Got a rookie? Think s/he's swell? You've got till May 9th to submit said rookie to the SPJ's Rookie of the Year awards, to be announced along with the winner of the Bruce Baer award at the Oregon Zoo on May 31st. (Commence with the snarky remarks about reporters and zoos.) All the details at the SPJ's website.
SPJ: Rookie of the Year Entries Sought
So, I'm watching the 5 o'clock news tonight and leave it to KGW to do a LIVE SHOT from right outside a hotel where a suicidal man is threatening to jump. Nevermind, he could have had his TV on. BUT, Jane Smith went on to SHOW THE VIDEO OF THE MAN standing on the railing of his balcony. As a fellow journalist in town, I've never been so disgusted with our profession in my entire life. Since when do we cover suicide attempts and more importantly, who made the call to show that video.
Obviously it was a problem because the video wasn't on at 10pm.
KGW, you're a disgrace.
You're absolutely right. This was atrocious judgment on the part of their weekend news manager (likely a very green producer) and the reporter on the scene.
This is straight out of Journalism 101. You don't cover suicides and you sure as Hell don't cover them live because you can easily encourage the jumper to finish himself off as soon as he knows he has the media's attention.
I hope the community and the police department suicide negotiators jump all over KGW for this.
Where was the News Director in this decision? From what I hear, doesn't he like to brag about "Big J" Journalism at KGW? Who knew the J was for Jumpers.
(Interesting: The KGW website appears to have better sense than their on air team. There doesn't appear to be a mention of this at all online.)
If it's news, you cover it (tastefully). Your job is to inform your viewers with relevant information. Anyone want to argue this guy's stunt wasn't news? Police evacuated several floors of a downtown hotel and shut down a major street for 12 hours. It impacted a lot of people -- therefore it's worthy of coverage. Now -- did KGW show the guy on the ledge live? If so, I don't like that. On tape? Could you see his face? Was he identified? I need more info about what KGW did but please, don't say this wasn't newsworthy. It clearly was.
SPJ's Bob Chandler Rookie of the Year Award has $250 purse. FYI.
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I won this award way back when Lars was still doing news.
Did great things for my career, as I met editors and folks that really helped me become a better journalist.
I have never been one for awards, but this one actually helped me meet some people in the field who to this day still give me feedback about my work.
SPJ is a great organization and the free membership for a year was nice too. :)