How do things make the news?

[Disney1fan2002]

I just heard a preview for the news coming up at 10PM. They said a 5yo girl falls from the 2nd story of her family's home and survives.

OK, the same thing happened to my DD when she was 5. She moved the fan out of the window in her brother's room to sit on the windowsill, she leaned back, and the screen popped out. I was not home, and DH was mopping the kitchen floor.

I had been food shopping and when I got home my next door neighbor was standing in my driveway. He was waiting to intercept me before I went in the house so I would know what happened. When he said she fell out the window, I damn near freaked and that is when I noticed the screen on the front lawn. His wife was in the house helping my DH get her calmed down. I ran in, and she had a nasty gash on her head, and she was scraped up, because she landed in a bush. Naked as a J-bird BTW.

I took her to the hospital myself, she got 6 staples in her head. No news reporters, no major questioning from the Dr's or nurses as to why she fell, (where was myslef or my DH at the time type thing).

I will never hear this type of news again and judge the parents. I have been there, and it happens. In an instant, it happens. So, why is this family on the news to probably be ridiculed and judged, and yet, luckily, we were spared the public announcement. Could it be because we did not call EMS to the house???

BTW, we are extremely lucky to still have her with us, had she gone out the other window in the room, the cement steps to the front door would of caught her, instead of a bush.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I was wondering the same thing tonight! Today, the news was on and they were talking about a baby who was born in an elevator. In a hospital. Delivered by a nurse. Why on earth did this make the news?? My dh (a medic) delivered a baby in a parking lot, and in the hallway of the ER. He didn't make the 5 o'clock news! Must be a slow news day.

 

[katerkat]

It's because you didn't call EMS. Reporters listen to scanners to find out if the police are following anything newsworthy. Every paper I've worked at, we also call the police and several other agencies every day to see if anything newsworthy has happened. We never call the hospitals unless we already know someone is there (ie, car accident victim).

I'm glad your daughter is OK and I hope the other girl is too!

 

[Sleepy]

I often wondered that about military homecomings. Especially the Navy. FOr example, when a ship comes in from a 6 month deployment, obviously they have the news crews out that day filming. Anyone can be stopped for an interview or just make it in the quick clips of coverage. WHat I want to know is how do some families get a whole 2 minute piece a day or 2 BEFORE the ship returns? They are shown putting up the "Welcome Home" signs and discuss how difficult separation has been. In the last 15 years, I have "been there done that" with all the meetings as well as night before homecoming parties and I have NEVER seen news reporters at any of these events to pick a person from the "crowd". Just how do these few people, out of 5,000 potential spouses, get on tv to represent the feelings of everyone else? (and no, I never wanted to be on tv, was just curious how the person is chosen)

 

[Parkers_girl]

you call the news station and report it. If they find it "news-worthy"..then reporters will come out and BAM, your on the news. We've had this happen a few times in my family that's how I know.

 

[MamaLema]

When I was in grade school, a girl choked on a plum seed and our teacher basically saved her life by doing the maneuver which I can't spell. They both were on the FRONT page of the paper.

Our teacher used this opportunity to teach us how they will do stories like this on a slow news day. If something else more "important" happens, they will print it or show it instead.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

1. Tip line--someone called it in

2. Police scanner--all newsrooms have this. The assignment editor is usually listening to it--if a story sounds "newsworthy"--depending on the load that day--if a reporter is available--they will send someone to cover it. If no one is available b/c there is more pressing news that day--then it doesn't get covered.

3. Right place right time--reporter happens to be in an area of activitiy



What determines if it makes it to air--ratings, need for stories, popularity of the incident (like if it was something major).

As far as things such as ship homecomings--Press releases get "released" announcing events. usually a file is kept so the AE can pre-plan stories--or just pull out that days folder to send a reporter to an event that may be happening that day. For something such as a ship homecoming--they will do some research to "find" a touching story (or sometimes post in someway that they are looking for someone with a story to tell).


How a local story makes it to statewide or nationwide coverage---

AE's get on conference call with a statewide network (sorry--my articulation will slip as I explain this)---they do this with fellow affiliates as well as a general state wide group (I forget the name of it in Florida. It's basically a conversation of "what's goin on in your neck of the woods". If a story is of compelling interest to another agency--they will request a feed of the edited piece if available or just the raw footage. How major the event determines if anyone needs to send a field crew.

The same thing is done with the "state agency"--and that is how cross network stories will air (i.e. NBC news show--showing footage courtesy of fox).

I'm sure something happens similar to get a local story all the way to the 6:30 evening news.

Each day--a news station will receive feeds from network and CNN. The producer will get notification of what will come on certain feeds. They determine what stories from national headlines they will air. Usually it is a combination of ratings, personal interest, wow factor and what not. This is how we hear about stories from teh middle of nowhere, USA on your local news cast.


So a jumbled explanation of how what makes the news--actually makes the news.

ETA: A lot of it is ratings-but some of it is also viewer driven--what would the viewer be interested in hearing about today?