Media Fatalities?

[SamSagnella]

The public's interest in hurricanes is extremely high, especially these past few, very active, years. And while watching this coverage we've all seen reporters doing stupid stuff while being blown around in the wind...sometimes its funny, sometimes its dangerous. With Katrina having all the earmarks of the long-awaited 'BIG ONE,' does anyone else think the odds of the first real media injury or fatality are high with this dangerous landfalling hurricane. For a long time, the networks have gotten away with sending meteorological laymen into the storm to send their viewers the pictures they want to see. Unfortunately, Katrina is a powerhouse of a hurricane - and getting stronger...back down to 942mb- and there are a lot of low-lying and extremely hurricane damage-prone areas in her path. Thoughts?

[Coredesat]

Look out Jim Cantore, then.

[mvtrucking]

You can say that again Team. J/K. I wouldn't be anywhere near a Katrina landfall regardless of the fee, if I was a repoter. Unless it was from a bomb shelter.

[HurricaneBill]

I don't know. I'm sure the news reporters are smart enough to take cover when it gets very bad.

I'd hope they'd follow the same set of rules as storm chasers:

1. Do NOT jeopardize your life to get extreme footage.

2. It is NOT a rivalry with other stormchasers. You all look out for each other.

[Radar]

Maybe they should wear protective gear... Like hard hats? OR would that not be too good for ratings?

[Fego]

I'm a tv reporter in Puerto Rico. I covered a lot of hurricanes and storms (Hugo, Georges, Hortense, Jeanny, Lenin, Luis etcetera). During a hurricane I'm use to work day & night with may be 3 or 4 hours of sleep. I'm use to extreme and dangerous situations, but always keeping in mind that I need to be alive and safe so I can inform my viewers.

[T-man]

Our local Fox affiliate has reporters spending the night on Grand Isle, La.

[SamSagnella]

Maybe they should wear protective gear... Like hard hats? OR would that not be too good for ratings?

A hard hat would do soooo little to protect you during the height of a cat4+ hurricane.

[southerngreen]

we have an exhibit here (Tampa) at the Museum of Science & Industry that lets people see what minimal hurrican winds are like. you have to put on eye & ear protection and they close the door and slowly turn up the wind. people flip out in there because you literally cannot breath when it gets all the way up to hurricane force winds. sitting, you are plastered in your seat. standing, you are plastered against the wall. few people, even news persons have experienced anything like that.

i'd imagine that a hard hat or any other protective gear wouldn't be much better than standing out there naked.

[brandybugg4180]

IM watching the TWC and JIm cantore is in Biloxi MIss. I dont think he is going to NO for this one.

[CronkPSU]

i'd imagine that a hard hat or any other protective gear wouldn't be much better than standing out there naked.

hmmmmmm, i think you just came up with fox's new gimmick, any way they can push back this storms until sweeps

[bvigal]

Our local Fox affiliate has reporters spending the night on Grand Isle, La.

that's got to be about the stupidest thing I've ever heard of some silly station doing for ratings! Are they nuts?

[inotherwords]

I think Geraldo needs to be covering Bourbon Street.

[canegrl04]

I can't believe the stupidity of reporters.They think they are doing a service to the pubic,but they aren't not only are they putting themselves in danger needlessley,they encourage peole to stay behind