From Boston to Bismark, the news business came in for some serious scrutiny this past week. It started with coverage of the bombings in Boston and ended with arguably the biggest faux pas in broadcast news history.
Just a week ago, reports started to surface from traditional and digital news outlets, and of course Social Media that the suspect(s) in the terror attacks were in custody. To their credit most news outlets cited, fairly, "sources close to the investigation." Having spent a couple of decades in the news business, if you trust your sources you go with the story and you don't have to name them. Especially if more than one confirms things.
But in a case like Boston, when there are multiple law enforcement agencies involved, there's a lot of stepping on toes. But the word was out, they got the bad guys. BREAKING NEWS!
Wrong. Oops.
To his credit, one reporter, NBC News Justice Correspondent Pete Williams wasn't so quick to pull the trigger. Something wasn't adding up. He opted not to be first, but accurate. So he was one of the very few that held back until he could truly nail down if it was really true. Of course it wasn't and a lot of news outlets ended up with egg on their faces.
I wasn't surprised by the way Pete handled things. We both started our news careers in Wyoming. I was News Director at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne while Pete ran things up at KTWO in Casper. I got to know him professionally and he was/is one solid no-nonsense journalist. (Although he has a terrific wit!) Pete was also my predecessor on the board of directors of the Radio-Television-News Directors Association.
Pete's career later took him to Washington to work for then Congressman Dick Cheney. Pete and I got together a few times when I was in town. Always a great experience. Good journalist, even better guy. Later when Cheney became Secretary of Defense. he wisely chose Pete to become Deputy Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, aka Pentagon Spokesman. Anyone who saw his media briefings could see he was a "cool hand" under pressure. I interviewed Secretary Cheney several times and anytime I was at the Pentagon Pete was just terrific to work with in arranging things.
Pete stayed in Washington, joining NBC News. Essentially he made the leap to network news from Casper, Wyoming. Not the usual "work your way up the ladder" route but his experience working with Dick Cheney was invaluable.
Now as a consumer of news, I have to know who to trust. Pete Williams is among a very small group of journalists I do trust.
Well done Pete. But wait, there's more!
Then came the "F-Bomb" heard 'round the world. As I mentioned earlier, Pete and I started out in small markets. It's the way things work. Start small and work your way up. Such was the case with A.J. Clemente, launching his career as a news anchor in Bismark, ND. His first words on the air weren't "Good evening." Far from it. Instead not one, but two words you never, ever say on live TV. He's now a former news anchor, fired after his first and only newscast. Frankly, I was stunned when I saw it. (On Social Media of course) The most important rule in live TV is "The mic is always on." We all make mistakes, including me and I do hope he learns his lesson and gets another chance.
Stark contrasts in how do to, and not do things. Maybe A.J. should watch Pete Williams for a while.
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"
Just a week ago, reports started to surface from traditional and digital news outlets, and of course Social Media that the suspect(s) in the terror attacks were in custody. To their credit most news outlets cited, fairly, "sources close to the investigation." Having spent a couple of decades in the news business, if you trust your sources you go with the story and you don't have to name them. Especially if more than one confirms things.
But in a case like Boston, when there are multiple law enforcement agencies involved, there's a lot of stepping on toes. But the word was out, they got the bad guys. BREAKING NEWS!
Wrong. Oops.
To his credit, one reporter, NBC News Justice Correspondent Pete Williams wasn't so quick to pull the trigger. Something wasn't adding up. He opted not to be first, but accurate. So he was one of the very few that held back until he could truly nail down if it was really true. Of course it wasn't and a lot of news outlets ended up with egg on their faces.
Pete Williams-NBC News
I wasn't surprised by the way Pete handled things. We both started our news careers in Wyoming. I was News Director at KGWN-TV in Cheyenne while Pete ran things up at KTWO in Casper. I got to know him professionally and he was/is one solid no-nonsense journalist. (Although he has a terrific wit!) Pete was also my predecessor on the board of directors of the Radio-Television-News Directors Association.
Pete's career later took him to Washington to work for then Congressman Dick Cheney. Pete and I got together a few times when I was in town. Always a great experience. Good journalist, even better guy. Later when Cheney became Secretary of Defense. he wisely chose Pete to become Deputy Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, aka Pentagon Spokesman. Anyone who saw his media briefings could see he was a "cool hand" under pressure. I interviewed Secretary Cheney several times and anytime I was at the Pentagon Pete was just terrific to work with in arranging things.
Pete stayed in Washington, joining NBC News. Essentially he made the leap to network news from Casper, Wyoming. Not the usual "work your way up the ladder" route but his experience working with Dick Cheney was invaluable.
Now as a consumer of news, I have to know who to trust. Pete Williams is among a very small group of journalists I do trust.
Well done Pete. But wait, there's more!
Then came the "F-Bomb" heard 'round the world. As I mentioned earlier, Pete and I started out in small markets. It's the way things work. Start small and work your way up. Such was the case with A.J. Clemente, launching his career as a news anchor in Bismark, ND. His first words on the air weren't "Good evening." Far from it. Instead not one, but two words you never, ever say on live TV. He's now a former news anchor, fired after his first and only newscast. Frankly, I was stunned when I saw it. (On Social Media of course) The most important rule in live TV is "The mic is always on." We all make mistakes, including me and I do hope he learns his lesson and gets another chance.
(Warning! Strong language)
Stark contrasts in how do to, and not do things. Maybe A.J. should watch Pete Williams for a while.
Brian Olson
Owner/Consultant
Conversation Starters Public Relations
"We start the conversation about you!"
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