Home > View from the Newsroom > Archives > 2006 > October > 05 > Entry
The worst news on TV
A couple of reporters were telling me this morning that KJCT last night sent a “hidden camera” into some District 51 high schools in a revealing story that showed just how easy it would be for a gunman to get into our schools.
A reporter, I’m told, wrapped a camera in a bag with the lens sticking out and then stealthily walked into the school with camera rolling and all KJCT viewers were treated to riveting waist-level footage of high school hallways. Oh, it was all very high-minded. They were doing it, they said, so people could see how easy it was to get into District 51 schools in hopes that no deadly incidents would ever happen again.
Stunning. Just simply stunning.
I wish we had thought of that. If someone around here had suggested it, I think my response would have been something like this: You wanna spend the next six months punching in school lunch menus and proofing legal notices?
But I doubt very much that anyone on this staff would recommend such a story. It serves no purpose and requires no particular journalistic skills (other than perhaps the ability to walk and carry a camera at the same time).
You bet, you can get into the schools, and until we turn them into prisons that’s the way it will be. We don’t need KJCT or anyone else telling us that. District 51 officials know that and I’m sure they are doing everything they can to make buildings as safe as they can. It seems to me our job is take a critical look at what they are doing and report on that.
School District 51 spokesman Jeff Kirtland was reportedly livid when he saw the KJCT report and suggested to one of my reporters that he might require all reporters to wear ID when entering District 51 buildings. That’s up to him. I’d suggest he just require KJCT reporters to wear it.
Comments
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By Ralphie
October 5, 2006 10:49 AM | Link to this
Can’t the reporter be prosecuted under some sexual predator law for videotaping in the bathrooms?
Somebody needs to subpeona his raw footage.
Pervert.
By Frances
October 5, 2006 5:16 PM | Link to this
No, School District 51 doesn’t do all they can to help keep the children safe at school.
(See more of my commentary on the “Opps” page. I wrote that yesterday before this column became available.)
I know there are others in this community that understand the message that I’ve been trying to communicate all these months.
There is a wave of weariness, anger, and disgust across this country more than ever about the obvious abuses of power, and there is a good majority of us again that will not allow these people who talk out both sides of their mouths a free pass any longer.
“You may fool all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” - Abraham Lincoln
P.S. See you at the next school board meeting? Maybe I’ll give KJCT-TV a call…
By ethics
October 5, 2006 6:38 PM | Link to this
He should be at least charged for trespassing. What a low-ball way to get a story. So what if his idea was “noble” (to prevent a tragedy)? Is he going to come up with the money to fund more security equipment and officers? This was the work of a short-timer who doesn’t care about our community as much as his ego and career.
By John Linko
October 6, 2006 9:29 AM | Link to this
Link
By Frances Gaylord
October 6, 2006 9:35 AM | Link to this
“Ethics” is probably right.
I didn’t see this report, so I can’t comment on its content, or what actions were taken.
I’m sorry I missed it, but I’m a reader. I rarely watch any of the local newscasts.