Like most of my friends in news, I'm having a hard time with the live, on-air murder of WDBJ morning reporter and photog team, Adam and Alison.
They probably woke up around 2:30 a.m. Tried to not wake their loved one. Picked an outfit, poured coffee, checked emails. Her bathroom counter is likely still covered in makeup and hot rollers. Left in time to meet their interviewee at the lake.
Her family, proud to see their daughter on TV every morning, was likely watching or streaming live.
Like Adam... My boyfriend and former KESQ AM producer, Chris Di Vincenzo, watched me report live every morning from the booth. Adam's fiancée watched him die this morning. She is the morning producer. It was her last day at the station.
Like Alison... I have the pleasure of reporting for the morning news in my hometown with my best friend and partner in crime, photojournalist Christopher Flicker.
You know she was thinking: "Don't let this random guy distract you in a live shot. Stay focused and professional. The viewers can't see him." You try not to pay attention to or look directly at those people. They want attention. It happens to Flicker and me all the time in Downtown Palm Springs and DHS, for example.
I'm sick over this. I can't fathom the emotions of the newsroom, their family, friends, contacts in the community, even... Her scream; he kept rolling... They didn't stand a chance. No time to react.
There are thousands of disgruntled news employees. They don't murder people like sitting ducks.