It occurred to me the other day - while hurtling toward a smoking lump of bent sheet metal - that I've become inured to calamity. When exactly it happened I'm not sure but I think my crusty photog shell fully formed somewhere between my eleventh hundred structure fire and mile marker 613. This minimum of empathy doesn't fill me with pride; neither does it stop me from tearing up at certain paint swatch commercials. Nor does it prevent me from filling up the screen with scenes some folks find repellent. It's easy: just frame up the pain and look away while you roll. While you do, consider if you yourself have been at this twisted gig too long by reviewing the...Top Ten Signs You've Covered Too Much Spot News
10) Like Pavlov's dog, you instantly wolf down whatever food is front of you at the merest squawk of a walkie-talkie.
9) You've been to more bus wrecks than ballgames.
8) You judge smoke plumes by viscosity, debris fields by style and inner city stand-offs by their proximity to affordable buffets.
7) You've been berated by folks wearing pajamas in every county your station covers.
6) More than once you've nearly plowed into your spouse's car as you roared out of your driveway en route to some stranger's midnight collision.
5) You've chased a competitor's live truck to a breaking news scene you didn't even know existed.
4) As soon as the assignment guy starts rattling his maps, you stop drop and roll your ass out of the newsroom.
3) You've cat-napped by a lake as men in dinghies dragged it.
2) You've conned your way past whole generations of volunteer firefighters.
And the number one sign you've covered too much spot news....
1) You're reading this in a building with a row of satellite dishes out back.
4 comments:
Love number 5-been there done that, a few times.
A few years back we had a serial arsonist working in our area. He'd set over 20 fires, some pretty serious, at least one with explosive potential.
I was at the latest fire when I saw the arson investigator jump in his truck and leave-fast. Okay, the only reason the arson guy leaves is because there's something better.
Turns out they had a description of a pickup, and a deputy had it stopped. Got there in time to get them getting cuffed and stuffed. It was a pair of meth-heads who were using fire as a way to cover up burglaries.
Was almost comical at the trial when the prosecutor looked at them and told the jury they'd burned down a golf course maintenance shop, destroying half a million dollars worth of equipment, to cover the theft of two string trimmers.
They will not be back in circulation for many, many years.
"8) You judge smoke plumes by viscosity, debris fields by style and inner city stand-offs by their proximity to affordable buffets."
This is so good it aches.
"You've been berated by folks wearing pajamas in every county your station covers."
Ohdeargod. So, so true.
5) I pulled a quick one to get back at a nameless competitor. We were on an endless series of follow-ups to the disappearance of a woman and two teens near Yosemite when I noticed them following me down the hill. So I punched it, reeled off on the first forest road, spun around and waited. The intern asked what was happening. The reporter said they'd never take the bait.
A few minutes later they pulled up. Photog said he knew nothing was up - but he had to follow to make sure.
Post a Comment