Benton Plane Crash Coverage

I was settled in for a Saturday night when I heard in the commercials, prior to various newscasts, about a plane crash. Being the weekend, I found it would be an interesting test to see how the stations can handle such a story, thinking most of their more experienced reporters and crews work during the week. All the stations had live pictures from the general area of the crash. According to the live reports, the crash happened in a remote spot so all video was of flashing lights and of deputies directing vehicles on a road and nothing of the plane. All the stations used pretty much the same sound bite it seemed and had the same elements. I will give KAKE kudos for a phone interview from an eyewitness. KAKE had former KFDI radio announcer Jared Cerullo on the scene. I don't see him much on KAKE normally except when doing Crimestoppers stories. I thought he did a pretty good job, if (like I'll assume) he hasn't done a lot of live reports before. And as had been said I think before, I think he does as good if not a better job than most of the current KAKE reporters. He kept his composure and did a decent job for the weekend. Over at KWCH, Megan Strader handled things well. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think they were the only ones to mention the fact this is the 2nd plane crash to occur in the general area in less than a week. With not a lot of information known at the time, it was a decent tie-in. Meanwhile things at KSN were a little rough and it seemed like an intern, producer or someone normally not in front of the camera did the story. A gal by the first name of Aja?? (didn't catch the last name) did the live report and she seemed inexperienced and not very confident of the information she had. I think she might be a reporter, because I saw a story she did on Friday night about WSU text messaging and it was done OK. Tonight's report was much different. I know it is what they call breaking news and all, but it definitely came off looking the worse out of the three and it wasn't even close. If KSN was caught in a situation where they didn't have a reporter available and had to go to an intern, college student, producer or whatever she is, than that is maybe somewhat understandable. Still a stretch I think for a town this size. If she is an actual reporter than through no fault of her, one must ask what is going on there to hire someone with what appears to be very little experience. That is what bureaus and smaller stations are for: allow young and inexperienced talent to develop confidence, an on-air feel and style. -Hal