The feeling was similar a few moments ago when I read the latest Rowan Ford story on the KOLR-KSFX website. Apparently, the Nexstar Broadcasting stations' crack investigative team discovered that David Spears and Chris Collings, the two men accused of the brutal rape and murder of nine-year-old Rowan Ford, have MySpace pages:
On Monday, KOLR/KSFX found both of the men have MySpace webpages. Although Spears' page can only be viewed by his MySpace friends.
Collings' is open for the public to see and it shows material that many would find disturbing including a grim reaper figure holding three skulls as his background. There are several sexually deviant pictures and pornography as well as references to using drugs.
The last time Collings logged on was November 2. The day Rowan Ford disappeared from her home and was later murdered. On that day, Collings described his mood on the website using a crude term for being sexually aroused.
Every day, The Turner Report has visitors from KOLR/KSFX and the same held true on Saturday, two days before this special investigative report when this blog was the first media outlet to reveal the contents of Collings' MySpace, as well as Colleen Spears' MySpace, and the fact that David Spears' MySpace was private.
I have no problem with other outlets reporting on this and not giving credit, as long as they do their own reporting on it. To their credit, the folks at the Nexstar stations did some extra work, checking with a forensic psychologist to find out about the images on the MySpace page and what they say about Chris Collings.
But please, do not say that you "found" this and make it sound as if it was some accomplishment that was your own idea. KOAM ran the information Saturday night, and even if no one in Springfield sees KOAM, the Nexstar stations could easily have seen the same information on KY3 and KSPR, both of which ran stories on the MySpace pages.
I suppose it is just more November sweeps jockeying.
10 comments:
In Springfield, KSPR had it on Sunday night.
By Monday night, KOLR and KY3 had it on as well.
Looks like Joplin folks beat big old Springfield to the punch...and that the #1 and #2 Springfield stations were chasing after the #3...
This is getting freaking ridiculous. Who knew that bringing another legitimate news source to the market would make it so much more competitive. Every single station is introducting their stories with "exclusive" or "seen here first" or "only on Kxxx." While having the edge on another station is important, it doesn't need to be beat into the minds of viewers night after night to where THAT become sthe story. I find it embarrasing for a station when they continually have to tout themeslves. Let the stories be stories...let's not have the media's coverage become the story. You'd think this was Los Angeles or New York City.
It's three myspace pages, one of which has nothing publicly accessible. The other two basically say nothing of any real value. It's at best an attempt to keep people's interest in a story that is waning in new news.
I'm surprised to see you mention a radio station and paper in Greenfield and Lockwood. I was unaware that the people in Dade County were capable of reading or turning on a radio.
KOLR/KSFX had a debate in the newsroom over whether it was even a "story" on Saturday morning (the myspace page). They had the class to not show that junk (until Monday when KY did). I wish they hadn't even run it at all - it's not really a story to "break" by stumbling upon a web site. Boring news. Gimme something better.
a probable cause statement is not "exclusive"...it is a public document that all media people have.
myspace is not "exclusive". anyone could've found those guys on the internet.
none of the interviews with the girl's mom, stepdad or whoever are "exclusive" because it seems that those people have been stupid enough to talk with all media people.
I just clicked on all three stations. The station I least expected to have the most "EXCLUSIVE" junk was KY3 but funny thing is that they don't even have information about those guys pleading guilty
air force, you are very unaware of anything! Go back to your janitor's job & stay off a computer!
I think you're reading way too much into the word "found." Anyone can find the myspace pages. KOLR/KSFX never said they "exclusively found" the Myspace pages. That would be completely different. Instead they said exactly what they did, went online and "found" the websites. Good grief. Calm down.
First, as I've said elsewhere... this chest-thumping is really pointless if you don't have the cojones to say who you are.
Randy could just as easily pop the IP report up next to the comments... but fess up. Be as brave as your words.
Next, be proud of your work. But not at the expense of others. If this is an issue for you, do better next time. At the end of the day, it's not about what station got there first, got to put "exclusive" on their web site, or runs the promo...
your career depends on you.
Finally, every station... EVERYONE... has found good angles. It's a huge story. Why not learn from what you see (and like, but don't have class to pat a back)... and run with a new angle. Or stow it for next time.
SW MO is too small for people to get so hateful in tv /radio land.
TV land outside of SW MO is just as small as it is here. Be careful who you make angry and say mean things to or about, they just might be your boss some day.
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