. We also want to inform the audience on how
they can help by donating blood or money, as well as other ways
to get involved.”
Because viewers needed a lot of information very fast in the first
days after the attacks, many local affiliates used a “crawl” or
“news ticker” that continuously ran additional information on the
bottom of the TV screen. This ticker is usually reserved for situations
like hazardous weather conditions or school closings, but on September
11 and the days afterwards, it was used extensively for news on
both national and local stations.
“This ‘crawl’ let us get out even more essential information very
quickly, and I believe we will see it more and more,” says Rebecca
Rahm, program director at Channel 5. Rahm also says that the station
at times used “double boxes” to show local and national news simultaneously.
News Director Sheldon Ripson at KPLR-TV (Channel 11), agrees that
many techniques were used to disseminate the news as quickly as
possible. “The news ticker is an effective way to deliver additional
news and information. We used it as a public service vehicle to
let people know how and where they could help.”
Ripson adds that several trends took on greater importance following
September 11 in covering the local news. “Obviously, devoting as
much airtime to cover the news of this breaking story has been important.
Normal programming was interrupted and continuous coverage was aired
in the first days. At Channel 11, we fleshed out the local angle
as much as possible.”
Ripson explained further, “As broadcasters, we are a connection
to the community and people had an urge and need to help. Our role
took on greater importance by informing people how they could contribute.”
Each station says that because of the time constraints of TV news,
all are maximizing use of their websites as valuable tools for providing
more detailed information.
Brad Remington, News Director at KTVI-TV (Fox, Channel 2), says
that on September 11 and for the next two days his station ran continuous
news and coverage. Neither regular programming nor commercial breaks
were aired for several days—very unusual but obviously warranted
he says. “Because there was nothing to compare it to, it was a tough
decision to know when it was appropriate to go back to regular programming
and commercials,” Remington says. He adds that his 100-person newsroom
was geared up and did nothing but this story following the attacks.
His station also sent a crew to New York to follow the Cahokia Fire
Department and cover other St. Louis region angles.
Remington echoes his fellow broadcasters when it comes to the media’s
role in being part of the community. “We want to make a difference
and get people involved. Our station was involved in several fundraisers.
In one effort, we did live shots in front of the Ram’s stadium during
a game and raised $27,000.”
All news directors and general managers concur that this is one
of the most dramatic stories they have ever covered, especially
since it is hitting so close to home. Their sentiments can be summed
up, “The emotional impact of this story has hit us all—both as reporters
of the news and as people. Reporters are people too,” Remington
comments.
Laurie Burstein is a St. Louis-based free-lance writer.
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