We're Sick Folk
First posted on MySpace on March 22nd, 2006
So I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again. News people are sick individuals. See, Monday morning's show was crawling along like always. Nothing exciting had happened over the weekend and we were struggling for news, which isn't a new thing.
All of a sudden (it usually happens like that) the police scanners start going nuts. A cop comes through screaming at some guy to "drop the f*ing gun." Next thing you know a cop has been shot and I'm running for my camera.
Overall I hate covering breaking news in the morning. It's dark outside, it's cold, and since I have to edit the morning show it's a race against the clock to get video and get back to the station. This particular shoot was no picnic since the gunman was still armed, on the loose, and willing to fire. Add to that some pissed off cops with tight lips and competing stations breathing down your neck. So I shot what I could, which was crap 'cause they wouldn't let me anywhere near the real action, and went back to the station to wait for reinforcements.
Now here is the sick part. I consider myself a fairly compassionate person. And I usually wish no ill on anyone. However I can't ignore the jolt of excitement this chaos gave me. An officer of the law who serves and protects the public has been shot. We have no word on his condition. A gunman is armed and dangerous running around town. And we're back at the station giving little high-fives.
To be clear the high-fives were congratulations on our hustle and the joy of for once having a new story on a Monday morning. We would have been just as excited if a bus had flipped over or an old folk's home had burned down. Basically we have warped minds.
You can always tell who's going to make it in News. They're people who love being in the middle of things, who know what's going on. They're often referred to as "News Junkies." My Producer Tammy is one of those people. She had Monday morning off but once she heard about the shooting she was on the phone to the station, pissed no one had called and woke her up. You're never completely off-work when you work in News.
No matter how much we gripe about working at a TV station, with weird schedules and second rate equipment. The truth is, when the shit hits the fan, there's no place more addicting than a newsroom. Once you get a taste of that adrenaline high and information overload, an ordinary office job just won't cut it.
So I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again. News people are sick individuals. See, Monday morning's show was crawling along like always. Nothing exciting had happened over the weekend and we were struggling for news, which isn't a new thing.
All of a sudden (it usually happens like that) the police scanners start going nuts. A cop comes through screaming at some guy to "drop the f*ing gun." Next thing you know a cop has been shot and I'm running for my camera.
Overall I hate covering breaking news in the morning. It's dark outside, it's cold, and since I have to edit the morning show it's a race against the clock to get video and get back to the station. This particular shoot was no picnic since the gunman was still armed, on the loose, and willing to fire. Add to that some pissed off cops with tight lips and competing stations breathing down your neck. So I shot what I could, which was crap 'cause they wouldn't let me anywhere near the real action, and went back to the station to wait for reinforcements.
Now here is the sick part. I consider myself a fairly compassionate person. And I usually wish no ill on anyone. However I can't ignore the jolt of excitement this chaos gave me. An officer of the law who serves and protects the public has been shot. We have no word on his condition. A gunman is armed and dangerous running around town. And we're back at the station giving little high-fives.
To be clear the high-fives were congratulations on our hustle and the joy of for once having a new story on a Monday morning. We would have been just as excited if a bus had flipped over or an old folk's home had burned down. Basically we have warped minds.
You can always tell who's going to make it in News. They're people who love being in the middle of things, who know what's going on. They're often referred to as "News Junkies." My Producer Tammy is one of those people. She had Monday morning off but once she heard about the shooting she was on the phone to the station, pissed no one had called and woke her up. You're never completely off-work when you work in News.
No matter how much we gripe about working at a TV station, with weird schedules and second rate equipment. The truth is, when the shit hits the fan, there's no place more addicting than a newsroom. Once you get a taste of that adrenaline high and information overload, an ordinary office job just won't cut it.
posted by SassyJill at 9:42 PM
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