Airing info heard on scanners

[A M Anchor]

We had a question come up in the newsroom the other day. Maybe ya'll could help.

Here's the deal: breaking news, police are going crazy on the scanners calling for the bomb squad and swat team, can't get in touch with the PIO. Producer writes a script based on what he's hearing on the scanner. Do you go with it or not?

I've always been of the school of thought, you don't go on the air with information you've only heard on the scanner for numerous reasons. It's very easy to get two different calls confused, so you ehar info from one scene and think it's happening somewhere else. Also, many times it's preliminary information and not completely accurate.

Thoughts?

[Mr G]

NO

[Sir Dropham Pants]

I'll see your NO and raise you a HELL NO!
Allow me to give you a "for instance." One of the smaller city PDs channels in our area goes crazy one afternoon with chatter about a workplace shooting. There are many victims. Shooter still in the building. Roll swat, set up first aid/triage at a nearby park. Call sheriff's dept and state police for backup. Call nearby volunteer fire depts for mutual aid. More shots fired. More people down.
Newsroom switches into full breaking news mode. Call for confirmation, roll live crews, get anchors on set. By the time we actually got someone to answer the phone, we had all our reporters and photogs close to the scene, hospital or park, anchors on set, and guess what? It was all a drill.
It sounded as real as the real thing. But it was all a drill.
That's an extreme example and no news director in his/her right mind (insert joke here) would have gone on the air with just scanner traffic, no one at scene or on phone, but it makes the point. Get someone to tell you. Get it confirmed.

[ January 18, 2007, 09:35 PM: Message edited by: Sir Dropham Pants ]

[CorkySherwood]

Originally posted by Sir Dropham Pants:
I'll see your NO and raise you a HELL NO!
Allow me to give you a "for instance." One of the smaller city PDs channels in our area goes crazy one afternoon with chatter about a workplace shooting. There are many victims. Shooter still in the building. Roll swat, set up first aid/triage at a nearby park. Call sheriff's dept and state police for backup. Call nearby volunteer fire depts for mutual aid. More shots fired. More people down.
Newsroom switches into full breaking news mode. Call for confirmation, roll live crews, get anchors on set. By the time we actually got someone to answer the phone, we had all our reporters and photogs close to the scene, hospital or park, anchors on set, and guess what? It was all a drill.
It sounded as real as the real thing. But it was all a drill.
That's an extreme example and no news director in his/her right mind (insert joke here) would have gone on the air with just scanner traffic, no one at scene or on phone, but it makes the point. Get someone to tell you. Get it confirmed.10-4!!! We had a situation one morning with a kidnapping. Our station was the only one with confirmed information and we went with it, our competitor went on with information they got from the scanner and they kept saying on air "again, this is all information we're getting from the scanner." I wanted to rip the TV out of the wall. plus, I believe an old thread on here spoke of how airing scanner information without confirmation is also illegal. (not to mention, lazy journalism!!)

[Jax]

I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.

[ January 18, 2007, 10:24 PM: Message edited by: Jax ]

[Another side]

My vote is no, not now, never.

I don't believe unconfirmed, vague, non-specific reports make good television nor credible news. And I'd sure hate to have to apologize for them.

[Banned]

I like to go on air with information given to me by the smelly drunk guy who asks me for a dollar each day so he can go buy some mad dog 20/20. Yeah, I'd do that before I went with scanner talk which is 98% always wrong.

[Laughing Angel]

No, no and NO!!!

Scanner chatter is just that, CHATTER. Until you get confirmation, you don't put it on the air.

[CorkySherwood]

Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.are you serious?? that's awful...

[Michigan J. Frog]

No.

And to those of you who do, do you issue corrections when you turn out to be wrong, or do you just...sort of...not mention the story again...?

[Marty McFly]

Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.With great risk can come great reward.

[2:30]

It's ridiculous, and illegal.

Make a freakin' phone call already and confirm it. Or don't air it.

[Clever Login Name]

To be clear, I think the airing of the actual scanner traffic audio is what's illegal. Airing "information" gleaned from that traffic is simply unethical, and a risk no one ought to be willing to run.

[JoinUsForCake]

Originally posted by A M Anchor:
Do you go with it or not?
No. No. No. No. No.

Tell that green producer that putting info on-air straight from the scanner is never a good idea. There is a very good chance that initial scanner chatter turns out to be untrue. Take a breath. Slow down. Confirm. CONFIRM. CONFIRM.

[The Mockingbird]

With great risk can come great reward. O RLY?

At one of my former markets (medium sized), there was a station that was notorious for reporting scanner traffic without confirming it.

Now, at the same time (meanwhile), we had the tuner for the live shots in a different room as the control room.

There was a base model radio for talking to the guys in the field, but the producers had them at their desks too. So the 6pm producer would always radio me when he needed me to tune in a live shot.

They were pre-programmed in, it wasn't a big deal, so eventually, we just started saying random things.

One day, he radios "We need the live shot at the sceen of the crash. Is the xxxxxx county coroner en route?"

I responded with "Yes. And the NTSB too. How many body bags?"

He responded with "At least 6."

I about crapped my pants when 10 minutes later the other guys cut in with those details. They had a map, too.

[Sir Dropham Pants]

Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.What good is a vague or unspecific report?
"Something may have happened somewhere. It's not clear what exactly has happened. But again, there are unconfirmed reports of a possible breaking news situation."
Why not just wait the few minutes it takes to get your chopper or ground crews to the scene so an actual journalist can report back about what is (or isn't) happening?

[DHMH]

So 101. No. In our market, one time the police forgot to tell all of the stations that they were doing a drill...5 officers shot by a man holed up in a bank. None of the stations ran with it because they called the PD...except the ABC affil that went with it...broke into programming balls to the wall coverage for about 3 mins until they realized it was a drill. Egg on the face they had to retract... You can thank scanner traffic fot that.

[Red5]

Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.If that's true, why not wait until you have confirmation? Also, I was taught in school that reporting scanner traffic is ILLEGAL.

[News Is Broken]

Call and confirm first. If the PIO ain't talking then at least send someone to the scene, even an intern with a cell phone - anyone who can confirm with their own eyes and ears that yes this is indeed what it sounds like on the scanner.

[Sparky]

I, too thought it was illegal to report what one has heard on the scanner without confirming the information. source, especially if you announce on the air, "This is what we're hearing on the scanner." I think that kind of statement has lawsuit written all over it.

[Michigan J. Frog]

Originally posted by Marty McFly:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.With great risk can come great reward.</font>[/QUOTE]Or complete loss of credibility, a lawsuit, and termination from one's job.

[Lazlo Toth]

Originally posted by Banned:
I like to go on air with information given to me by the smelly drunk guy who asks me for a dollar each day so he can go buy some mad dog 20/20. Yeah, I'd do that before I went with scanner talk which is 98% always wrong.Sounds as if your lead anchor might have some problems.

[Fearmonger]

Never report what you hear on a scanner as a fact. A huge percentage of calls are bogus and so is a lot of the information you will hear following up on a call.

Stay away from broadcasting it live. Putting some in a package is okay as long as what's being said is verified by additional information.

These are acceptable during a live broadcast. "Police communications indicate the bomb squad was called out to that location" "Police communications indicate that authorities have established a perimeter around the shopping center as police look for suspects"

Grab license numbers and have the fearmonger type guy at your station tell you the name and address of the vehicle owner so you can use the information as an investigative tool to find people you need to interview.

Most cars used in serious crimes are stolen or have stolen plates.

[ January 19, 2007, 06:23 PM: Message edited by: Fearmonger ]

[Jax]

Originally posted by Sir Dropham Pants:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.What good is a vague or unspecific report?
"Something may have happened somewhere. It's not clear what exactly has happened. But again, there are unconfirmed reports of a possible breaking news situation."
Why not just wait the few minutes it takes to get your chopper or ground crews to the scene so an actual journalist can report back about what is (or isn't) happening?</font>[/QUOTE]For a group of journalist, reading isn't your forte...

Read my post again...

If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.

And don't tell me that you've never gone on the air with

"we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible."

So, as the guy who gathers that sort of info, what would I do?

1. Hear the initial reports of the shooting over the scanners. Verify that the channel is one where drills never happen.

2. Check my medical website. See if there is a new medical call going to the street in question.

3. Call PIO who doesn't answer and leave a message.

4. Roll ground crew, send chopper.

5. Hear the shooting victim getting transported on both the police and medical channel.

6. Chopper on scene, shows police and yellow tape going up. Ambulance leaving scene. Air unit ATLing the area.

7. Go to air with - "we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible." show chopper pictures, call police PIO back.

At this point, if you're in the middle of your newscast, and you're waiting to go to air until you get some sort of confirmation, you just got your ass kicked. So please, keep it up.

And show me the law that says it's illegal to report scanner traffic. I'm leaning towards your college teacher being an idiot.

[ January 19, 2007, 10:11 PM: Message edited by: Jax ]

[The Mockingbird]

I'm leaning more to someone being asleep that day.

It's illegal to RECORD scanner traffic.

It's unethical to REPORT scanner traffic.

The scanner is so you know there's a story happening, and maybe if you can understand that crap, where it's happening. That's it.

Here's another thing: If your competition breaks a story, you either get it confirmed and then go on with it, or you attribute it.

I can't tell you how many times the Live, Local, Late Breaking Station did that in one market I worked at, but they eventually got burned when the first station was wrong.

See, the first station can say "Hey, we screwed up. We made a mistake". The second station is reckless. And in litigation, that can win a libel case.

[CorkySherwood]

Originally posted by Jax:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Sir Dropham Pants:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.What good is a vague or unspecific report?
"Something may have happened somewhere. It's not clear what exactly has happened. But again, there are unconfirmed reports of a possible breaking news situation."
Why not just wait the few minutes it takes to get your chopper or ground crews to the scene so an actual journalist can report back about what is (or isn't) happening?</font>[/QUOTE]For a group of journalist, reading isn't your forte...

Read my post again...

If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.

And don't tell me that you've never gone on the air with

"we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible."

So, as the guy who gathers that sort of info, what would I do?

1. Hear the initial reports of the shooting over the scanners. Verify that the channel is one where drills never happen.

2. Check my medical website. See if there is a new medical call going to the street in question.

3. Call PIO who doesn't answer and leave a message.

4. Roll ground crew, send chopper.

5. Hear the shooting victim getting transported on both the police and medical channel.

6. Chopper on scene, shows police and yellow tape going up. Ambulance leaving scene. Air unit ATLing the area.

7. Go to air with - "we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible." show chopper pictures, call police PIO back.

At this point, if you're in the middle of your newscast, and you're waiting to go to air until you get some sort of confirmation, you just got your ass kicked. So please, keep it up.

And show me the law that says it's illegal to report scanner traffic. I'm leaning towards your college teacher being an idiot.</font>[/QUOTE]I'll tell you I've never gone on air with what you described above. And, we all did read what you wrote, and apparently it is our forte, because we all think you're WRONG

[Michigan J. Frog]

Originally posted by Jax:
Go to air with - "we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible." show chopper pictures, call police PIO back.What do your anchors say when it turns out to be something totally different (and with no news value)? "Never mind, we misunderstood?" No, as I said, I'll bet you just pretend like you never said anything in the first place, right?


At this point, if you're in the middle of your newscast, and you're waiting to go to air until you get some sort of confirmation, you just got your ass kicked. So please, keep it up.See, this is where we differ: I like to get the story right, whereas you want to get it on first, even if it is wrong.

Cry wolf enough, and your audience will think you're idiots. And they'll be right.

[ January 20, 2007, 05:45 AM: Message edited by: Michigan J. Frog ]

[ewink]

What I find humorous is the fact that while none of you would go on the air with scanner info covered as 'unconfirmed reports' I bet all of you would put some random idiot on air who 'saw everything' without getting what they said confirmed, or even confirming that they did, in fact, see everything...

[ January 20, 2007, 06:54 AM: Message edited by: ewink ]

[2:30]

That's one of the biggest problems for reporters and producers - and our reporters know better than to just put on some random lens lice. The trick, of course, is to figure out who actually DID see it, as opposed to those who claim to have.

It's not impossible - but you can get fooled from time to time.

[Steve Scott]

Count me as a No!

I've always considered the scanner to be a tip source - nothing more. And, you confirm scanner tips, just as you would confirm any other tips.

When I worked in Chicago, there would occasionally be drills at O'Hare...complete with radio communications and smoke billowing into the air. Yes, those drills sometimes made it on the air - as fact - at shops that cared more about being first than being right.

[Signature on File]

Airing "scanner traffic" is perfectly ok as long as you have recorded it. The local dispatchers here know that they are recorded and have all begun to sound like "DJ's". Here's an example:
Scripted version:
Dispatcher:.."It's 34 degrees currently at the big PO and we have partly scattered crime".
Tonight's aggravated assault calls brought to you by.."Pizza Hut"..Remember, when you feel beaten down and robbed of a good meal...you can relax thinking about a large supreme thin crispy take out or eat in pizza from Pizza Hut."......Now...Car 23...Respond to an accident with injuries at 17th and Powell....remember....State Farm is there when you need them!....Fd is on the way....Car 34 assist......Remember....Pete'stowing has the best auto body shop in town...."

[Signature on File]

"It's illegal to RECORD scanner traffic.'

Hmmm!....It's illegal to cuss on a cell phone too!!.....I don't see that being enforced too often.

[Jax]

Originally posted by CorkySherwood:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jax:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Sir Dropham Pants:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Jax:
I'll be the odd man out.

I've done it, and I'll do it again. I use discretion though.

I have the luxury of 20 photogs and a chopper. I can be anywhere in the city in about 5-15 minute. While the crew is rolling I'll work on getting info. If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.What good is a vague or unspecific report?
"Something may have happened somewhere. It's not clear what exactly has happened. But again, there are unconfirmed reports of a possible breaking news situation."
Why not just wait the few minutes it takes to get your chopper or ground crews to the scene so an actual journalist can report back about what is (or isn't) happening?</font>[/QUOTE]For a group of journalist, reading isn't your forte...

Read my post again...

If I don't have it by the time the camera gets on scene, and the pictures match what I'm seeing, I'll break in with vague "unconfirmed reports" and then update as the situation unfolds, being as unspecific as possible.

And don't tell me that you've never gone on the air with

"we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible."

So, as the guy who gathers that sort of info, what would I do?

1. Hear the initial reports of the shooting over the scanners. Verify that the channel is one where drills never happen.

2. Check my medical website. See if there is a new medical call going to the street in question.

3. Call PIO who doesn't answer and leave a message.

4. Roll ground crew, send chopper.

5. Hear the shooting victim getting transported on both the police and medical channel.

6. Chopper on scene, shows police and yellow tape going up. Ambulance leaving scene. Air unit ATLing the area.

7. Go to air with - "we're getting reports of a shooting in the area of X. We've heard a person has been shot and is being transported to the hospital. Avoid the area of X if at all possible. We have a ground crew on the scene and will bring you a live report as soon as possible." show chopper pictures, call police PIO back.

At this point, if you're in the middle of your newscast, and you're waiting to go to air until you get some sort of confirmation, you just got your ass kicked. So please, keep it up.

And show me the law that says it's illegal to report scanner traffic. I'm leaning towards your college teacher being an idiot.</font>[/QUOTE]I'll tell you I've never gone on air with what you described above. And, we all did read what you wrote, and apparently it is our forte, because we all think you're WRONG</font>[/QUOTE]So, NPR was incorrect today stating unconfirmed reports that a military chopper crashed with at least 20 on board? You would have waited?

[Jax]

Originally posted by Steve Scott:
Count me as a No!

I've always considered the scanner to be a tip source - nothing more. And, you confirm scanner tips, just as you would confirm any other tips.

When I worked in Chicago, there would occasionally be drills at O'Hare...complete with radio communications and smoke billowing into the air. Yes, those drills sometimes made it on the air - as fact - at shops that cared more about being first than being right.And that's where my situation is different. First, drills don't go on normal channels, they go on training channels. They are assigned as such and everyone knows what they are. So drills don't make it to air where I'm from.

[Michigan J. Frog]

Originally posted by Jax:
So, NPR was incorrect today stating unconfirmed reports that a military chopper crashed with at least 20 on board? You would have waited?Yes.

What if the unconfirmed reports were wrong? (In fact, they were wrong. But what if the crash turned out not be American?)

You keep avoiding that question.

[ January 21, 2007, 08:49 AM: Message edited by: Michigan J. Frog ]

[s'news]

I'm getting here late, but put me in the "no" column.

[2:30]

So, NPR was incorrect today stating unconfirmed reports that a military chopper crashed with at least 20 on board? You would have waited?
If the unconfirmed report was from scanner traffic (which it was not) then they would have been wrong. If the unconfirmed report was from people who told them they saw a crash, but the military hadn't confirmed there was a crash (a common occurrence) then they were correct in doing what they did.

And for the dope who wanted to see the law, contact your station's attorney - they'll point you to the appropriate section (she'll probably start with 18 USCS 2511(1)(a).)

[News Is Broken]

Originally posted by Fearmonger:
Grab license numbers and have the fearmonger type guy at your station tell you the name and address of the vehicle owner so you can use the information as an investigative tool to find people you need to interview. We have a fearmonger type guy?! I never knew.

[14907]

Here we go again. It is a violation of Federal Law to REBROADCAST information from a scanner without consent of the originating parties.
I'll refer you to Title 18, Chapter 119, Section 2511 of the Federal Code.
The statute doesn't care if you record the traffic, or if you make quick notes & have an anchor read it...it's against the law.
For those of you with access, I'll also refer you to an article in the March, 1998 issue of "News Photographer" magazine. Mel Stone at KVLY in Fargo does a great job of laying it all out,icluding penalties and fines IF you get caught and prosecuted.
With the current climate of the FCC and the possible fines involved, why take a chance? I know my ND & GM would be "thrilled" at the prospects (insert heavy sarcasm here) of getting "hammered" just so we could run an unconfirmed report in our newscast.