Wednesday, April 18, 2007
How can we, as a society, prevent a shooting massacre like the one that occured on the campus of Virginia Tech from ever happening again?
There is a great deal of discussion going on about schools and what they can do to better plan for an attack.
Two days have past since this horrific shooting. Families continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones while some continue to recover, in hospitals. Meanwhile, Many VT students have opted to leave the campus and return home to their families. Tonight, we speak to one student and his family. He was on the campus when the shooting happened but has since come home to North Carolina.
As I write to all of you today, I am beginning to wonder…parents, have you spoken to your young children about the Virginia Tech shooting?
I welcome your thoughts and comments.
Jason
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/18 at 10:26 AM
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
There is the saying, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Yet, sometimes there are simply no words to speak. Instead, the pictures tell the story themselves.
Audio Slideshow: Convocation Ends With Hokie Cheer
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/17 at 10:41 AM
We now know that a 23-year old senior in the English Department of Virginia Tech is the person responsible for the shooting massacre that left thirty three people dead and dozens more injuried.
The big question now…what was the motive? It is a question that we may never get answered.
Less than twenty four hours after the shooting, the Raleigh-Durham Hokie Club is calling today a “Day of Rememberance.” The website is asking for people to wear the Virginia Tech colors of maroon and orange as a way to remember the lives lost. You can show your support by wearing a ribbon or a shirt that depicts the VT colors.
Yesterday, I blogged about how all the Media General stations are working together, as one entity. They have set up a website dedicated to the Tragedy in Blackburg. I think you’ll find it very informative. I welcome your comments about the site.
These events, as tragic as they are, always seem be a grounding point in many peoples lives. It is a shared experience that we will always have with us.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/17 at 08:07 AM
Monday, April 16, 2007
Today, all eyes were on the campus of Virginia Tech as thirty three lives were lost, another dozen injured, in what is being described as the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
The campus of Virginia Tech, located in Blacksburg, Virginia, is approximately four hours away from Raleigh. As you can imagine, TV crews from across the nation converged on this tiny town, as word spread of this devastating story.
The company that owns us also owns a number of newspapers and television stations throughout the southeast including WSLS-TV, in Roanoke Virginia. When word first broke of this shooting, we immediately began coordinating, not as individual stations, but as one big newsgathering operation. This meant sending reporters, photographers and satellite trucks from a number of Media General properties to assist.
Anytime major national breaking news happens, the company’s crews all work towards gathering and disseminating the latest facts and information to all of the stations and newspapers. The result is the ability to provide complete, comprehensive coverage.
I can’t say that I am surprised that a cell phone captured video that clearly depicts the sound of the gunshots that rang out on the campus. I will be interested to see how cell phones and other technology plays into main stream media coverage.
Check out video and coverage here.
I invite your thoughts and feedback, as always.
I’m on email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/16 at 04:51 PM
Saturday, April 14, 2007
On any given day, I will speak to several dozen PR people.
About a dozen times every day I say the words “Can you send me a press release?” In my world as an MCC, I have so many things going on at once; emails and press releases are very helpful. This is particularly true in the early mornings and late afternoons.
We are hustling to get all the last minute updates in for our producers. The producers are finalizing their shows for broadcast. It’s not uncommon during this time to have producers talking to us in one ear, managers in another ear, and a telephone on our shoulder waiting for us with usually 2 calls on hold behind the one already on the line. Meanwhile, the scanners are screaming with incidents. Press Releases allow all the MCC’s to read about your event. Having an email version of your press release allows us to easily add it to our future files.
The problem comes in when PR people want to spill a lot of information to us on the phone. As a result, conversations usually go something like this…
(Phone rings)
Jason: NBC17 Assignment Desk, this is Jason.
Caller: Hi my name is [insert name] and I am calling on behalf of [insert company name]. Do you have a second?
Jason: Sure. Go Ahead!
Caller: I’d love to tell you about an exciting story………….
Caller: (telling me about exciting story)
Caller: (still telling me about exciting story)
Caller: is this something you might be interested in?
Jason: Um…possibly. Can you email us a press release?
Caller: Sure. What’s your email address?
Jason: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Caller: Alright. It’s on its way.
Jason: Thanks, I look forward to reading it.
Got a press release? Or a news tip? The email address is .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
-Jason
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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 04/14 at 11:29 AM
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