November 17, 2015
Paris Attacks Get Strong, Continuing Radio Coverage.
ABC News Radio 200
When terrorist attacks hit Paris last Friday, American radio news networks quickly deployed breaking news coverage, providing affiliates with hours of live reports, leveraged TV relationships, and rushed key personnel into place. And based on reports and the reality of the conflict, it appears to be only the beginning.
“This is a big story not only through this year but probably during the entirety of the presidential campaign,” says Bart Tessler, Westwood One’s executive VP of News and Talk. And since Saturday, Fox News Radio is offering stations two reports per hour and says its reporters will remain in Paris for “the foreseeable future.” Steve Jones, general manager of ABC News Radio says his reporters will stay in Paris through the week, and feedback from affiliates will drive future reporting. “We’re going to be wherever our stations want us to be,” he says.
It continues an immersive pattern of coverage that began soon after the tragedy occurred. When the news broke about 4:30pm ET Friday, ABC News Radio, CBS News Radio, Fox News Radio and Westwood One News all offered live broadcasts. And radio networks called on partnerships with TV news arms for added coverage and resources. ABC News Radio, for instance, offered five live hours anchored by correspondent Aaron Katersky. “Crisis coverage is a key component of the relationship that we have with [affiliates],” ABC’s Jones. “When bad things happen,” he adds, “they want accuracy and reliable coverage.”
After Katersky signed off, he deployed to Paris, joining ABC News Radio correspondent Tom Rivers and three other staffers. ABC News Radio also offered stations four status reports an hour, two instant specials and six newscasts an hour.
For its part, CBS News Radio produced three short-form special reports per hour, with about 60 affiliates taking the special reports, according to general manager Constance Lloyd, and stations could also simulcast CBS News live TV coverage. CBS Radio reporter Elaine Cobb, who is stationed in Paris, went on-air immediately, and London-based reporter Vicky Barker quickly joined her. CBS News also has a reporter stationed in Brussels. Having local reporters on the ground gives the network an advantage, Lloyd says. “We don’t need to send someone from NY because we still have correspondents in major European cities,” she says.
And Fox News Radio, whose affiliates include about 60 iHeartMedia-owned stations, offered four hours of live coverage Friday. Fox News Radio has two reporters on the ground, with European correspondent Simon Owen reporting for Fox News Radio and Rome-based reporter Courtney Walsh in Paris primarily for Fox News’ SiriusXM Radio channel.
Westwood One News offered its 750+ stations special reports twice an hour through Saturday night, utilizing its exclusive partnership with CNN, which has more than 100 people on the story. Westwood One sent correspondents Erin McLaughlin and Karin Caifa to Paris; the pair will remain in the city all week.
It continues an immersive pattern of coverage that began soon after the tragedy occurred. When the news broke about 4:30pm ET Friday, ABC News Radio, CBS News Radio, Fox News Radio and Westwood One News all offered live broadcasts. And radio networks called on partnerships with TV news arms for added coverage and resources. ABC News Radio, for instance, offered five live hours anchored by correspondent Aaron Katersky. “Crisis coverage is a key component of the relationship that we have with [affiliates],” ABC’s Jones. “When bad things happen,” he adds, “they want accuracy and reliable coverage.”
After Katersky signed off, he deployed to Paris, joining ABC News Radio correspondent Tom Rivers and three other staffers. ABC News Radio also offered stations four status reports an hour, two instant specials and six newscasts an hour.
For its part, CBS News Radio produced three short-form special reports per hour, with about 60 affiliates taking the special reports, according to general manager Constance Lloyd, and stations could also simulcast CBS News live TV coverage. CBS Radio reporter Elaine Cobb, who is stationed in Paris, went on-air immediately, and London-based reporter Vicky Barker quickly joined her. CBS News also has a reporter stationed in Brussels. Having local reporters on the ground gives the network an advantage, Lloyd says. “We don’t need to send someone from NY because we still have correspondents in major European cities,” she says.
And Fox News Radio, whose affiliates include about 60 iHeartMedia-owned stations, offered four hours of live coverage Friday. Fox News Radio has two reporters on the ground, with European correspondent Simon Owen reporting for Fox News Radio and Rome-based reporter Courtney Walsh in Paris primarily for Fox News’ SiriusXM Radio channel.
Westwood One News offered its 750+ stations special reports twice an hour through Saturday night, utilizing its exclusive partnership with CNN, which has more than 100 people on the story. Westwood One sent correspondents Erin McLaughlin and Karin Caifa to Paris; the pair will remain in the city all week.
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