Not the Way to Handle It

When you work as a Journalist, it is your job to cover the story.

A community near NYC was without water and they set up a central location where people could go inside and take a shower and clean up.

Nexstar’s WPIX sent a crew to cover the story and a couple of residents had an issue with it. They were asking the Photog not to shoot the people coming out of the showers. He certainly could have explained that he was doing his job and maybe just take a few minutes to engage the residents. Instead, he escalated the situation.

This post in the comment nailed it perfectly.

It is public property and the media has every right to be there. But, so do the residents who were asking him to leave.

If you take a few minutes with the residents, explain that you won’t shoot people’s faces, if they don’t want to be on camera and talk to the residents, who don’t mind being on camera, everyone should be happy.

But, this way, was not the right way.

Note: an earlier version had the wrong station listed.

@hereis_bre We have people coming in and out. People are asking to not be recorded. If folks WANT to be recorded that’s great but that is a choice. People deserve dignity this is t just a story. It’s people’s lives. Residents of Paterson have been without water for 6 days. No one wants to be broadcasted on the news and exploited for a story. We are not doing this for recognition. Cameras or no cameras, regardless situations BLM Paterson serves. Every other reporter and their camera person has respected that. Not only did this dick head continue to tell us how he doesn’t care and he’s covering the story but he also put his hands on me to make me move. I’ve never had such a negative experience with news outlets. Community will always come first. #BLMPaterson #Community @PIX11 News ♬ original sound - Bre