Anchor-tude

This actually took place in 2002, but I'm only finding out about it now through TV Spy's Shoptalk. Julius Hunter of KMOV-TV in St. Louis had a Howard Beale moment when he delivered a report on the funeral of a 6-year-old murder/rape victim and tagged it with an editorial riff.

From the Riverfront Times:

The video portion of the report ended with ministers asking the congregation to keep Casey's family in their prayers and the assemblage singing "Amazing Grace."

Then it was Hunter, back in the KMOV-TV studio, seated behind the news desk and facing the camera. Hunter intoned: "Twenty-four-year-old Johnny Johnson is charged tonight with first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed criminal action and attempted forcible rape. He made his first court appearance yesterday. Police say Johnson has admitted guilt in this despicable, heinous crime. He's being held tonight without bond.

"And of course we cannot convict Johnson without a trial -- he's innocent until proven guilty -- but can I just say," as he put his right hand over his heart and then extended his arm outward, "editorializing, which I can't do -- whoever committed the crime, this horrible, terrible crime, may he rot in hell."

The remark drew an overwhelming response, overwhelmingly positive.

Predictably, the audience loved it. Calls and e-mails poured into the station the next day. The first day's e-mail log tallied 63 backing Hunter's damnation and three opposed. KMOV's switchboard operator finally stopped keeping track of the calls.

I interned at KMOV in my college days, and I can tell you Julius Hunter is not one to have people sticking their heads out the window and screaming. He has earned his reporting and anchoring stripes and exhibited nothing but professionalism and kindness to everybody -- interns, reporters, producers, whoever.

He also prefaced his comments clearly as an editorial. Viewers don't mind commentary when you're up front with them. Last year, KOLD News 13's Kris Pickel offered an editorial remark after a report on a hit-and-run accident that killed a young boy. The driver was still at large and remains at large to this day. Her remarks, paraphrased: "I would like to talk to our viewers for a moment. We debated over using the interview of [the victim's young] brother. But we did it hoping that whoever did this will find it in their soul to come forward." It didn't have quite the sock of Hunter's statement, but the sentiment was there. I don't recall the response, but I'm betting it didn't hurt Pickel's street cred.

If you editorialize sparingly, carefully, and clearly, the impact is beneficial. Viewers want to know you're human. And it was Pickel who once told me, "When you stop caring, it's time to leave."