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My Take on VA TV Live Shootings

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John Daly

John Daly

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The killings yesterday we saw on TV from Roanoke Virginia – of two TV news journalists and the wounding of an economic analyst by a nutcase racist – hits many of us in the TV business.

Remember, I was a TV news reporter in a small TV market at one time.  So this story hit home for me and many folks who were in the business who didn’t know these two journalists from Roanoke.

First, most TV stations – especially small market stations – are like a family atmosphere.  You are mostly young and you learn to pull together to make a newscast get to air.

Second, doing a live shot – what they were doing when they were shot – needs a little clarity.  Doing a live shot is fun but difficult. 

As a reporter, you are out there with no script – or the semblance of a script in your head.  As a result, you become extremely focused during the live shot -- to make sure what goes on camera looks interesting, informative, and comfortable for the audience.

If you're not in the business, this may sound a little strange but doing a live shot requires a massive amount of focus.  And to make it look easy, it takes time and experience.

That intense focus on what is happening in the camera made both those reporters even more vulnerable.
 

Based on the video, it appears neither had any inkling of what was happening until after the shots were fired.
 

The other aspect of the shooting is the fact that the shooter videotaped it on his smart phone – and then posted it to social media. Doing this shooting, one of many each day in the US, no longer common but something to look at.

My fear is others will copycat this. The next time might not be a disgruntled employee but a sicko upset with news coverage.

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