They wanted to PREACH responsibility. They were sent to Oakland yesterday in the unlikely event of an early FLOYD MURDER trial VERDICT. It didn't come down but today or tomorrow is very real possibility. There's a lot of tension out there, obviously.
This local TV NEWS person sensed that their outlet was a little too glib and they thought it would be prudent to make sure the desk person was not only aware of just how anxious was here in Oakland (pols, shop keepers, businesses, etc) but nationwide and state.
Maybe it would be good idea to talk to the fewpeople downtown; get a pulse on how everybody is coping and how much anxiety is in the air, after all, Downtown Oakland has been HIT HARD by the unrest. You would think the AE would be cool with this request. You would be wrong.
The AE told the staffer to just stick with the basics. Not to look for something different. Not to be responsibility-minded. I'm paraphrasing but the word was to go and just "cover the story" even though (for now) there is no story.
I know I'm being naive but I'm still surprised but not shocked at this item. I know it's a hard story to cover and the idea of a riot and unrest is frightening and disturbing, especially for Oakland. I wish the local media folks were more sensitive to all this. I wish they understood how much they fan the flames. Maybe the AE is getting heat from the ND, who knows. I do know cameras and helicopters overhead is a recipe for disaster and chaos.
"Be responsible" shouldn't be two dirty words, TV people.
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