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The money in taping tragedy

by Adam Finley, posted Jun 27th 2005 8:51AM

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Video
Features

We've all seen the amateur footage that always seems to go along with television news coverage of police chases, accidents, and other stories of human tragedy. National Pubic Radio did an interesting piece on the folks who venture out into the mean streets to capture these moments and sell them to news affiliates. The money ain't bad, and apparently worth the risk of bodily harm. Many of these "nightcrawlers" have been accused of using human tragedy as a way of making money, but they claim they're just filming what's there. I think it may be a little of both.

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Paul Little

National Pubic Radio. Reminds one of an old Saturday night Live skit. I love this site. Ambulance Chasers should be made to watch that show where Evander Holyfield dances. Ick.

June 27 2005 at 1:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Mathieu Plante

National *Pubic* Radio, good one.

June 27 2005 at 1:50 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

TVGenius

I don't think it's exploiting tragedy. The use of stringers allows TV news departments to still have video of major events that may happen when they are understaffed, at night or on holidays. Working in a small local TV operation, we often used video from one stringer who had a knack for almost beating the fire department to house fires in the middle of the night... hmmm... :)

June 27 2005 at 10:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply