Normally I commend our local media reporters for doing as good a job as is possible. Unfortunately a single hallway moment has spotlighted a severe err in judgment by several local news reporters.
I was reading the Post Register’s report of Savannah Berrey being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. We all know the case was an accident involving Savannah falling asleep while smoking marijuana or shortly after smoking marijuana, and her still-burning embers were not properly disposed, causing the fire that killed her four-year-old son.
This was a genuine tragedy, and even Dane Watkins professed sympathy and compassion for Savannah. She had no malicious intent, it was just an accidental tragedy, and justice appears to have been served by her being held responsible for starting the accidental fire. Done deal, right?
Then I read the PR reporting:
‘After the verdict, Berrey and her mother were pursued by TV cameramen in the hallway of the courthouse. The two ducked into a restroom briefly to avoid the cameras. “I (expletive) hate this!” Berrey said as she tried to cover her face while leaving the courthouse.’
Say what? “…pursued by TV cameramen…”? This sounds like paparazzi!
I checked all three local news station websites for the story and related video. Here’s what I found:
- KIFI/ABC Local News 8 reporter Kristy Kircher had a report and video chasing Savannah into the restroom and afterwards down the hall. Reviewing the report and video this morning, however, I found that portion had been edited out, even in the UNCUT VIDEO version available. Why would they edit this previously reported and aired portion out later?
- KPVI/NBC Channel 6 reporter Suzanne Hobbs showed video of herself chasing Savannah down the hall into the restroom, then pursuing more after Savannah left the restroom. The KIFI video showed Suzanne getting right up to the restroom door as Savannah and her mother ran inside, indicating Suzanne was in the lead of the pack.
- KIDK/CBS Channel 3 reporter Teresa Priolo did not show video chasing Savannah, however she reported the same bit about Savannah crying in the bathroom and the KPVI video shows the KIDK reporter standing in the hall with a camera mounted on her shoulder, swinging around to also capture Savannah in her vulnerable moment.
It is not clear if the Post Register reporter was part of this paparazzi pack, or if other news outlet reporters took part.
This was a tragedy, where the defendant was responsible through negligence but not through maliciousness or premeditation. I think the reporters in this hallway acted immaturely and like paparazzi. It is things like this that cause news reporters to be called “media jackals”.
I think this behavior demonstrated a serious lack of class. When the prosecuting attorney demonstrates deeper compassion in this case than the reporters, something is wrong.
I hope to see all three media outlets apologize publicly to Savannah Berrey, apologize to their viewers, delete the offensive portion of reports and videos, and setup ethics guidelines for how they will handle these types of stories in the future.
What do you think?
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Gato got runned over by Marcus many moons ago. Be ye daft, 2486? 
Let's have a new poll, alright, Joe?
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{ 20 comments… read them below or add one }
I previously highlighted Suzanne Hobbs being honored on Oprah for her activism in getting an Idaho baby safe haven law passed:
http://idahofallz.com/2006/11/08/kpvi-6-reporter-suzanne-hobbs-on-the-oprah-show/
What would Oprah say if she saw this recent behavior? Would she bring ya’ll on to honor you?
Is this activity a proud part of the job?
As if the loss of a child weren’t bad enough for this young lady, now she is ambushed by these jackals after suffering a major setback (where a tragic accident became a felony) in court. Seems like the news vultures and the courts need to set their sights on much bigger quarry than poor lady. What a waste of taxpayer money and the news media’s time.
Nothing new by our local media.
Anyone remember a few years back when when [minor's name edited] was kidnapped from her home by some sicko whose name escapes me at the moment. [minor's name edited] managed to escape and the suspect fled police to the hills where he shot and killed a police dog before killing himself.
I remember watching channel 3 news about that and being absolutely disgusted by the vulture reporter on scene and those in the studio. They were there when [minor's name edited] called her dad and he first got the news she was safe. Quite understandably he broke down emotionally and started crying uncontrollably. Instead of letting him have some privacy the vulture from channel 3 thrust her camera right in his face wanting his reaction and the vultures at the studio were practically salivating. I haven’t watched channel 3 since and never will again so long as the vultures still work there – I’m not sure about the reporter but the studio ones still do.
I wasn’t aware of that [minor's name edited] episode. That sounds bad, on the other hand if they happened to be there and happened to be filming anyway at the moment the call came in, I cannot really fault them for continuing rolling.
I realize they have unique job pressures the rest of us do not, and most of the time I would applaud their gumption in pursuing the story.
However this lacked class, given the well-known circumstances of Savannah Berrey’s case. I’m sure reporters have done things like this before, pushing too hard in the wrong manner and realizing they made a mistake. The mistake is likely cut out from airing, thouh.
I wonder why at least two of the stations chose to air the footage? What public gain was there? Oh look the girl who made the worst mistake of her life is crying, get her!
Why also did KIFI delete the hallway/restroom part from both their text report and their video offering?
I suspect someone there finally realized (after airing and a day on the website) how poorly it represented the affiliate.
I think the reporters and/or stations owe Savannah Berrey an apology for their behavior, they should edit the offensive portions, and they should develop ethics guidelines to prevent this type of thing from happening again.
Another thing, I named three specific people in the article because they obviously reported and filmed it.
However it appeared from the two videos I saw on KIFI and KPVI that nearly every journalist in that hallway locked onto the groupthink / herd mentality and chased Savannah.
I’m sure there are other reporters not named here who helped fuel this poor choice, and they should feel ashamed of themselves even if they aren’t being publicly called out like the three who were.
Not to change the subject, but…would this lady have been prosecuted at all had she been smoking a Marlboro instead of marijuana? Just curious…
Someone claiming to represent KIFI chatted with me tonight about how I described them.
I couldn’t really get them to acknowledge or respond to the PR’s characterization of the episode, but they disagreed with the notion that there was any chase into the bathroom or afterward. They also disagreed that any video had changed.
I reviewed the KPVI site video, and I interpret chasing as when the defendant is running away and the video camera follows shaking around.
I started this article yesterday morning when I first saw the videos. I remember thinking it interesting that there were two video viewpoints in the same small hallway.
I stand by what I saw.
After reading this little blog and having a little understanding about the local news and the kind of things that go on in a newsroom, I can say that they were just doing their job. Yes, in this case it was wrong, but what about when a reporter goes to a house fire or an car accident? Something bad has happened and they put a camera there and show the world. In this area, news is hard to come by and sometimes they make something out of nothing. Now, is following someone who just lost a court case into the restroom right, no, but if they didn’t have that video and the other stations did they would get in trouble. All three stations are looking for ratings and will do almost anything to get them. In a few days this whole thing will be forgotten and people will start talking about the fireworks and how Frank Vandersloot is a tool.
i like tool. it would be cool if frank brought in tool.
I agree they probably all feel career pressures that force them to be more aggressive, I just think this went to far into being very rude.
The reporters will blame the stations, the stations will blame viewer demands, and the viewers won’t change their demands.
Joe, I hate to say this but, you just don’t get it….
The media is nobody’s friend, cheerleader, champion, or target. The media’s goal is to get the best pictures to drive the most viewership or readership to sell their ads. You think it’s bad here with a rinky-dink TV station…Try LA media that chases Paris Hilton down a hillside road.
Remeber this secret slogan: “heck, it makes great TV!”
I suppose I don’t get it.
See I think most of these criminal defendants buy their paparazzi. The way Paris Hilton leads her life buys the massive media pursuits. No problem.
Derek Tingey and Kimball Mason? They bought their media coverage.
Savannah Berrey had an accident. There was no malice and no premeditation. Yes, she was held responsible, but she was as much a victim as her son. Even Dane Watkins said as much.
The media do not have to be anyone’s friend or cheerleader to demonstrate an ounce of class.
There is no class when it comes to the media. They know good drama is what sells papers and gets tv ratings.
Everyone here is saying that she had an accident. Starting from that assumption it seems like she is an innocent victim in all this. Baloney, she is not an innocent victim at all. Her actions led to the death of a young child. Whether it was marijuana or Pal Mall’s the result is the same.
Checking the public computer at the Courthouse: Ms. Berry has 23 cases in Bonneville County. She has past convictions for Possession of Controlled Substance and Domestic Violence and Disturbing the Peace. She was placed on probation and completed drug treatment…obviously, she continued to use because it was more important to her than being a mother and a law abiding citizen.
She has numerous convictions for No Insurance and Driving without a license. She has been arrested for Kidnapping and Aggravated Assault. Obviously, not just some stay at home mom who smokes a little reefer now and then to pass the day.
As for the thread here about the media, they are hordes because the public eats this kind of garbage up. No, they should not have chased her into the bathroom, but the media, like the public enjoys this kind of TV. Until that changes the media will give us all what we want to see……unfortunately, too many of us want to see this stuff. But keep in mind that Ms. Berry is not a victim in the sense that this was all just an accident either. She opened herself upto this kind of scrutiny due to her actions—just like Kimball Mason did!
As a media person, hearing people say there is no class when it comes to the media offends me. I and my colleagues are some of the hardest working and compassionate people I know. We are just trying to do our jobs. Yes, a lot of us have “class”.
Good drama might sell papers and TV ratings in other places where there is a lot of drama. But in Idaho Falls I think that the media are more considerate than most other places I’ve been. I certainly consider our efforts to be better than “rinky-dink”.
Another thing, I had never heard the name of the victim in the Keith Hescock case until it showed up on this thread. I never saw the name in any local media.
I agree with Guest in Post #14. I had never known, seen or heard the young lady’s name before this thread. The one that got away from Keith Hescock.
My understanding was because she was a victim and a minor, the media shielded that information.
I’m not sure if someone knows her family personally, or how those details are out. Anyway, I absolutely remember this case and have to give kuddos to the media at that time.
I did not realize the situation with the minor’s name, so now that you’ve alerted me I replaced the name in both comments with “[minor's name edited]“. Such happens sometimes in public conversations. Life’s messy, clean it up kind of thing.
I am sure our local media usually display lots of class.
I’m just saying in that one moment, it appears that several reporters got into a frenzied herd mentality/groupthink and set aside their class for that moment.
Prove you have class.
Publicly apologize for that hallway incident.
That demonstrates class more than claiming you have it when there’s video evidence that does not show the reporters acting in a classy manner.
As far as the “minors name”, her first name was always public. She outed herself fully last year, at the state fair I believe, where she gave a talk about her ordeal and how she survived. All the local news stations did big stories on it and showed portions of the speech on air. I particularly remember watching Karole Honas as she was nearly moved to tears on air over the things the girl said. But I can’t find a link to one to prove that as our local news sites don’t archive so I won’t say her name anymore.
Cheers! to post #13
Individual responsibility and accountability are lost in the mad world today and in every line of work, no profession is exempt and especially in the media, they may work hard and say they care, but the results of their work show their true sentiment. Criminal or bad behavior is what it is…
Perhaps this is harsh to say, but tell me how else is this to be explained?
I have to add my two cents here: I agree whole heartedly with post #13. I was just thinking “how can she be a victim? She made this choice and I’m pretty sure it isn’t the first poor choice she’s made.” how right I was!
The only victim was that poor child.
Personal Responsibility anyone?
It is sad how we so easily regurgitate comments like “innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt” and then scarf up each little tidbit of information printed in the PR when someone is arrested and their mug shot printed on Page one with only the juicy details. They are convicted in the press before they ever see the inside of a court room. If we refused to buy and read the garbage, they’d stop printing it.