The Importance of Getting the Facts Right

It seems obvious – when reporting a story the media should go to great lengths to get the facts right. For the most part, that is the case. But, too often the race to get the story on the air or on the web outweighs the importance of getting the story right. This irks me. And trust me, I feel the pressure.

As a reporter in the field, I’m constantly in a race with three other television stations, the paper, and news radio to get the story first. I need the best interviews and the best video. My story needs to stand out. Make no mistake, this is a competition.

Consider this breaking news scenario. There’s a police standoff with an armed suicidal man who’s pacing around outside his apartment complex. It goes without saying, this is a dangerous situation. This man is unstable, he has a gun, and there are a lot of innocent people living in the area who could get hurt. The SWAT team is called in. They have the area surrounded and they’re working to negotiate with this man. There’s a stalemate for hours. At hour five all the news media has left except for me and my photographer. I’m exhausted and frankly, I’m bored. That’s about to change.

I am shocked at what I see next. The subject make’s a sudden move, as if to run. Then, gunfire erupts. There are multiple shots and he appears to be hurt. I never looked away, but to be honest, I can’t say for sure what happened. Did he fire first? If so, did he shoot himself or fire at police? The first sound I heard was very loud and created a lot of smoke. I’m fairly certain that was a flash-bang often used by SWAT teams to distract a subject. I know the SWAT teams fired on him – I saw that for sure. So I think.

I call the station. We need to get this on the web. What can we report? They want the full story and I don’t have it – police have their hands full at this moment and aren’t talking. So, I’m vague. There was gunfire – the subject appears to be injured, and has been taken away in an ambulance. We’re the only station there and yet other news media start to report the story online with more in-depth information. I feel the pressure – but am not willing to cave.

I’m glad – because I eventually get the full story and feel good knowing that all morning long we’re the only station who consistently got it right. Yes, SWAT fired on the subject. It sounded like gunfire to me. You know… real bullets. We learn it was only bean bags and sponge guns that were used. Thank goodness, I didn’t say otherwise. There was only one bullet fired. The subject shot himself in the chest. Other details were misreported – he never had a hostage, was never barricaded inside a home. Yet, these are details that were reported by some again and again.

In a breaking news situation, often the public can be forgiving. They know the story is happening now, and the information may change. That’s not always the case.

On this day, neighbors and friends were angry and hostile. They were yelling at us, trying to frighten us with threats. Still, I wandered over to speak with them. They had a word for the media – liars. They listed all the misinformation on the television news. Of course, I can’t vouch for every station – but we often get lumped together. I tried my best to convince them that we work hard to get the information right. The best I can do is give viewers a chance to sound off. They know this man and they watched this unfold. Now, I say a little prayer that I get every detail correct – so when they watch my live report at noon, they know someone got it right. I want them to have a little more faith in the media. I want them to know that my colleagues are genuinely good people with good intentions – to get it right.

Old news hounds shrug off the negative attention. They tell me I should too. You can’t please all the people all the time. I find it hard to let it roll off my back.

So, what can I do? My job -- the more we focus on the facts and not just being first, I believe the more the public will trust us.

For More on This Story (including video) : Click on this link to Local 12

When The Vice President Comes to Town

One of my job perks is getting to cover high powered politicians when they come to town. There's always an air of excitement. That was certainly the case when Vice President Joe Biden visited Cincinnati this week to promote the federal stimulus package. For local bigwigs and some lucky members of the public who snagged a ticket, this is Cincinnati history in the making. Grab your camera! Maybe he will shake your hand or kiss your baby! But, for the media, coverage is an elaborate juggling act. If you drop the ball, you could be out of a story.

As you can imagine, every move the Vice President makes is carefully choreographed. The security is incredibly tight. That means reporters and photographers are kept on a tight leash. The Vice President may have delivered a 30 minute speech, but for the media this was an 8 hour event.

First, we're required to arrive several hours in advance. Mr. Biden was scheduled to arrive shortly after 10am. We were in place by 4:30 in the morning. When you drive up, you're immediately flagged down by the press coordinator who told us precisely how to park our truck (at an angle for secret service line of sight). Where to sit, where to stand, and where to set-up...it's all laid out for us. We were able to do live coverage for our morning show, previewing the Vice President's visit, but by 7am we had to leave. Leave our gear, our bags, our trucks...everything so the secret service could perform a security sweep. Bomb-sniffing dogs climb in and around our vehicles. They canvass the entire site, and we're left standing in the street to watch. This is the time to grab a bite to eat or a potty break. Trust me, as a reporter in the field, any chance to find a bathroom is of vital importance!

Ninety minutes later, the sweep is over and we're issued media passes. Once again, we're allowed on site after going through a metal detector. But, our movement is limited. I must stay in the designated press area. And once I'm in, I can't leave. Even a trip back to our truck requires an escort.

Now -- we wait. Hours pass. We talk, we twiddle our fingers, and we wonder; how late will the Vice President arrive? It's a guarantee -- these events do not start on time. But, today we're lucky, Vice President Biden is up at the podium and delivering his speech by 11 o'clock. The stage is surrounded by secret service agents -- all in suits, wearing ear pieces with their roving eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. The Vice President elicits cheers and laughter -- he's in front of a friendly crowd and they love this experience. The press tries to absorb every word, scribbling furiously on notepads and checking our watches. He's finally here -- but he better hurry up, because we have noon live shots to get too!

For some reporters this is old hat. They've been in the business for thirty years and all the hoop-jumping is a nuisance. Others still absorb the excitement -- that's me. Here's how you can tell the difference. We whip out our camera phones to grab a picture -- proof that we were there!

As quickly as the VP swooped in and rallied the crowed, he's gone. The set is quickly cleared and the event is over. In another city, the press is likely setting up, sitting and waiting. After all, the Vice President is headed there next

Shoppers Find Good Deals at Goodwill

Have you noticed lately how people brag about the bargains they find? In this economy, saving money has become a badge of honor. If you want to bargain hunt or treasure hunt, a good place to start is Goodwill. There are fourteen stores in our region. While most retailers are struggling, Goodwill is seeing a big bump in sales. Frankly, you can't beat their sales. On the day I visited the Fairfield store this week all skirts, shirts, and kids clothing were on sales for 50 cents an item. Yes, 50 cents!

I would say there are two types of shoppers that visit Goodwill or any thrift store for that matter. There are practical shoppers and fashionistas.

The practical shopper: They either need or want a good deal. Clothing is the biggest seller for Goodwill, and that's likely their target. We know that children outgrow their clothing and shoes quickly. This is a good way to fill in their wardrobe with a few new pieces. Or maybe you want to avoid a big purchase. You could grab a prom dress or a new suit for $30. The folks at The Ohio Valley Goodwill tell me they're seeing a lot of new faces -- middle class faces who are living with a tight budget.

The fashionista: This is the fashion guru who either can't afford designer labels or just loves treasure hunting. At the Fairfield store I came across a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo flats for $80. Expensive -- yes, but a lot cheaper than the $400 it would cost you at a department store. Dooney & Bourke plus Coach purses are also popular, and should be like new. Check out the jewelry cases too. I'm told after a tough breakup, some pricey items end up getting donated. You will find real gold and real diamonds. Right now, there's a Cartier watch in the cabinet!

If you don't like the idea of second hand clothing, you could always save on books, furniture, and toys. The Fairfield store had a neat ittle selection of wall art. I felt like I was browsing in HomeGoods or T.J. Maxx.

Now, lets face it. Some people just aren't second hand shoppers. That's fine. Do what I do -- donate your items, make someone else happy and in the end you'll save on your tax return! Just remember to get a receipt and keep it in a safe place until April.