A print media outlet and a TV station with only one daily newscast were the first to break the news that remains found in Hummel Park were those of missing 12-year-old Omahan Amber Harris.The Omaha World-Herald newspaper's online website, Omaha.com, posted the news around 4:45 p.m. that Omaha Police had notified Harris' parents of the positive identification of their daughter's remains.
At about the same, KPTM (Cox Channel 10) was the first TV news station to break the news, with anchor Tracy Jacim delivering a special report from the news desk that a family member had confirmed to the station that the body found in a shallow grave was Amber's.
About 10 minutes later, WOWT (Cox Channel 8) interrupted the final minutes of "Jeopardy" with a special report. Reporter John Chapman revealed that two policemen had visited the Harris' at their home and that Police Chief Thomas Warren would deliver an update on DNA test results in a 5 p.m. news conference.
When Warren finally stepped in front of the microphone to begin the press conference around 5:07 p.m., KETV (Cox Channel 9) was the only station ready to broadcast it live, in its entirety. WOWT was in the midst of airing a pre-produced story about the discovery of a body in the Missouri River, while KMTV (Cox Channel 5) Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike delivered a weather forecast.
KXVO (Cox Channel 11), which has only one scheduled daily newscast, did not interrupt its programming.
WOWT acted quickly to get to live coverage of Warren's press conference from Central Police Headquarters while KMTV eventually tossed to reporter Michelle Bandur, who briefly advised viewers (via cell phone) that Warren was delivering information in a hastily-called press conference.
WOWT and KETV broadcast the press conference until its conclusion while KMTV used reporter Devon Patton, who was outside the Harris' home, to share some details from the press conference. However, it was not until the Warren's press conference was nearly finished that KMTV provided live coverage from Central Police Headquarters.
KMTV News Director Ken Dudzik and Executive Producer Mark Barmann did not respond to a request for information on why the station did not carry the press conference in its entirety. But a source close to the situation cited a "logistics problem," saying KMTV was told police would not start the press conference until all Omaha news agencies were in place.
"We raced down there (to Central Police Headquarters)," the source said. "But they started without us. We didn't have people there (to get the live shot ready) in time."
After being the first TV station to deliver the news, KPTM followed up on its special report with a phone update from reporter Julie Hong, as the press conference at Central Police Headquarters was wrapping up.
WOWT's decision to break into the final minutes of "Jeopardy" did not sit well with viewers. A woman who answered the phone at the station said the station was "flooded" with complaints.
Also:
Ketv.com’s online "Breaking News" e-mail alerted subscribers at 5:03 p.m. that "a body found in Hummel Park on May 111 (sic) appears to be that of missing Omaha 12-year-old Amber Harris." … During today's news conference, Police said the biggest break in the case came with the discovery of Harris' backpack behind a North Omaha home on Feb. 14. WOWT reporter Sheila Brummer was first on the scene that day and notified a police spokeswoman of the discovery when patrol officers were slow to arrive.
9 comments:
Sean Weide get your facts right!!! KPTM broke in before any other TV station, at least five minutes before WOWT! We confirmed it was Amber Harris' body before anybody else. And we broke in a second time while the other stations where in their 5 p.m. newscast.
OK, you fixed it. Good job. I stand corrected.
I appreciate the information provided about KPTM, which I was able to verify through a third party.
Unfortunately, I do not have four televisions in my office.
Congratulations KPTM FOX 42!!!!!!
In the spirit of competition the only people who really noticed who was first is us media types and Omaha Media UCAP? It was far to nice outside Friday to watch television all evening. But good job FOX.
But the real prize goes to the Omaha Police Department. Their plan worked beautifully. The media was stretched thin. Body found here, body search there, fire, state track, dead soldier and oh yeah lets have a press conference, NOW. Well done OPD. Well done.
Other awards should go to Chapman, Fara, Divine Devon for tap dancing at the Harris' house.
How about the shot of the chief wiping his forehead during the press conference??? Sweat'n it out? Nope he was probably thinking, "Wow our plan worked"
"wait never mind, it didn't."
Cause, Action 3 News reporter Cory Rangel asked the question of the day, no not who is it? But (not worded the same) "Why did the first press release on Amber Harris suggest she wasn't in danger" You know everyone wanted to ask it, Cory way to go. Unfortunately the OPD skirted the answer with some PR answer. And Action Action Action 3 News viewers missed Cory's glory, at least live.
Okay no more pats on the back, but considering the amount of breaking news on Friday and the fact they all got covered, I think folks did a good job. Any sideline reporter could have done better but then again we will call them just that, sorry I'll save that for another blog site.
Having been on a different story at the time (out in Iowa near the river), I was pretty much relegated from "Big Story" reporter to "Big Story" observer.
And I have to say, given the extremely stretched resources (that's almost an understatement), everyone did a phenomenal job.
Also, what is Omaha Media Ucap talking about? Farrah probably had one of her finest moments Friday. When the anchors tried to toss to Tom at OPD headquarters and realized he couldn't hear them... they went right back to Farrah, who spontaneously gave 3 minutes of meaningful insight -- not just filler -- into what the Harrises have gone through this week, until the producer finally reached Tom by cell phone. (Sorry for the run-on sentence.)
By the way, I'll be the first to admit I'm not a good live reporter. So bash me all you want. :) But at least acknowledge Farrah's far better than when she started, and continues to improve. I don't know how you can't see that.
Many of the crew here say this has been the most tragic, most hectic, and most draining news week they've experienced in years. And it's not over yet.
omaha media ucap......Ooooooh we are really scared. You'll be watching and listening. Ooooooooooh..scary.
By the way, Omaha Media Ucap, that's not to say I don't agree with you on some other stuff you've posted on your site. John, Matt and I all look like we could be high school camp counselors. Probably should stop using that Just For Men...
Congrats to 42 for good hustle. On the other hand, how lame is it to have phone reports when the police news conference is just down the street ?
Sean, thanks for writing a credible blog about the nuts and bolts of the news media.
Re: Omaha Media U.C.A.P., what an asinine blog! Maybe a better use for the collective brilliance of the pot shot bloggers would be to figure out where Omaha's 59 missing children are or how each child regardless of race or economic status gets a quality education?!
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