I'm very busy working, so I have just minutes to blog, but I've got to shout this out for the world to hear.
CNN's Newsnight was expanded to two hours last night (and tonight) and I caught a conversation Aaron Brown had with longtime CNN correspondent Jeanne Meserve.
She spent time here in Richmond in the early 1980's, so I've known her work a long time.
Last night, her phone report was a piece of not journalism, but of compassion, humanity, humility, and heartbrokenness.
And, for once in a situation like this, I couldn't tell you how refreshing it was to know at least one reporter had the guts to admit that they were human.
She was close to tears at the start of her report, continued on, not only to describe what she saw during the day and at that time last night, but also to relay the personal stories of her crew. Jeanne is with a cameraman and a technician.
The technician broke his foot at 9am that morning.....and proceeded to work the entire day in those horrific conditions.
The cameraman joined a rescue crew in a boat to get some video, and ended up with them for hours helping save people.
And Jeanne? She watched as people were saved, stunned, and with nowhere to go.
She saw bodies floating. She saw a dog wrapped in electric lines, electrocuting, and nothing could be done.
No one, at least no one with a heart, could have lived all that in one day, and not show their emotion by day's end.
Thank you, Jeanne Meserve. I highly doubt I'll ever hear or see a reporter file a more incredible, touching piece of journalism.
Unbelievable. And I'm so glad I got to see it.
(When the transcript is posted, I'll link to it.)
Rob
Robin Roberts who is a morning anchor on Good Morning America (gave you the show just in case you are a Today Show man) did an awesome human newscast as well. She grew up in Mississippi and went back to her old neighborhood where her family still lives. She got chocked up and by the end was in tears; it was very touching. Here is the story if you want to read it: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1082833&page=1
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