Secret Squirrel
“He had just changed out of his court clothes and was about to change his address — from a local jail, to state prison.”
WSB’s Mark Winne, Tuesday at 6pm. Drama points: √√√√ (out of five).
Winne had obtained tape shot by Fulton Co. Sheriff’s deputies, showing convicted killer Brian Nichols transferring from local custody to a state prison. Winne interviewed a Fulton Co. sheriff’s office Major, who says Nichols was “trembling” as he entered the state prison. “You sure?” Winne quickly asked, and the Major reaffirmed. Winne also reported that Nichols heard catcalls from other prisoners as he entered. It was a nice little TV scoop.
I like to call it “Beating a dead horse”.
One advantage to covering the news for TV in the great state of Georgia is the fact that TV cameras are allowed in the courtroom. When I worked in PA and in MD, we had to shoot sketches…and try to bring some life to them. Here… the life is right in front of you. real visuals. Footage of a perp or courtroom scene…is a given.
My point about the “horse” is, Who Cares? a Scoop? This video is a side note in a long long overplayed coverage of all things Brian Nichols. We saw him in court…every newscast for the last few months…we saw him sentenced. Let him go away for a long time…and unless he breaks out again…let’s only hear about him in the “It was 10 years ago today…” stories.
i’m sure Mark Winne’s talents are better served covering stories that really have some depth. A scoop is a scoop… but having a pal who can get you video as a favor… is kinda lame.