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Tuned In: TV news: speed bumps on the way to accuracy

Tuned In: TV news: speed bumps on the way to accuracy

No one doubts the competitive nature of local TV news. But sometimes stories unfold in a way that makes you wonder to what lengths a news outlet will go to get a story first and where accuracy falls among a station's priorities.

Last Friday, WPXI's Renee Kaminski reported that authorities escorted former Steelers player Santonio Holmes off a commercial airliner at Pittsburgh International Airport. Later in the day, the report changed: Mr. Holmes was not escorted off the plane but left on his own after getting scolded for not turning off his iPod as instructed by the flight crew prior to landing.

In the current, fast-moving news environment, it's inevitable that news stories will mutate over time. It's also inevitable that stations can get initial reports wrong. But how does one balance that desire for "breaking news" with some caution borne out of a desire to get the story right the first time?

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On Friday at 5 p.m., WTAE trumpeted "bogus reports" by other media outlets about Mr. Holmes' situation. In addition to WPXI, KDKA also reported the story at noon as a voice-over but did not send a reporter to the airport.

"The story changed and we changed it," said WPXI news director Mike Goldrick. "We didn't feel like we needed to correct it because we don't feel like it was wrong. The story we got, we reported, and when the story changed we reported it."

Mr. Goldrick said he felt comfortable with what the station reported initially because the reporter assured him the station had good information.

"The information we had at the time was right. The information changed," Mr. Goldrick said. "I think it's part of the world we now live in. Ten or 15 years ago we would have been able to work that story all day and break it at 5 p.m. But with the way the news cycle has changed, people want instant information. I think our viewers and your readers are willing to roll with a story as it changes."

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That's undoubtedly true in a case like 9/11 or a shooting spree, but it seems like the kind of thing savvy news consumers might have less tolerance for when it involves boorish but relatively inconsequential behavior by a professional athlete.

Sources also told KDKA that Mr. Holmes was escorted off the plane earlier in the day and the station amended the report at 5 p.m. Acting KDKA news director Anne Linaberger said she does not believe the news cycle has reached a point where outlets can afford to report stories and then plan to walk them back if they later prove inaccurate.

"One of our reporter's sources told us that and used that word ['escorted']," Ms. Linaberger said. "The county police clarified later."

Similarly, on Sunday during the marathon, KDKA reported on its website "pipe bomb detonated at Pittsburgh marathon site" in a headline, although the story itself referred to the object as "a suspected pipe bomb." It turned out to be a microwave oven with suspicious content.

"We had a police officer tell a reporter on camera it was a suspected pipe bomb," Ms. Linaberger said. "I think we were measured in our reporting. We said it was 'a suspected pipe bomb.' "

There's no question news outlets -- TV or online, which can be just as quick to get a story wrong on the first attempt -- are in a difficult position these days: Darned if they rush (and risk getting the story wrong and having a competitor rub their face in the mistake) and darned if they don't (by taking their time and getting scooped by a competitor). And then there's the age-old problem of sources simply providing inaccurate information.

Finally, from a viewer perspective, watching the sausage being made can be bad, tedious television. On Wednesday night, all three stations reported on the bomb squad getting called in after the discovery of a "grenade simulator" during a traffic stop in Ohio Township. All three TV outlets initially misidentified the vehicle involved from chopper shots and Channel 11 stayed on this story for at least a full five minutes.

"This is all being sorted out right now," said anchor David Johnson, trying to fill time. "We're learning the information along with you."

Once it quickly became clear there was no imminent threat to the general public and that the area affected by a road closure was relatively small, wouldn't it make more sense to figure out what was going on and then tell viewers rather than dragging them along for the ride? Sometimes I wish TV stations had a firm grasp on a situation before reporting bits and pieces that may or may not amount to much of a story.

Greiner out at WTAE

For more than a decade, local TV stations have put a premium on hiring younger reporters, in part to appeal to younger viewers. In the past few years, as the economy has tightened, the impetus also has been to hire less expensive reporters, which goes hand-in-hand with younger reporters.

It's an especially noticeable phenomenon in Pittsburgh, which was once a destination market but as its rank has fallen (from No. 19 to No. 23 in the past 12 years) the city has become more of a stepping-stone for younger reporters.

That's why it was refreshing when, under a previous management regime, WTAE hired veteran reporter Jon Greiner in 2000. Too bad current executives opted not to renew Mr. Greiner's contract; his final day appearing on Channel 4 was last Friday.

Mr. Greiner, a 62-year-old Weirton native, was an anomaly -- an experienced veteran reporter among a wave of young (re: cheap) hires. He said he was told the company was "going in another direction" when he got the news that his contract was not going to be renewed.

"I think I was treated fairly by the company," said Mr. Greiner. "Hearst is a good company. They weren't going to let me walk out with nothing."

He said he was not surprised by the turn of events.

"I've been in the business too long to be surprised by anything," he said. "Whenever you get new management in any business, not only TV, there are going to be changes."

News director Alex Bongiorno has been at WTAE for about a year now. She had no comment on Mr. Greiner's departure.

Mr. Greiner said he'll miss interacting with viewers, something he has done since his second day on the job when he was first recognized as a Channel 4 reporter by a viewer at the airport.

"I said, 'I just started yesterday,' and he said, 'I watch Channel 4 all the time,' " Mr. Greiner recalled. "I felt like giving him five bucks and saying, 'Thanks for watching!' It's been like that ever since. This audience is unique and I love them and I'll miss the interaction with them."

Mr. Greiner said he plans to stay in the region, but he's not sure what he'll do.

"I don't think I'm ready for the dinosaur exhibit at the Carnegie just yet," he said. "If you know of someone who is looking for a good reporter, I'll be out there."

WPXI adds translator

A year ago when American television converted to digital broadcasting, some fringe viewers found themselves unable to tune in some local channels.

Pittsburgh stations have taken steps to improve the situation. WTAE added a translator last fall on the WQED tower in Oakland to reach eastern city neighborhoods. Now WPXI has added its own translator that should benefit viewers in southeast of the city.

WPXI's relay, installed in Uniontown, is designed to improve the station's signal for viewers who watch Channel 11 over-the-air in Uniontown, Waynesburg, Morgantown and surrounding areas. Viewers in these areas will need to re-scan their digital TVs or digital-to-analog converter boxes to pick up the enhanced signal.

Channel surfing

FX has renewed "Justified" for a second season. ... ABC Family has canceled the comedy series "10 Things I Hate About You." ... Jimmy Fallon will host the 62nd prime-time Emmy Awards Aug. 29 on NBC. ... A&E renewed "Paranormal State" for a fifth season. ... On the May 15 "Saturday Night Live," Alec Baldwin will host with musical guest Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Tuned In online

In today's online TV Q&A, there are responses to questions about "The Good Wife," "White Colllar" and network shows on demand. Tuned In Journal includes posts on "Community," a new "Friday Night Lights" soundtrack and the curious case of KDKA and a mystery tape of Ben Roethlisberger. Read online TV coverage at post-gazette.com/tv.

First Published: May 7, 2010, 4:00 a.m.

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