Where’s the News? Gimme the News…Now!

There are times when it would be great to make contact with those who leave comments under stories on the Herald’s website. Those are anonymous, save for pseudonyms, which can be good and bad at the same time. Some publications have opted to remove that cloud of secrecy and require a real name. That would definitely take a lot of the “fun” out of life for a cadre of readers who have a great time making snide remarks about everything over which no one has control. They put Monday morning quarterbacks to shame. If only we could convey the answers to them, to explain reasons why certain things had to be done, but then, they would twist it into their own brand of “fact.”
If such remarks prove anything, it is that our readers are committed to knowing everything instantly. Sad to say, that may be the way it is in Philly or New York or Chicago, but not quite the same here in old Cape May County.
Let’s consider a story we had a couple of weeks ago that reported a missing female in Avalon surf. Actually, there was no “missing” female, since the person entered the surf and safely exited down beach, but the person who reported the incident feared she might have perished.
A widespread sea and air search ensued. Reporter Jack Fichter was there, surfside with camera in hand. If only we had a helicopter, the world would have been there. Our website was the best way to convey that breaking news story.
The comment: Why didn’t we give the name of the missing person? If only we had such magical communication gear, and could ask police (and they would have immediately know) “What’s the name of the missing person?” Even they didn’t know, so how would we know and report it? Imagine asking police, who are you looking for? Better we should ask, ‘What are the next Pick6 Lotto winning numbers?”
There are no news media on this peninsula that have aggressive, 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week news operations. Frankly, even metro stations are hard pressed, because news coverage requires manpower and that costs money. This isn’t Los Angeles or, heaven forbid, Philadelphia, that bastion of never-ending information.
No, we do not have reporters on every street corner around the clock. We do our best, but that, as some readers quickly slam us, is not good enough by their measure.
Consider there was a late night (or rather early morning) fracas in a Wildwood establishment. Two people were injured. A reader sent two photos of the outside of the place of the crowd with some rudimentary information.
Social media has made even lightning-fast reporting second best, so the word had probably flashed around the world about this upheaval while we rested upon a pillow. We’re not social media. We can’t predict or print what might be true.
When we got the e-mailed images, we sought police information. Seeking such information can be a formidable task, especially from some understaffed police departments. If only readers could join us for a day, they would better understand, but would still criticize the news we post.
Bottom line, we finally got the detective’s report and posted the information, there was a comment that went something like, “Wow, news travels fast. This happened on Sunday and was reported Tuesday.” New flash: Police departments don’t work on our deadlines. The information given can, by law, be given up to 24 hours after a request.
That proves that, regardless of the cost to taxpayers, who don’t want to pay one penny more to support their local governments (i.e. police departments), they expect immediate (or faster) reports on incidents.
From some local police departments it is virtually impossible to extract information in any manner, timely or otherwise. So, wise readers, what should be done?
Some readers are used to watching television news. They switch from channel to channel, hoping to see the next live video of death or destruction. They are used to, within a minute, seeing cops searching for bullets or looking into a crashed vehicle, then, hearing a uniformed police captain (or some other brass) report everything about the crime or accident. That is not the way it is in Cape May County. Never was, never will be.
We reporters are diligent in seeking to find facts and report them. Do we make mistakes? Yes. When we learn of them, we print a correction. Are we omni-present? No. That’s where readers can help, by alerting us.
For everyone’s information, even nonbelievers in our news values and judgment, we will not report suicides. The only exception being if the person was a “public” figure. We put ourselves in the place of a family who lost a loved one, and would want that reported. We have been criticized for not reporting suicides. Regardless, I promise, that will not change, at least on my “watch.”
There was a Spout Off last week about an accident in Lower Township that was not reported. Why? asked the spouter. Then, the conclusion was drawn, “Someone had political connections and didn’t want the crash reported.” First, the average reader doesn’t have a clue as to how many accidents take place in this county on an average day. Second, unless there is a serious injury or fatality, accidents are not news.
That’s a criteria used by State Police on Garden State Parkway. There are so many accidents along that highway, if each was reported; there would be a detachment of troopers banging out releases all day every day.
Back to the spouter’s concern, how would we know such an accident even took place? We listen to the police scanner, but that does not mean we (I) hear every call every hour of every day.
We appreciate input from readers. They keep us on our toes. All we ask is that there is an understanding that we do our best under, sometimes, very trying circumstances with those who will talk to us.
Like most of the news, we don’t like it, we simply have to report it. Readers can help us, or they can secretly ridicule the job we perform for you.