One of the reasons I could never get into television journalism is that I'd be terrified they'd make me one of those "on-the-spot" reporters. You know, the guy who the anchors look at on their monitors and say, "There's been a horrible infestation of malaria-infected tse tse flies in Baton Rouge, so we've covered Correspondent Brian Jones in cow manure and sent him to Louisiana. Brian, what's going on down there?" And then there's poor Brian being eaten alive by flies and saying something painfully obvious like, "Jim and Ramona, this situation is very unpleasant for local residents." If my grandmother had even a lick of technological prowess, I'd get her on here to tell you all about the flood she and her family lived through (in the 20s, I think? Ma?). The family made it to higher ground, and then my great-grandfather rowed a boat through the flood to get some things from their house. Waters were so high he rowed right up to a second-story window, opened it, and climbed into one of the upstairs bedrooms. The best part is that the house is still standing. And my grandma still lives in it. If that happened now, our news anchors would instantly die and go to Human Interest Story Heaven.
posted by Kate at 2:54 PM link/comments
