WTKR drops lawsuit against Suffolk over tornado-area access

I can see that most of you people were not at the scene at all the night this tornado came through nor were you there the day after. I was there and I can tell you that our city and everyone else involved from our city did what they should of done. The victoms are 100% behind what or police and city officials did because they were the ones effected not you people on this board passing judgement. Our city officials have been working 16-20 hour shifts since this tornado hit and have done a wonderful job of it. some have not even had a day off for 15+ days to even take care of their own families for making sure that these victoms are taken care of. Maybe the media should think about doing some footage on what our city officials have done to get these people through this ordeal and maybe even ask the citizens what their take is on how it was all handled and what they happen to think of WTKR at this point. AGAIN, GOOD JOB SUFFOLK.

Thank you for the comment that makes some sense. Further, how dare anyone personally attack me on this board. I made NO PERSONAL ATTACKS! Where is our moderator? As far as knowing what I'm talking about, I was only responding to what I read in the comments and the newspaper. EVERYONE has to follow the law... even the city officials. They cannot makeup the rules as they go along like a 3 year old playing CandyLand. GO WTKR!!!!

The media helps to keep folks honest, including public officials. I was gladdened to see that WTKR took action to force police to follow the LAW. That's really all they were after and they can NOT be faulted for that. Perhaps the monetary damages were a bad PR move but I'm glad WTKR was trying to get us the tornado story - as it unfolded.

A free independent press is always going to be a good thing and if WTKR's allegations were right (that the Suffolk police were preventing WTKR from going behind the barricades), then I'm *glad* WTKR brought suit. I'm more troubled that the police were denying WTKR access and not honoring the law. Doesn't that worry anyone here?

Just so you know mr. meteorologist the suffolk officials are not partial to the other news stations. All news stations were able to get their stories in on the tornado that went through our city. Also, it was not three days before media or victoms could get in there, it was actually less than 24 hours that they were able to get in there and some were able to get in to collect meds and family members the night of. If I remember correctly one of the WTKR media snuck into Hill Point after being advised that they would be escorted in to get footage after police were done taking care of the victoms needs to collect family members and much needed meds. I would like to know exactly what a media professional is thinking when they sneek in after being told they would be taken in and caught taking pictures with thier cell phone? not very professional is you ask me. How is that helping our viewers or the victoms of suffolk? Sounds to me like they were lucky the police had bigger things to deal with rather than hauling them off to jail for entering when they were not suppose to. Get your facts straight before you get on here thinking you know something that you do not!

WTKR tossed a bunch of money away with a viper radar toy that gives Patrick an excuse to swing a mouse cursor all over the screen zooming in and out on whatever he sees fit. Yet the average viewer is spinning from his silly antics. WTKR seems to want to create news, play catchup to WAVY and their million doller chopper. Four TV stations in this area, and WTKR whines about being left out. Maybe it's becuase they are always on the tail end of the news. If you can't keep up with the competition, then sue somebody. Did WTKR really think they would get any sympathy? Someone has to be last. WTKR has the lead on being last.

WTKR has thrown their attorneys under the bus again. Their case was no better prepared than their news coverage. And Moreland's reasons for withdrawing the suit is backwards. The primary reason the suit was withdrawn was the public outcry against their action. As their rating spiralled further down the drain, even this nub could see the hand writing on the wall. Like most people, I agree that WAVY scooped them with the helo. That was by far the best coverage of the day and now one got in the way of the emergency responders. All WTKR had was that one reporter wandering around with that board with the nails in it commenting about it flying through the air while WAVY broadcast the real disaster.

First, I want to say that I have never received a paycheck from WTKR. In regards to the arguments that there was other media there... that actually helps WTKR's case even more. It proves that the Suffolk officials were showing favoritism for the other two stations. That is even more illegal than what WTKR filed the lawsuit for in the first place. In regards to WTKR losing viewership... that will seriously only hurt you in the future. WTKR is the only station in our area which has "wall-to-wall" coverage when there is a tornado WARNING in our viewing area. You may not get to see all of your "stories," but that is for your own good. Further, their radar system is far superior to anything the other stations have to offer. I would rank them like this (1) WTKR, (2) WVEC, (3) WAVY. Am I meteorologist and know what I'm talking about? Sure am! Are most of you? Probably not! So, by not watching WTKR you are putting yourself at risk of not knowing what is going on with the storms and therefore dying. In regards to newsgathering at 11pm... Um, that is when the main newscast of the night occurs. 11pm, right? yes, I am. Most stations like to have a reporter "on the scene" li

W- What a
T- Truly
K- Krap
R- Response

Now it's not blame the police, it's blame the lawyer? Granted, this may be an accepted part of the lawyer's job. It does, however, not hide the fact that again you take no respnsibility for your part. There is a difference between supporting your people and blindly accepting their version of events, especially in light of the following: the timing of their access complaint being congruent with a needed curfew, residents claiming to have seen plenty of media, and no other news outlet is complaining. Speaking of timing, isn't dropping this lawsuit timed perfectly to coincide with answering to public backlash? The lawsuit is "moot?" I thought your lawsuit was supposedly a matter of principle.

wtkr has shown it's true face here. their fear mongering, profit oriented organization sued the police for doing their job after several tornadoes struck! this pathetic organization sued a city for monetary damages after the said city suffered from a serious disaster!

nothing has changed here, you won't get any sympathy from me you self rightous purveyors of chaos, death, and destruction.

Well, I just read the original and now the story where Mr. Moreland states that the issues in the lawsuit were now moot. Mr. Moreland, your issues were actually moot from the first. As a news gatherer, did you think to ask someone in authority to specifically tell you that you couldn't access the area instead of a few officers telling your folks? Sounds like journalism 101 to me. Again, I saw plenty of coverage on the other stations and didn't hear a peep. Also, did anybody else pick up on the fact that he specifically noted the curfew from 11 pm to 7 am? What would his reporters be "gathering" at that time of night? Footage or goodies? Just curious little things we common folk pick up here and there. I would think that the station would have an attorney who would have said "Whoa big fella, use some common sense here and think it through", I also agree that the timing was suspect. Those who can't report the news - create it? For shame. At least the taxpayers are saved the farce of going to court.

I live in Applewood Farms and could not get out do to the new trucks blocking the road. Yes, I can see keeping them out of the way. I come onto Burnetts Way to get out, right at the center of the storm damage. I could see not getting out on Monday night but with not having electricity plus have a diabetic in the home I needed ice. I have great friends in Applewood and they came to the rescue. I can see the city putting them on some restriction to keep them out of the way. No one plans for things like this, hurricanes you can plan to do without.

I just hope that everyone has learn from all of this and hope that we don't need to go thur any storms like this again.

Ever since this whole "Taking Action" theme, channel 3 has gone off the deep end. They are trying to attract viewers by sensationalizing the news. Last night at 11, they played back a 911 tape of someone reporting a gas leak after the tornado. Wow.

"...What if the media just sat back and waited on the government to tell us everything was okay in New Orleans after Katrina hit? All you would have known was what a 'nice job' FEMA did and how everything was okay. I'm not saying Suffolk emergency workers were up to no good behind the scenes, but they definitely should not control whether or not the media has access to it"
______
September 2005
CNN Wins Injunction

CNN won an injunction late Friday to prevent any federal agency from limiting the cable news network's ability to cover any aspect of the Hurricane Katrina story. CNN asked for an injunction to remove the "zero-access" policy imposed by FEMA...

WTKR was right on this one...State law does exempt them. But their lawsuit timing was off the mark.

Now it is time for the legislature to fix the law. I can see it now. We have another disaster, and some freelance journalist, or a radical with a fake news ID, shows up and creates more havoc.

Law enforcement should have the right to restrict any and all when they are managing a disaster scene. This includes the press.

The state should fix the law, and WTKR should get a helicopter.

This entire matter--the lawsuit and the effort to explain it--was ill-conceived from the outset. WTKR has really ended up looking inept, unprofessional, disorganized and just plain stupid.

The damage has been done. WTKR has not only lost viewership, but creditability as far as I am concerned. Blame it on the lawyers if you must, but I doubt it was them. They are your scapegoat. Learn to report the news, not create it. No other media had an issue, and the other stations had the common deciency to respect the victims that lost everything. WTKR was looking to sensationalize the citizens pain for their own ratings. Next time think before you act.

Now we need to lobby the legislature to remove that paragraph from the statute. Keep out meens keep out. Media or not.

Good job on dropping the charges but I still say you were idiots for even filing. I can almost bet that, had you been granted access, nothing you would have reported would have been "good news." Reporters only report on the "bad." I again commend the police and military for keeping reporters out - not only was the area deemed unsafe but the families needed private time.

Do you think dropping the suit had something to do with how they look like a bunch of "Ambulance Chasers"?

This should have never happened in the first place, period! Mr. Moreland should go into politics; his back-peddling and spin on this are nauseating.

News director Shane Moreland said today the media now has almost full access to the devastated areas, making its court action a moot point.

And I've got land in the Dismal Swamp to sell you. Their suit was filed because they weren't granted immediate access. Face it WAVY scooped WTKR with their helicopter and WTKR started screaming. Guess WVEC has a bit more class.

First Amendment rights? Bull spit, it was so they could further exploit and sensationalize this tragic disaster.

Now here come the police state and government control comments from the WTKR staff who post here....

Has anyone ever heard a suit withdrawn because the issues are "Moot"? Lawyers acting on their own - right. Police and city officials said in the aftermath that it was unsafe to enter some of the areas while work crews searched the rubble and contained gas leaks. AS per the law incorrectly quoted by the assistant news director. Moreland believed his reporters - hah - that is like believeing a politician. A law suit filed on behalf of the howmowners. I would have thought that this would have been up front as justification for filing the suit. Hey TKR you are not the station on "your side". At least TKR said they changed their "plea" due to the outrage expressed is this forum (Thank you Pilot) and else where (phone and emails et al). I still would like to know though how the monetary damages were origi9nally calculated. Probably the hourly charges by the parasites (ooops sorry) lawyers. Overall, a clearer mind prevailed at WTKR before the case was thrown out of court. PS- Listen more to the public and your ratings may go up also.