on-the-news-desk

Handling a suicide call while on the news desk

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:25:23 +0100

A few minutes before the 10pm newscast started on a night in January I answered the phone and found myself talking to a woman threatening suicide.

The call didn’t start out that way. The caller wanted to leave a tip about a story we had tried to work in November. I could tell she was very upset and her story sounded…well, honestly, crazy. I have taken many conspiracy theory calls, calls from people claiming to have been implanted with a microchip by the government, and yes, even calls from a guy who said, “God here” when you answered the phone. Normally I see how insane the call is going to sound before I find a way to end the conversation.

This night though I stuck with the call because the woman was talking about an incident we had tried to confirm and work back in November. I wouldn’t call her hysterical but she wasn’t making any sense and was crying. When she finished her story I asked for her contact information so the reporter who had first worked the story could call her back. This is when the call became a suicide call.

“No!” she exclaimed. “I’m calling you to tell you my side of the story and I can’t take it anymore. Tonight I’m going to kill myself, but at least now you have my story and can put it on the news.”

My heart picked up pace as I thought of any way to keep this woman on the phone while I called for help. Because I knew where the incident had taken place, I guessed she was calling from somewhere in that county. I decided to call Boulder County dispatch.

I have no idea if what I did was right, but I outright lied to the caller. I asked if she’d hold so she could talk to a reporter who would be coming in the newsroom in a couple of minutes. She agreed to this. I put her on hold and then called dispatch.

I explained to the dispatcher was going on with the call. I told him what I could. From our conversation I had her first name. From caller ID I had her phone number. He told me someone else had called concerned about the woman but they weren’t able to track her down. He asked me to talk to her more about her story to keep her talking while he checked the phone number I had and talked to deputies in the field.

There are two phones on the news desk so I literally had both receivers to my ears as I talked to her and listened to the dispatcher. I had told the dispatcher I’d kept her on the phone under the ruse that I was finding a reporter. Eventually he told me to tell her I was transferring her to the reporter and that she needed to stay on the line to talk to the reporter. I did. Then he had me transfer her to him. I did.

That was it. I hung up both phones shaking a bit and hoping I’d done the right thing and that the woman would get help. On my way home from work a coworker called to tell me an officer with the CU Police had called for me. Once I got home I called the officer back.

He explained that they had received the call to help this woman and had found her, safe. He asked me to go over all the details again so he could understand what had happened. From what I understand CU Police had been called by Boulder Police, who had been called by the Boulder Sheriff Department. I’m not sure, but it sounds like through the phone number I was able to give them, they were able to track down her location. She must have been somewhere on the CU campus for the CU Police to be involved, but I didn’t ask.

The officer thanked me and asked if he could call again if needed. Then it was really over for me. I didn’t receive any more calls. I hope the woman is okay.
This is not the first suicide threat I’ve taken. I have taken other calls, and the news desk has received not only emails that talk of suicide, but emails that are outright death threats against others – and, no not one threat has been made against any of my coworkers. In each case I contact the proper police or sheriff department.

I know these numbers by heart and am able to just dial. Should I be calling some other number, like a suicide prevention number? I honestly don’t know. I’ve never been trained in how best to handle these situations. I’ve always gone with instinct.

Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado

Anyone know how to deprogram a producer?

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 04:36:10 +0100

It seems though I may have programmed the producers too well. I’ve written how I proudly wear the Dream Killer Tiara as I often have to tell producers they can’t have desired live shots because logistically they’re just not possible. Everyone knows though that I, and the others on the news desk, work hard to make all the requests come true.

So I was quite surprised yesterday when a producer cancelled a live shot without even talking to me about a way to make it happen. "You’ve got me so programmed, you dream killer, I didn’t even think to ask," said the producer in surprise when I told him I had already put a back-up plan to save the live shot in place.

(With my best sad face) "What? You doubt me?" Blink. Blink.

In all seriousness, everything was fine. I had already paged the crew with the alternate plan once the live truck failed. I was just about to tell another photographer to take a truck quick-as-a-bunny to the live location. There was time to have a little fun with the producer with a little guilt trip!

Sometimes there are easy solutions when plans fall apart. Sometimes the plans aren’t so easy. Sometimes the only plan is to scrap the plan and come back to the station. The plan is ALWAYS do whatever it takes to get the story ON THE AIR ON TIME.

We all work to make it happen. I’m glad the producer understands that he/she may not always get the requested shot, but I should at least be asked about rescuing it. Anyone know how to de-program a producer, just the tiniest bit? Maybe just add an insert in the thought process "Ask Misty (or whomever is on the desk) if it can work"? I can't have a this happen again!

I'm not sure I'll ever believe in UFOs now

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:51:11 +0100

“I’m in Longmont. Have you received any calls on lights in the sky? My wife and I and two or three others saw this light that looked like a shooting start until it split into two and then crisscrossed each other until the lights faded out!”

The caller went on to explain more about the lights. He said Longmont Police had said the lights were from pyrotechnic skydivers but that he didn’t believe it. I told him that I couldn’t confirm that but there was a group of pyrotechnic skydivers that have been doing shows over the past few weeks.

The first I heard of this group was the night Broncos played Monday Night Football at Invesco Field. The phones rang off the hook that night. People were convinced something from space, alien or the International Space Station, had done something to hover and fall out of the sky.

I took a few more calls about the lights. I talked to Longmont Police who said for sure the lights were the skydiving group for a Christmas event at a local park. A friend on Twitter saw the show and told me how great the skydivers were. There was no doubt this was the source of the lights.

I have spent the last few weeks taking these lights in the sky calls. I’ve been able to find the source of each instance from the leonid Meteor Shower to the pyrotechnic skydivers. I know I’m in the business of facts and all, but a little part of me feels cheated, like I just found out Santa wasn’t real or not. I’ve never believed in UFOs, but now I feel like I don’t even have to the chance to believe. Crazy, eh?

YouTube video of the Denver Broncos Thunderstorm Skydivers.

With some callers all I hear is Mrs. Donovan, Charlie Brown's teacher

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:51:52 +0100

“CBS4 News this is Misty.”

“I don’t understand why you media won’t ask Obama the hard questions on why we’re still in Afghanistan. No one wants to be there. I want you to ask…” The caller went on with question after question. I tried to interrupt a couple of times, but wasn’t heard.

Finally he took a breath. “Sir, I can’t ask these questions for you. I…”

He cut me off, “Don’t sass me young lady. I was talking. I know what you can do. You’re the media. You need to ask these questions!”

Off he went with his rant. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get a word in edgewise. No one specifically needed me in the newsroom. He wasn’t cussing at me. I resigned myself to sitting on the call. I sighed and cradled the phone between my neck and head, but not really to my ear.

He continued. What I heard was, “Wah, wah, wah. Wah wah wah WAHHH. WAH WAH WAH! You ask him or you should find another job!” Click.

I looked at the clock as I hung up the phone and sighed again. I had less than an hour left in my shift. I calculated with drive time, dinner and plans with my boys until bedtime how long it would be until I would have a glass of wine. With that glass of wine I would yet again question the sanity or the logic, lack-there-of, of those who call the station with irrational expectations and demands.

Caller makes me Thankful

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:06:41 +0100

I found myself explaining to a woman over the phone how to share a link on her facebook page tonight. Then I found myself kicking myself for the internal sigh I had when the woman asked me to her. The conversation ended with her crying and with me holding back my own tears.

The woman called to ask if there was a way to get a copy of a story that the station aired. She was watching it on her computer and wanted a copy for her and her mom. I started to explain that the newsroom administrator handles video requests. She stopped me to ask if she could just copy the video from the Web site.

I didn’t understand if she meant if there was a way she could embed the video on another site, or if she meant if there was a way she herself could record the video to a DVD. “Well, (pause), no ma’am there’s really no way for you to record the video yourself. Unfortunately, only the newsroom administrator can take your video request.”

“So there’s no way I can share the video? I’m clicking the share button on the video. Can’t I put the video on facebook?” she asked.

“Oh, yes of course you can share the link on facebook, ma’am.”

“How do I do that? Do I start on your site or on facebook?”

Internally I sighed. I admit I didn’t want to take the time to explain how to share a link on facebook. Before I answered the phone I’d been asked to confirm a stabbing report and make sure we had permission to go live from a certain location in the 10pm news. I took a breath and buckled down for what could be quite a long phone conversation.

Step by step I took her through it. She checked to make sure it worked. Then she started to cry.

She explained she was the sister of the soldier the station featured today returning home after being injured in Iraq. She and her mother live in California and were not able to be in Denver when he returned home. She told me how wonderful it was to be able to see her brother being greeted at the airport by family and friends. The video made it all real. She said when her mother cried after watching the story she decided to call to ask about the video.

She needed to share her joy. She needed to tell someone the fear she and her mother have had ever since learning their brother/son had been injured in September. I was the one on the phone so she told me. She talked of some of the tragedies the family has experienced over the last year, which includes losing a home in the California wildfires and the passing of her father.

She cried and laughed in sorrow, in relief and in joy. I’m just the person who answered the phone, yet I got to experience a tiny part of these emotions with her. I fought back my tears through the end of the call.

When she was over I thought, “Thank you for letting me answer the phone.” As emotional as hearing all she had to pour out was, I am truly glad I listened. I’m glad I didn’t turn her away when I had work to do. Beyond being thankful for a job, sometimes being on the news desk shows me much for which to be thankful.

I am the Dream Killer and the Saboteur

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 01:32:11 +0100

“Misty, I blame you!” exclaimed the producer half in jest half in frustration. “All these weird truck problems are all you!”

“Yep, that’s me. I caused the tire to go flat,” I responded with a laugh.

Sometimes when it seems all is going wrong, all you can do is make a joke out of it as you work to make sure the viewer would never know what obstacles with which you’re dealing. Tonight it was a flat tire on a live truck. The truck was already in position for the 5pm newscast live shot, but it was supposed to then move to a different location for a 6pm live shot.

The photographer who called said, “We broke another truck, but I have a backup plan.” His plan was good. I approved it and explained the changes to the producers.

The backup plan is what made our joking conversation possible. If there had been no other plan; if I had to cancel the live shot, there wouldn’t have been any joking. Scripts would have had to be changed. Camera blocking would have had to be changed. When these instances happen, the joking doesn’t happen until much later. Usually humor can eventually be found in the worst of situations.

Sometimes I think this humor is what keeps us all sane in the newsroom.

One nickname I already have in the newsroom is “Dream Killer” because there are times I have to pop the dreams of the producers. Producers have grand plans and pictures in their head of how their newscasts should go. Sometimes their dreams are too grand and I have to say no.

Now I fear I have another nickname, “Saboteur,” because as the joking about the live trucks kept rolling I quickly went from getting all of the proverbial blame to becoming the mastermind behind an elaborate sabotage plan. Why I would ever want to sabotage anything is beyond me. When plans break it falls on me and my coworkers on the assignment desk to fix them. Those episodes cause panic, stress and adrenaline rushes. They lead me home to an extra dirty vodka martini.

I know it’s all a joke. I know humor is essential. So now I proudly wear the Dream Killer tiara and the Saboteur name badge. I just gotta figure out some sort of really cool undercover spy-type gear that would make this Saboteur gig even better!

Internet Silent: The night the Internet crashed

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:29:19 +0100

Tonight has been a busy news night. Nothing could be considered huge breaking news, but it was enough to keep me busy in the newsroom and on Twitter sharing information. Rewind 24-hours and I wouldn’t have been able to Tweet. There was a company-wide, seriously coast to coast, Internet outage that lasted hours. While I was on the news desk during the outage, it was very calm news wise and I found myself thinking, “huh, I’m not going crazy by not being able to Twitter.”

After tonight though I know I would have been agitated beyond belief if the Internet outage had been tonight and I wasn’t able to tweet. This is just a sample of my stream from tonight.

At the time of the outage though, in a calm newsroom, I was okay. I was frustrated I couldn’t get an updated news release from Oregon State Patrol that was published on a Web site. Thankfully, a Portland station called just as I was going to call OSP for information. I think my conversation went something like this:
“Oh my, you would not believe it but we’ve lost Internet! I can’t believe I’m asking this, but do you still have a fax machine and if so would you be willing to fax me that press release?”

The producer just laughed at the situation, printed the release, walked to the fax machine and sent it to me. Once I had that release, there was nothing more I needed that was Internet based. I did some writing. I read the Associated Press Wires every few minutes or so. My coworkers and I lamented on what life was before the Internet and how boring life is without it.

The Web producer was going crazy because she couldn’t do a thing to update the station Web site. Email, all company programs, and even Web based video servers were down. Other stations called me to see how bad it was for us. We were lucky. We didn’t need any more video feeds for the newscast. Other stations were not so lucky. Eventually the company reverted to the old days of satellite feeds. (When I say old days, I mean like less than a year ago!)

Overall we were fine. We were able to joke about it; while being annoyed by it. It showed us how much we depend on the Internet; yet we can still function without it. Thank goodness for the fax machine and satellite feeds.

The lesson I learned was to always have my cell phone fully charged. While some of my coworkers found relief in being able to check facebook on their phones, my phone didn’t have enough battery to open anything. I was truly Internet silent for over three hours before I got home and had Internet available again. I didn’t even touch the computer though. I just plugged in my phone, watched some TV and went to bed. I found it comforting that Internet was there if I needed it, but I didn’t feel a need to get on it.

Don’t forget how I started this post though. If the night hadn’t been calm, this would be a completely different story!

"I've been stabbed! uh, I mean I stabbed myself" and the news coverage

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:12:09 +0100

Monday night (Nov. 2) after 6 p.m. I heard a call to respond to a stabbing in Jefferson County. Several agencies were called to send crews, including K-9, set up a perimeter to search for suspects. Immediately my new antennas went up and I was on alert. I had few crews – let me rephrase – NO crews, available to send to just check out the scene. I needed information and I needed logistic plans A – D.

I waited a few minutes to give dispatchers enough time to do their jobs before I bothered them. Unfortunately the dispatcher I spoke with refused to page anyone to call me with information. I asked which Public Information Officer I should call. She told me that one wasn’t assigned and hung up. Normally when a call goes this well with dispatch it’s a signal that the situation is a possible something. If the situation is nothing, most dispatchers are up front and tell me so.

I waited 15 to 20 minutes before I called back. In the meantime I monitored the scanner and came up with various coverage plans. I discussed options with the producers, but without ANY confirmed information there was no way any crew was going to be reassigned. My alternative suggestion was overtime for a photographer just getting off shift.

I called dispatch again. I was told a PIO from the Edgewater Police Department would be assigned in a half an hour. When a PIO is called in after hours to respond to a scene, the scene is something. I updated the executive producer and asked to send a photographer on overtime to the scene. Within minutes the photographer was on his way.

The photographer called a couple of times after arriving on scene to give updates of what was happening, which wasn’t much. The police response had died down dramatically. There was confusion as to where the reported stabbing had occurred. With this information I knew the situation wasn’t big. Still I asked the photographer to wait for the PIO to arrive on scene and to do an interview with the PIO.

Two and a half hours later, an hour and half or more of overtime, we had the video and interview. A short segment was put in the 10 p.m. newscast. At 10:30 p.m. the PIO called to tell me the victim had made the whole thing up and had stabbed himself. A press release was being sent to the news desk. *SIGH*

Cops: Man Stabbed Self To Get Out Of Work made headlines on Tuesday. Twenty-four hours later it was the lead story for one of the local 9 p.m. newscasts. (Just to be clear it only got a few seconds on CBS4 News.) It was the water cooler story; the here’s your sign story; the joke story of the day.

For me, the producers and especially for the photographer kept on overtime, it wasn’t funny. It was aggravating and received many eye rolls of exasperation. It felt like a waste, yet it wasn’t. Even though it was a hoax, it was still news. Yes my brain hurt from trying to figure out how to cover it, and it cost the station overtime pay, but the fact that it was a hoax was the story.

By mid afternoon Tuesday the story of the man who stabbed himself and claimed to have been attacked and robbed just because he didn’t want to go to work, was the most commented story on the Denver Post. There was no denying this story got people to click, to read and to watch. Does this sound familiar?

The Balloon Boy Hoax is the same, yet on a much larger scale. The same principals of evaluate the limited information and follow the information through is the exact same. Follow through on the story is the exact same. It's all the same stress, aggravation and effort.

We do our job and never know exactly where a story will lead us. In today’s instant news world via the Internet and Social Media Networks, more and more of these kinds of stories will surface. Whether it’s the man on the street who witnesses something and instantly Tweets or the news reporter reporting live during breaking news, the information is given out as it’s received and perceived. Eventually though the witness can contribute no more to the story. It becomes the responsibility of the journalist to follow the story through.

Seriously, butter? A letter to the bowl owner.

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:27:22 +0100

I noticed last night as I was leaving that there was a bowl with a stick of butter in it on the desk behind the assignment desk. I don’t remember the exact phrase I said, but as I grabbed my coat and saw it I exclaimed something like, “seriously? Is that butter on the desk?” Then I walked away.

I figured the owner of the butter would take care of it in the morning, so I didn’t touch it. The bowl the butter is in is a nice bowl. I have lost many-a-bowl to the underbelly of the break room. By leaving the bowl I was trying to save the owner from the pains, the feeling of loss and frustration, when he/she cannot find the bowl. Besides, the bowl is sealed, any growth and contaminates the butter now has is contained, right?

It’s almost 24-hours since I first noticed the butter in the bowl. IT’S STILL THERE. I’m sorry bowl owner. I hate that I could potentially be causing you to feel confusion and loss when you can’t find your bowl on the back of the desk, but the butter has to go. Dear bowl owner, if you read this, I’m tossing the butter and placing your nice glass frigoverre Bormioli Rocco bowl in the dirty dishes container so it will be washed in the dishwasher. Where it goes from there, I don’t know; I’m not sure anyone truly knows where all the bowls go that get left in the break room.

~Misty

Miscommunication havoc in the newsroom; at least the viewer can't tell

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 02:49:51 +0100

I’m never sure how things like this happen, but it’s frustrating. I think there was miscommunication all around this afternoon. I say all around because the problem just wasn’t here in the newsroom. We almost missed an important story all because the right questions weren’t asked and those who were supposed to have all the details had little information themselves.

An intern answered one of the many phone calls this afternoon and was told of an upcoming press event. The event was possibly in just over 30 minutes. The intern told me there was going to be a press conference to announce upcoming free events.

I asked the intern to give me all the details. The intern admitted, “I didn’t understand what she (the caller) was saying, but I do have her number, I can call back.” With no details and a full assignment board I couldn’t just send a crew to the event location without knowing more.

The intern called back after I explained what information I needed to be able to make a decision on how, or if, to cover the event. I listened as the intern asked the questions. After a moment the intern hung up and told me a press release with all the information would be sent over immediately. The event was within minutes of the station so I waited for the email.

I waited five minutes, only 25 minutes until the possible event time, and couldn’t wait any longer. I asked the intern to give me the number so I could call. The intern asked if she could call herself to try to get the information. The intern wasn’t able to get answers so she asked me to talk to the contact. I spoke to a woman in media relations for a large organization who admitted she didn’t have any information on the event, but would have someone call me back. I asked her to at least confirm the time of the event for me. She couldn’t. I pointed out that there was little time left for me to get a crew there and asked her to make sure someone called back. The call never came.

I didn’t send a crew. All of a sudden a producer is shouting out, “did we know this?” Another media outlet was reporting new developments in a continuing story. I knew instantly this information came from the press event of which I couldn’t get clear information. The press conference obviously had absolutely nothing to do with announcing upcoming free events.

As people around me scrambled and talked loudly and asked how we missed this, I explained what happened. The producer got a crew together while I called media relations back. The same woman answered and I think she could tell by my tone I was not happy. “Hello, this is Misty from CBS4 News, there has obviously been some misunderstanding because we never received a press release and no one called back like I’d asked regarding this event. I’m sending a crew over now and I’d like someone to be there to do an interview with our reporter.” Again, she couldn’t help me, but put me on hold to find someone who could.

Finally someone in the media relations office working the event picked up the phone. He didn’t even wait for me to explain what had happened. He just said, “I know.” Then told me if I had someone there in 10 minutes we could still do the interview.

The reporter and photojournalist got the interview. We got the story. The viewer at home had no idea that the crew hadn’t attended the press conference with the rest of the media. No sweat then, right?

Wrong. I know and my heart raced with frustration as we scrambled to get the coverage we needed. It’s beyond frustrating when miscommunication happens like this and even worse that the media relations department failed as well.

This is life in the newsroom though. This is not the first time a situation like this has happened and, unfortunately, it won’t be the last. Martini anyone?!