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Green Line Crash Coverage
By Michael Page | May 28, 2008
At about 6:10 PM this evening, two Green Line trolleys collided in Newton. The local stations were on scene very quickly, and initiated continuous coverage. Overall, WBZ gets my vote for best coverage. Here is my opinion on everyone else (please note: this commentary is for the first hour of the coverage which went on well into the evening):
1. WBZ: They got SkyEye up in the air very quickly, and were over the scene by about 6:20 PM. They stayed with that live shot and continuous coverage through the end of the 6 PM newscast, and they also pre-empted network news and later entertainment shows. In terms of content, I thought Lisa and Jonathan anchored very well together. I was especially impressed with Jonathan and some of his insight on crashes, typical procedure and other little bits of local information. I was really rather surprised by this since he has only been with WBZ since the fall. WBZ also had witness interviews and reporters on the scene quite quickly.
2. WHDH: Channel 7 comes in second in my mind. Their initial coverage was in the form of breaking news segments during the 6 PM show. They did leave coverage for commercials though during the end of that newscast. Later on they pre-empted network news and later entertainment programming. Once they got to that continuous coverage, I thought their content was excellent. As usual, they had some of the quickest information on injuries and passenger status. Frances and Randy anchored the coverage well, with Matt Lorch covering how the T was altering routes during the crash etc.. Reporters were on the scene by phone.
3. WCVB: Channel 5 gets third place on this list. I was not blown away by their coverage on this one to be honest. They too broke into the 6 PM show with breaking news, but then continued with sports stories. They did return to the coverage and pre-empted network news and later entertainment shows. However, Sky 5 had to leave to refuel…yikes! They had to run taped footage while everyone else had live shots. However, 5 did have live shots on the ground (near the scene) from reporters, and Heather and Ed did well talking to witnesses and getting the latest on injuries and med-flight information.
4. NECN: Man, NECN looked terrible. I was shocked at how poorly they covered the story. Their coverage was full of dead air as anchors thought of something to say. Furthermore, they were totally out of the loop. Even after most other stations reported non-injured passengers had moved to a nearby station, NECN was pondering where the passengers could be. Also, they were reliant on WCVB’s Sky 5, so they too lost the live shot to refueling for a time. Their on the ground reporters were not featured too often when I was watching (especially early on), and they were sort of slow to get there considering their studio is in Newton.
5. WFXT: Crash? Something happened? They had a live stream of SkyFox online, but no on air coverage aside from a quick cut in. Of course, their scheduled newscast ended at 6 PM before the crash happened.
What did you think?
Topics: NECN, WBZ (Channel 4), WCVB (Channel 5), WFXT (Channel 25), WHDH (Channel 7) | 26 Comments »
May 28th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
If I recall correctly Sky 5 was in Cambridge covering the fire in a triple decker before they were called to the crash, and had no time to refuel.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
That may have been it. I was not watching before the crash, so I don’t know. The good news for them is that the crash scene did not change much while they were gone.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
SkyEye was there so early that Rich Kirkland had to explain what the viewer (and anchors) were seeing and give an overall layout of the crash scene.
They got initial video of the first responders actually waiting for more responders with much needed equipment to get to the area. The first 15 to 20 minutes when reviewed by authorities will stand as a training exercise of what to do while waiting for further instructions.
They caught the first ambulances arriving on both the neighborhood side and the golf course side, and we witnessed the stretchers being lined up for a triage center.
Jonathan at times rambled, Lisa did some fine set-ups for what we were seeing and what may have caused this accident, and Rich Kirkland was excellent in his concise, well explained, and experienced reporting.
When I did change to view the other channels I found Ed Harding stuttering for something to say – click – and News Seven was in commercial – click – back at WBZ 4 they had full coverage with Beth Geramo on scene.
Good work Four.
May 28th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I have watched Channels 4 and 5 for information about this incident. Of the two stations, I agree that WBZ-TV had more comprehensive, steady coverage.
Channel 25 is not a station I’d turn to in situations like this, but I’m surprised to hear that they aired normal entertainment programming as the event unfolded. This accident is a tailor-made opportunity for them to go over the top with “team coverage,” special animations and other sensationalistic stuff.
After today, WCVB will probably insist that their helicopter pilot always take along a spare container of fuel! CNN, which normally relies on WCVB for video of local news events, aired live video from Channel 7′s helicopter.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
I watched a few moments as WCVBs Jack Harper mumbled and fumbled his way through the story and even as he subscribed to the aforementioned Ed Harding School of St-t-t-tuttering. He’s from the collection of Boston anchors and reporters who just hang on wayyyyy too long. But that’s a topic for another day. Overall, the ‘Breaking News!!!!’ playground that all Boston TV stations love to play in is a recipe for disaster: Too often the anchors and reporters are left stuttering and fumbling and saying things like, ‘Officials aren’t sure’ or ‘No word yet on a cause.’ Do us a favor: Just get the essence of the story as you KNOW it out there. Go off and fill in the blanks while other programming is on. Then, come back to us later and tell us a fact-filled ‘non-stuttering’ story.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
It is worth noting that at around 10:15 WFXT aired the news that Boston.com reported the conductor had passed away. No one else had made an on air statement to say this as of 10:30.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
When I was watching WCVB, Heather made a point around 7 or 7:30 tonight noted that the emergency workers were acting as if it was a recovering mission.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Repost from UH…
TV coverage was awful. I was flipping between channels trying to find one that didn’t have airheads talking. Do these people have brains? I mean even if they are just talking heads you’d think the producers or someone behind the scenes could provide them with speculation that doesn’t sound so stupid. It was also very clear none there has ever been near the T.
Everyone kept repeating that “the green line was closed” when really only a small section of the D line was closed. Then Everyone kept thinking they were inbound trains. Did they not see what side of the tracks they were on? The direction of the setting sun? In one breath one of the airheads said they were “really” lucky to have the golf course right there but also unlucky there was no street access… what? Someone on 5 or 7 kept repeating that the “green line” was the oldest in the country. So? were the tracks rotting from under the train?
After a while I stuck to ‘BZ on Mute.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:30 am
re: 7′s coverage. first off, let my say I’m biased. with that said, 7s coverage was a little slow getting started. Once 6:30 rolled around, information going out was solid and well spread out – not too repetitive. Ground video was on early. Reporters on scene and at Newton-Wellesley hospital offered good insight. Too much talk though. No soundbites from witnesses, neighbors etc. In the entire 2 hrs of coverage, one byte from a hospital spokesperson.
Also, 7′s chopper ran out of gas at the end too. that wasn’t until after 8pm, (2+ hrs in) so no surprise.
re:channel 5′s helicopter – pretty sure it was flying already because it was on scene FAST… which is probably why it ran out of gas so early.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:16 am
The WHDH on-the-scene reporter (can’t recall the name) jumped the gun a bit when he commented, as the Med Flight chopper was leaving, something like “There’s no one on that Med Flight, so this has to be great news.” (alluding to the condition of T operator who rescuers were trying to extricate) Fortunately, the anchor desk folks did eventually comment that it could also mean bad news, and of course it was.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
What a scary scene yesterday with yesterday’s MBTA Green Line crash on the D Riverside Line and I agree that WBZ-TV had the greatest and most extensive coverage of the Green Line Crash. I feel bad for the family of the operator who was killed in the crash. Speaking of CNN, I heard that you have sent weather video of storm footage to air on CNN.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I know im going to get Blasted for this so here Goes! I personally Really Like WCVB they have (to me ) Excellent Reporters Newscasters Etc Very Classy I think its A Bit Overdone by making the post Ranking who did the Best job All the Major Stations Covered the story and they did there job And so what if A reporter Mumbled and Fumbled NO one is perfect Almost all of us have done this its not like they Wanted to give me A break to be so Petty Life is Way to Short to Get into Petty Talk about he News Copter was Not there Right away Etc the News Business is A tough Business Im sorry if i Ticked Anyone off its just how i feel And I also Respect Others Opions Thankyou Tom
May 29th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
It was BZ for me…FXT’s camera in the copter kept cutting out.
7 has no class…Brandon Rudat “The Medflight Copter has left the scene because of no more injuries or the person in the train has died” This was an hour before the poor person was pronounced.
I’ve always found coverage by air awesome…how can you take video 2000 ft up and have the picture still enough like you’re shoot 5 ft away…..luv technolgy.
May 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Brandon Rudat-if you read this RESIGN! Your are horrible reporter
May 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
7 actually only took like 2 commercial breaks; all of them unintentional. They ended their 6PM show at 6:27, then jumped to Nightly News. Around 6:32, it just cut out. For the next two minutes, it was just blank. Finally, at 6:35 7 came back on the air. They remained on the air until around 6:51 when someone in the control room played an Applebees ad by mistake. Around 7:15, Access Hollywood came on for 3 seconds, then the screen went green. A few seconds later they returned, where they stayed on the air until after 8PM, when I turned off the TV.
I found 5′s stretched helicopter picture highly distracting. I immediately turned back to 7. Fox 25 has no excuse for their lack of coverage. They are just showing the UHF stereotype- all VHF’s are on the air, while the UHF stations are continuing their normal programming.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
I’d guess the traffic helicopter, that all the stations can use, was there on scene first and is only fueled for the afternoon rush, so that’s why the coverage cut out.
7 was brutal to watch. Have Randy and Frances ever chatted with each other off air?
Kirkland and Hughes were on, I’d bet Elias has never been on the Green line and it really REALLY showed.
5 won for me. They always seem to bring Susan Wornick in to reassure the viewers. It works. I think they’re local, long standing anchors and reporters were classy. I was glued to the tv.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
OK, I just got home, so let me respond to the posts that need answers/responses:
1. Shaun: Yes, I did get video on CNN via I-Report.
2. Tom: You are totally open to hold your opinion, however, the point of this blog is to inform viewers of happenings at Boston TV News stations. The rankings for this special coverage (and for past special coverage) are just my own opinion, and I do my best to point out things that could have been done better, or which were done well. The nice thing about the blog is that viewers can comment on what they liked/disliked. I certainly know no one is perfect, but maybe these things, if pointed out, can be improved upon.
RB: I don’t think it was the metro traffic chopper on scene first…I thought it was Rich and WBZ. That said, that is not official, just my thought.
May 29th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
I think WBZ did the best, while NECN was the worst
May 29th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Roland, you don’t even live in MA, or New England for that matter How could you possibly know who did what?
May 29th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Michael –
I have five televisions on in my office. You’re intitled to your opinion about who did the best overall job… but the fact is that WCVB was first on the scene with their helicopter. As 5 was showing pictures of the crash, WBZ was showing video from their chopper as it flew to the scene.
WCVB did two hits with live video before anyone got on the air…. that’s why they had to refuel earlier. Then they did weather, sports and went back to the story. They were first on the ground with live reporters and first on the air with people who were on the train.
They were also first in the ratings – in Households and Demos… 5p, 6p and 11p
Now that you have the facts… by all means, return to your opinions about the coverage.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
I wasn’t watching at 6:10, so five certainly may have been first. In fact, I assume you are correct since you were watching them all at once…I wish I had that capibility. As I said above, I was not 100 % sure on who had the chopper there first. However, that does not impact my opinion that in this particular case, WBZ had the best coverage.
Thanks for the info.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:08 am
I agree, I thought WCVB had the best coverage, though 4′s wasn’t bad either. WCVB had reporters on the ground and on camera there FIRST, they were also the FIRST to interview the MBTA spokesperson live on the air. Their coverage of Wednesday’s events certainly was local, live coverage you can count on
May 30th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
hey channel 5 was the first to report that the victim was a female . while the other channels didn’t know and was guessing it was a male
May 31st, 2008 at 8:36 am
WBZ and Ch. 7 definitely provided viewers with up to the minute coverage and their shots were excellent (BZ’ had some blackouts.). I had two TV’s on all night flipped back and forth between 4, 5, 7. After awhile, I just gave up on Ch. 5. I like Ed Harding. But, his almost constant repetitive comments about how many years ago he used to take the Greenline back n forth out that way everyday. He kept saying telling about his old “commute” in a baffled bewildered tone too, like in an “OMG that could’ve been me” way. Whoever said the “local live coverage” comment is definitely right—and that’s why I found Ed annoying and those comments moot. Majority of folks sitting at home watching the coverage are “locals” and “T” riders. That could’ve been any of us. I understand the MBTA was not releasing any info, so after awhile their job got even tougher—there was no “new” news to report. That’s why I liked Ch. 7. There was a male reporter, not sure of his name. But, while they were showing that dramatic footage of the firefighters working so hard to save that poor woman, the male reporter was on the phone talking about how he participated in emergency type of training a few years ago in which he was played the victim and a similar situation was simulated. He talked about his own experience playing the “victim” and what it felt like being trapped and how the jaws of life, and saws, etc. were used to set him free. It was very interesting and informative. He explained the ways that firefighters try to make the victims as comfortable as possible—like putting headphones over the victim’s ears to ease the sounds the noisy saws that are cutting like 2 inches from their body and how victims are covered with certain stuff so they do not get burned from all the sparks.
It was just filler commentary but being able to listen to that as opposed to Ed’s shell shocked comments made me feel like informed. I didn’t have the latest info but I had a better sense of what was going on down there to help this woman. That’s just my two cents.
May 31st, 2008 at 11:56 am
That was Matt Lorch talking about the Jaws of Life thing. What I didn’t understand is why Ryan Schulteis was talking on the phone at the scene while Victoria Warren had a camera at the hospital. Wouldn’tve been easier to just swap?
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:42 pm
I was watching 5 because they had the first aerials. But after listening to Ed say “look at that smoke” and Heather remark “maybe they are soldering” I had to turn to 4. I never watch 7 as it is always rife with mistakes.