"Breaking News"

I don't know where or when you heard about the shootings in Tucson this past Saturday but it likely was prefaced by "News Bulletin" or "Breaking News." It sure brought memories for me as a field producer.

Flipping around the channels, both traditional and electronic the coverage has been pretty good. It's a difficult challenge with so much information flying at you and one initial report had Rep. Giffords dying from her wounds. The late Frank Reynolds of ABC could identify with that. Thankfully in both cases, neither Rep. Giffords or President Reagan died. But it shows that despite the time between the two incidents, the wrong news can get "out there" in a hurry. More so in today's online world. Instant misinformation.

The huge majority of news organizations, certainly the best ones, are always prepared for such incidents. It seems they always happen when you're least prepared to deal with them, in this case a Saturday morning. But main anchors were quickly on set and reporters on the scene to cover the story.

Breaking news is always a challenge because unlike a scheduled event like a political convention or a Super Bowl for example, you make it up as you go along. It starts when you head out the door with your hair on fire enroute to the airport. While you're on the way to the story, staff back at the office are gathering up resources like satellite trucks to help you get your story out. Networks depend heavily on local affiliates in the early hours of a breaking story to feed video or have their reporters on the air. The pressure on local newsrooms during such stories is enormous. It seems everyone in the world is calling you for help just as you're struggling to cover the story yourself.

Each story is different and you learn from each one. One of the memorable ones for me was covering a rare hurricane that made its way off the Gulf of California through Arizona. We had satellite trucks, reporters and photogs on the scene. The only thing we didn't have was a place to go to the bathroom. So I had to arrange porta-potties. It's the sort of thing they don't teach you in journalism school.

Often times, as was the case with the Oklahoma City Bombing, and certainly with the Tucson shootings, you come upon a horrific situation. Nothing prepares you for it and nothing ever hardens you against it. You also never forget them. Ever.

The hours are long, you're lucky to get a few hours of sleep if any, and when you do it's more than likely inside a production truck. Yet you have to be sharp both in front of, and behind the camera.

Ultimately you have to get the story right, not to speculate, deal with victims compassionately and show no bias other than reporting the facts. Reporters are human, and it's difficult to be dispassionate amidst carnage like Tucson.

The coverage I've seen has been quite well done, mistakes were made but quickly corrected. It's easy to not like the news media but they work very, very had to bring us the news. The fact there are so many news outlets competing for our attention means they're all working as hard as possible to provide the best coverage.

We as viewers, listeners and readers are well served.

Brian Olson
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you"