You’re watching the news, and something big happens. The anchors might break into regular programming, they’re definitely going live, the CGs start ticking across the screen’s bottom, and we are going to live footage – maybe from a helicopter, if you’re lucky. It’s enough to give an editor a hard news hard on.

I’m in radio. There are no helicopters, no CGs, and no live footage, although there is live audio.

Today, a big story broke – a federal marshall shot a guy at the Miami Airport, right down the road from my radio station.

They teach you in journalism school the six key questions to ask when covering a news story are Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

And They are right, but the questions sometimes go a little differently.

1. What the fuh—?
You know shit’s going down, and you’re trying to figure out what the hell happened. Today, I’m in an editing booth conducting an interview on a completely unrelated story, when I hear commotion in the main newsroom. I wrap up, walk out, and say, “What the fuh—?” while frantically looking at TV screens, skimming the wire, and trying to read my editor’s MIND, because he’s too busy to catch me up. Ah, the rapid pace of broadcasting.

2. How can I help?
Why, Jamie, you can help by doing a live report in five minutes. Hope you’ve figured out what the hell the story’s about by then!

3. Who am I talking to?
This is when radio stations from all over the world call for updates. They were fast and furious today – I’ve never seen anything like it. During the hurricane, they were more scheduled and spread out. Today, everyone wanted a piece of us, and they wanted it NOW. I spoke to Australia, New Zealand, London, Toronto, Sacramento, and San Franscisco, and those are just the ones I can remember. I actually love this part – there’s a little thrill the comes from connecting with people on the other side of the earth. And I get a kick out of being the one with the funny accent.

4. Why did you just ask me that?
Because let’s face it, people. I’m a reporter, and I’ll admit reporters ask stupid questions. Like when I explain to an interviewer that the feds are being really tight-lipped about the situation, and in fact, by the end of their press conference, they claimed no knowledge of things they started out by clarifying… and the reporter’s next question is, “What direction will they go in next, in the investigation?” I actually take a second to assume as non-snotty a voice I possibly can before replying, “I have no idea, since I’m not an investigator in the case.” It’s like when people will call in and ask me when the rain’s going to stop, or when the basketball game will be over. I have a Magic 8 Ball on my desk, and am always tempted to shake it while replying, “Let me consult my advisor…”

5. Where did everyone go?
The story dies down. It’s not terrorist-related and therefore not ongoing – just an isolated, unfortunate incident. It gets late and the editor and anchor leave. It’s just me, the phone lines, and some microphones. Lonely and relieved, at the same time.

6. When can I leave?
‘Cause I’m tired, man. I’m sad that someone was shot, and I’m glad we have a good story to work on for the day, but a pace that fast can take it out of you.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I love every frantic minute.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 7th, 2005 at 11:41 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.