Studio

 

Studio

 

“Are we still on air? Are we still getting live feed from the Tower?” demanded the news director.

“We’re still on the air, but God I wish we weren’t.”

Jess was still reporting the incident from the anchor desk and following all of Helen’s tips along the way. Stay cool, keep focused, and stay alert to the directions you get through your earpiece, read hard copy before the teleprompter scripts. She handled it like a pro and was hoping to get a sign off so she could break down off camera.

“Jess, we have a crew at Hermann,” Gloria said. “We’re switching to them live now. Hold it together a few more seconds and we can go clear.”

“We switch from this tragic scene atop the Texas Commerce Tower to Hermann Hospital. Valerie Stephens is outside the entrance to the Trauma Unit and she brings us this report.”

“Jess, as our viewers know and many of us witnessed just moments ago, our own Helen Wright was seriously injured when a shot was fired into a crowd of reporters and production assistants during a promotional shoot atop the Texas Commerce Tower. Also injured was Channel 12’s camera operator Sharon Wilson who was taken to the Houston Trauma Center.

We understand that the injuries sustained to both women are life threatening. Both were air lifted from the Tower in critical condition. From what we could hear, the medics were able to stabilize both patients, but neither of them showed any signs of improvement.

From talking to the hospital PR staff at both hospitals, they have asked that we not speculate on the patients conditions at this time and a press conference will be called at 4:00 PM local time.”

“Thank you for that update, Valerie,” Jess said. “Have you been able to speak to any of the medics involved?”

“Not at this time Jess, but we do understand that one of the medics on the scene was Helen’s husband. Helen’s older daughter was clearly seen assisting her father as he fought to save her life. That has to be one of the hardest and most gruesome tasks a child could ever perform.  

“Has anyone identified the person who took the gunman down?” Jess pressed.

“We do not know the identity of that person at this time, but it appears he also was a former HFD employee who has for the past few years been living on the streets. Witnesses reported they saw this man assist in treating the patients on the rooftop. Witnesses on the scene also give this man credit for saving several lives as he saw the weapon in the gunman’s hand and shouted a warning before the single shot was fired.

“We are about over an hour and a half away from the scheduled press conference and we will cover that event live to you at 4:00 PM local time. Until then, this is Valerie Stephens for News 1. Back to you in the studio.”

“Thank you, Valerie,” Jess said. “To recap, a single shot fired into a group of news crews on top of the Texas Commerce Tower has injured our own News 1 Anchor Helen Wright and Channel 12’s camera operator Sharon Wilson. Both women were airlifted to the trauma units in the medical district in critical condition. A press conference has been scheduled for 4:00 PM local time which is about an hour and forty five minutes from now. Until then, we would like to once again air Helen’s latest story on her own two young gymnasts as they train for the Junior Olympic Regionals. We ask that you join with us in wishing this family the best of luck and if it is your belief to pray, offer up a prayer for them as well.”

“And we’re clear,” the news director said.

Jess had kept her composure well during the story, but now she could no longer keep her emotions inside. She could not even get up from the anchor desk, but she laid her head on the desk and cried openly.

“She needs this time,” Gloria told one of the PA’s who was going to try to help her leave the newsroom. “That kid did a great job with that story. I’m calling Helen’s husband to see if we have any good news.”

Jess could not help but think about the training she had in school. They teach you to be objective and not let emotions show, but Helen was the top female anchor outside the network stations and she was her mentor. That made it too personal.

She had to pull herself back together for the news conference that would come on air shortly. She raised her head from the desk, gathered the tear stained copy and tried to leave the desk to go to makeup. She did not have to leave. The makeup artist and the rest of the news crew were there with her, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the news room.

Reviews

[Yvonne Heidt]

Okay - it's all pulling together for me now. I really like the breakdown that you have going here - different POV -moving the story right along.

Great job...

Off to the next...