Famous child pilot commits suicide

[Bureau Chief]

Here locally, we have had a suicide that is gonna be tough to decide how to handle news wise. Vicki Van Meter, who made world wide headlines 10 years ago after piloting a plane across country and then across the Atlantic, has committed suicide. Normally we would not report suicides but she is a former national figure. What would you do? Report it as it came from the coroner? Or clean it up by not mentioning the cause of death?

[DoneThatToo]

Here locally, we have had a suicide that is gonna be tough to decide how to handle news wise. Vicki Van Meter, who made world wide headlines 10 years ago after piloting a plane across country and then across the Atlantic, has committed suicide. Normally we would not report suicides but she is a former national figure. What would you do? Report it as it came from the coroner? Or clean it up by not mentioning the cause of death?

I know that generally we don't cover suicides but this is a unique situation and the locals who have heard of him will want to know how this person died. And if you don't report it they will want to know why you didn't.

[ewink]

So and so was found dead late yesterday

(( FILE VO ))

They did this, and this and this and this.

(( ON CAM ))

The death has been ruled a suicide.

--
And then never mention it again.

[TVMattNYC]

So and so was found dead late yesterday

(( FILE VO ))

They did this, and this and this and this.

(( ON CAM ))

The death has been ruled a suicide.

--
And then never mention it again.

Lose the on-cam tag. Mention the suicide during the VO.

[DoneThatToo]

Lose the on-cam tag. Mention the suicide during the VO.

Would love to but consultant driven shows demand that 'control' back to the anchor at the end of each story. Result is many usless on cam tags.

[Bureau Chief]

Well the AP ran with the suicide angle so I guess we will too. Thanks.

[Produce man]

Just out of morbid curiosity, what was the cause of death?

[Bureau Chief]

357 round to the temple. Ouch.

[UpNorth]

I sometimes think that children or very young adults accomplishing big things is a bad idea - simply because you end up with a lot of them who don't know where to go from there. They spend the rest of their life never quite measuring up to "what they once were."

I hope my son spends his childhood being just average. It's so much better for his longterm well-being.

[TVMattNYC]

Would love to but consultant driven shows demand that 'control' back to the anchor at the end of each story. Result is many usless on cam tags.

It IS possible to ignore what the consultant says, from time to time.

Who's producing the show, anyway?

[WOS]

She may have been a child when she became a public figure, but indeed she became one. YES, it should be covered, and should be in the lead, for the same reason it would be if it was the downfall of any other person who reached fame as a child, like Dana Plato, for example. It's a very sad story, but in a way, I believe reporting on it could call attention to the circumstances which lead to these tragedies, such as depression, and hopefully cause others or those around them to recognize the problem and seek help. I've been through depression and suicide in my family and wish more light was shone on the problem, instead of it being swept under the rug, out of fear of embarrassment.

[adam & doctor drew]

I've always thought the "we don't report suicides" line was bogus.

if it's news that the person died, you report it.

[WeatherSlave]

She established herself as a public figure a long time ago, and stays one even when she dies. When and how she dies is newsworthy no matter how it happens. Just like a movie star from the 30s who dies of natural causes today - still woth a mention. This girl hit big just 10 years ago with a record setting feat. You bet it's news - even the cause.

[DoneThatToo]

It IS possible to ignore what the consultant says, from time to time.

Who's producing the show, anyway?

Well Producers are who answer to the ND who answers to the GM who listens to the consultants . . . . . and when you don't follow the format then the consultants blame it on not following the 'advice' which makes the GM talk to the ND who yells at the Producers who stick in useless tags!

:frustrated:

[The Fedora]

Well Producers are who answer to the ND who answers to the GM who listens to the consultants . . . . . and when you don't follow the format then the consultants blame it on not following the 'advice' which makes the GM talk to the ND who yells at the Producers who stick in useless tags!

:frustrated:

BWAHAHA...

I agree, drop the useless tags.

[TVMattNYC]

Well Producers are who answer to the ND who answers to the GM who listens to the consultants . . . . . and when you don't follow the format then the consultants blame it on not following the 'advice' which makes the GM talk to the ND who yells at the Producers who stick in useless tags!

:frustrated:

The consultants blame *what* on not following their advice?

What harm could possibly come from breaking format? Your ratings go down?

Right.

Because viewers will flee to the competition en masse because you chose to cover ALL the copy with a VO on a random story. Viewers can't STAND that sh!t.

[DoneThatToo]

The consultants blame *what* on not following their advice?

What harm could possibly come from breaking format? Your ratings go down?

Right.

Because viewers will flee to the competition en masse because you chose to cover ALL the copy with a VO on a random story. Viewers can't STAND that sh!t.


Sorry, after re-reading my post I noticed I did leave out something in the middle: . . and when you don't follow the format and ratings don't skyrocket then the consultants blame it on . . .

There does that make it better?

And what is the low man / woman (producer) on the totem pole suppose to do? I'll tell you. They do what they are told to do which means do what the consultants say to do. Heck even in your world you have to know that you follow bosses orders or generally you don't last too long . .

[TVMattNYC]

Sorry, after re-reading my post I noticed I did leave out something in the middle: . . and when you don't follow the format and ratings don't skyrocket then the consultants blame it on . . .

There does that make it better?

And what is the low man / woman (producer) on the totem pole suppose to do? I'll tell you. They do what they are told to do which means do what the consultants say to do. Heck even in your world you have to know that you follow bosses orders or generally you don't last too long . .

Soooo ... the ratings ARE skyrocketing when you do exactly as you're told?

[The Mockingbird]

Sorry, after re-reading my post I noticed I did leave out something in the middle: . . and when you don't follow the format and ratings don't skyrocket then the consultants blame it on . . .

There does that make it better?

And what is the low man / woman (producer) on the totem pole suppose to do? I'll tell you. They do what they are told to do which means do what the consultants say to do. Heck even in your world you have to know that you follow bosses orders or generally you don't last too long . .

I can't believe no one has invoked Godwin's Law yet.

[Angel's Hell]

I sometimes think that children or very young adults accomplishing big things is a bad idea - simply because you end up with a lot of them who don't know where to go from there. They spend the rest of their life never quite measuring up to "what they once were."

I hope my son spends his childhood being just average. It's so much better for his longterm well-being.

F Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, on Daisy's husband Tom, who had reached "an acute limited excellence" by age 21 and would forever be looking for the irrecoverable romance of some lost football game.

[Angel's Hell]

Read her wikipedia profile. It has her going to a local community college and majoring in criminal justice. As well as a brief stint in Moldava as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Jeez, I may be just a schmuck, but I love my University of Virginia college diploma!

[Sultanosurf]

God, I just love that adage "We don't normally report suicides." Which is just like saying a shooting was "gang-related' but not identifying the gang.

Why not just say "We decide just what news you should know." Sheesh.

[TVMattNYC]

God, I just love that adage "We don't normally report suicides." Which is just like saying a shooting was "gang-related' but not identifying the gang.

Why not just say "We decide just what news you should know." Sheesh.

OK, just to clarify ...

The policy of not reporting suicides applies to the suicides of people who are not in the public spotlight. As opposed to reporting the HOMICIDES of people who are not in the public spotlight.

Why is this so hard to understand?

[ewink]

Lose the on-cam tag. Mention the suicide during the VO.
Ah thanks.

Not bad for my very first producing attempt, I think!

[The Mockingbird]

Not to Thursday morning quarterback, but you should put the fact that it was a suicide in the lead.

[!]

Why not just say "We decide just what news you should know." Sheesh.We do.

Do YOU put everything single thing that happened every day in your newscasts? I'd love to see that show.

[TVMattNYC]

Not to Thursday morning quarterback, but you should put the fact that it was a suicide in the lead.

Sure.

If you work for Hard Copy.

[Sultanosurf]

Ah, now it's "public spotlight" suicides that we cover. Look, I have no problem with qualifying which stories run. But as said before, goofy "we don't" statements never hold water. And as much as I'm protective of victims, there have been plenty of times when that extends to not running every name of those making sex-crime accusations. "We never, ever, ah, well, Yes we do, only sometimes."

[NotImpressed]

There are famous child pilots?

[The Mockingbird]

There were until the mid 90's, when Congress made it illegal after one of them took a header. Up until then, it was a fad kicker story. "Hey look ,a seven year old can fly a plane!"

Nobody really thought about whether it was a good idea. As I recall, the media presence led to the bad call to take off in dicey weather.