Fudge me: another local news personality drops the f-bomb on air.

[AKA]

This time, the perpetrator is KHQ's Lindsay Nadrich, reporting for the Spokane NBC affiliate's outsourced 10:00 news on Fox affiliate KAYU: http://youtu.be/1iA3182mNT0

In this case, the word wasn't uttered live over a hot microphone; it was a matter of the wrong take being edited onto the end of Ms. Nadrich's piece.

The best part of the clip, which has gone viral, is the priceless look on anchor Kjerstin Ramsing's face when the control room cuts back to the studio.

 

[JeeperOne]

Can you say OOPS !! Sorry boss. Forgot I was ON THE AIR !!! *LOL!*

Seriously though, I can't imagine anything serious happening to her beyond either a full suspension or just an on-air suspension. Everybody flubs up. Notice how the anchor just simply apologized for the reporter & then moved on to the next story?

If anything, this brings up the bigger question once again - That question being does ANYONE get offended whenever the F-Bomb is dropped anymore? I mean seriously EVEN ELDERLY PEOPLE use it nowadays (Worthy of discussion in a CONSTRUCTIVE way IMO)

Cheers & 73 ;D

 

[F.M.Hertz]

What are they teaching these "kids" these days??? A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a professor/mentor in college stressed to me and everyone he taught to treat every microphone we come across as a live one.

I took that to heart and even banished friends from the studio when I jocked if they dropped an "shiv" or "fudge" as the music was playing, even if the mics were off.

I guess you can't teach class.

[stepping down from soapbox]

 

[AKA]

If I was KHQ, I'd stand by the reporter. Nobody's perfect, after all, and the piece aired after 10 pm.

The only fly in the ointment is the fact that KHQ produces this particular newscast for KAYU, who may not be happy their cross-town competitor opened them up to potential FCC fines. This may sour two stations' relationship.

 

[michael hagerty]

If I was KHQ, I'd stand by the reporter. Nobody's perfect, after all, and the piece aired after 10 pm.

The only fly in the ointment is the fact that KHQ produces this particular newscast for KAYU, who may not be happy their cross-town competitor opened them up to potential FCC fines. This may sour two stations' relationship.

It's either safe harbor or it's not. The FCC probably won't take action.

Whether they stand behind her will have a lot to do with how they felt about her before it happened.

And for the poster wondering what they teach youngsters these days, Lindsay's a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU...a fairly prestigious J-school that has its own nightly newscast produced by the students and aired on one of the local PBS station's HD channels. The professor who runs the program is one of the best reporters I've ever competed with. He teaches them well. She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

 

[LKellerIII]

I keep saying this...but here I go again....I live in a big city, and all you have to do is be present on any street in that big city during any hour of the day, and you will hear the F word within 2 minutes. Could we all get over this, please?

 

[Tim-In-Houston]

She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

That's what I was wondering. The clip leaves little doubt she had a photog with her, since she's talking to someone after she flubs her stand-up. In my shop, the photogs also edit the pieces...if the photog did in this instance, could it be a bit of retribution against the reporter? If so, it does not speak well of the way he or she approaches the job.

If the talent edited it herself, that's just sloppy and does not speak well of the way she approaches her job.

It was a feature story and likely wasn't a rush job, so there's really no excuse.

 

[newsmark]

I keep saying this...but here I go again....I live in a big city, and all you have to do is be present on any street in that big city during any hour of the day, and you will hear the F word within 2 minutes. Could we all get over this, please?

Talk to your member of congress. Until they take action to finally clarify the "indecency" rules or eliminate them entirely, every station that even accidentally lets one slip is in danger of big fines (like hundreds of thousands of dollars).

Even if they'd ultimately be successful, I doubt the owners of KAYU *or* KHQ has the deep pockets for a long court battle over the matter if someone complains.

 

[michael hagerty]

She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

That's what I was wondering. The clip leaves little doubt she had a photog with her, since she's talking to someone after she flubs her stand-up. In my shop, the photogs also edit the pieces...if the photog did in this instance, could it be a bit of retribution against the reporter? If so, it does not speak well of the way he or she approaches the job.

If the talent edited it herself, that's just sloppy and does not speak well of the way she approaches her job.

It was a feature story and likely wasn't a rush job, so there's really no excuse.

I checked out her Twitter. It was edited by someone else.

What we don't know is what else happened that she and the photog got sent to cover between that standup and the 10PM news. Spokane's market 73, it was a weekend...they're probably fairly short-staffed. It's not uncommon for weekend crews to end up getting stuff for three or four different stories, even if they end up as VOs or VO/SOTs for the anchor to deliver. So the photog could have been under the gun when it came time to edit, IF the photog did the editing (I've worked for a large market network affiliate that had associate producers and even interns cut pieces in certain circumstances).

And, with digital editing, the only way to handle a blown take like that is to delete the clip from the computer as soon as you ingest from the memory card (I'd blow it out of the memory card, as well). But if you're going to add it to the blooper reel...then it's on the computer and it looks for all the world like the good take. You point, click, drag, drop and you're finished....oops! "Newscast is almost on....no time to play it back......"

I've seen that happen too.

Looking over her Twitter feed, she seems composed, solid and a pro...she got careless. I hope they give her a break.

 

[LKellerIII]

She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

That's what I was wondering. The clip leaves little doubt she had a photog with her, since she's talking to someone after she flubs her stand-up. In my shop, the photogs also edit the pieces...if the photog did in this instance, could it be a bit of retribution against the reporter? If so, it does not speak well of the way he or she approaches the job.

If the talent edited it herself, that's just sloppy and does not speak well of the way she approaches her job.

It was a feature story and likely wasn't a rush job, so there's really no excuse.

I checked out her Twitter. It was edited by someone else.

What we don't know is what else happened that she and the photog got sent to cover between that standup and the 10PM news. Spokane's market 73, it was a weekend...they're probably fairly short-staffed. It's not uncommon for weekend crews to end up getting stuff for three or four different stories, even if they end up as VOs or VO/SOTs for the anchor to deliver. So the photog could have been under the gun when it came time to edit, IF the photog did the editing (I've worked for a large market network affiliate that had associate producers and even interns cut pieces in certain circumstances).

And, with digital editing, the only way to handle a blown take like that is to delete the clip from the computer as soon as you ingest from the memory card (I'd blow it out of the memory card, as well). But if you're going to add it to the blooper reel...then it's on the computer and it looks for all the world like the good take. You point, click, drag, drop and you're finished....oops! "Newscast is almost on....no time to play it back......"

I've seen that happen too.

Looking over her Twitter feed, she seems composed, solid and a pro...she got careless. I hope they give her a break.

Amen. Please give her a break.

 

[F.M.Hertz]

And for the poster wondering what they teach youngsters these days, Lindsay's a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU...a fairly prestigious J-school that has its own nightly newscast produced by the students and aired on one of the local PBS station's HD channels. The professor who runs the program is one of the best reporters I've ever competed with. He teaches them well. She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

Way, way, way off point. Doesn't matter if she went to a good school or studied the trade without a formal education, it was unprofessional and uncalled for. She should have known better. Looks will only get her so far.

Don't slap her on the wrist for that. If I were a news director, both she and the editor (if she had one) would have a week's unpaid vacation, and also a lesson in anger management that would help her learn to deal with situations like this without erupting.

 

[michael hagerty]

And for the poster wondering what they teach youngsters these days, Lindsay's a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at ASU...a fairly prestigious J-school that has its own nightly newscast produced by the students and aired on one of the local PBS station's HD channels. The professor who runs the program is one of the best reporters I've ever competed with. He teaches them well. She just got careless, as did whoever edited the piece. And these days that could very well have been Lindsay herself.

Way, way, way off point. Doesn't matter if she went to a good school or studied the trade without a formal education, it was unprofessional and uncalled for. She should have known better. Looks will only get her so far.

Don't slap her on the wrist for that. If I were a news director, both she and the editor (if she had one) would have a week's unpaid vacation, and also a lesson in anger management that would help her learn to deal with situations like this without erupting.

And for all we know, some time off without pay is what's happening. KHQ (to their credit) isn't discussing personnel matters publicly.

She knew better. She got sloppy. I've seen it happen to seasoned pros.

Anger management? She didn't look angry. Seemed almost like a self-deprecating remark on tape.

She's never going to make that mistake again.

 

[searadiofreak]

How about the notion that this is what you are "expected" to do when you mess up? Seriously, our youtube culture has brought this on. Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up. Sometimes it even gives you a shot on The Today Show. Perhaps we should set policies of no swearing EVER, whether on tape or otherwise. This could easily solve this problem.

 

[michael hagerty]

How about the notion that this is what you are "expected" to do when you mess up? Seriously, our youtube culture has brought this on. Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up. Sometimes it even gives you a shot on The Today Show. Perhaps we should set policies of no swearing EVER, whether on tape or otherwise. This could easily solve this problem.

Okay...lessee here...210 or so TV markets times four networks that expect their affiliates to do local news...that's 840 stations. Let's say an average of 5 reporters doing stories...that's 4200 reporters that should be posting daily F-bombs to YouTube. So far, I count two this year.

Bulletin: Journalists are human and sometimes swear like sailors. If it gets on the air, it's their embarassment, suspension, firing or career-ender. I started in TV news in 1981, well before YouTube and the first blooper reel I saw could never have aired. There's a reason Kermit Schaefer had a lot of beeps covering words on his "Pardon My Blooper" albums in the 1950s.

Stuff like this happened well before this generation and the digital age. We just didn't hear about it because The Arizona Republic (replace with the name of your local newspaper) didn't run stories about reporters in Spokane saying "f@$!" on the air.

 

[FredLeonard]

Kermit Schaefer's albums weren't airchecks. They were recreations (some did happen) and fabrications (some did not happen but made good stories). Most were just embarrassing or funny. They were not deliberate profanity.

Not only are Ken and Barbie Mic Holders not real "journalists," they don't even qualify as professional announcers. People go into TV news because they think they look good and they are hired for looks, not brains (or any other kind of ability).

 

[F.M.Hertz]

How about the notion that this is what you are "expected" to do when you mess up? Seriously, our youtube culture has brought this on. Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up. Sometimes it even gives you a shot on The Today Show. Perhaps we should set policies of no swearing EVER, whether on tape or otherwise. This could easily solve this problem.

Seriously? "Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up?" By whom?

Obviously, since you've never once set foot in a television or radio station (except to pick up a prize), that is a policy in virtually every broadcast facility in this country.

Put down the pipe, the folks at the "Today" show aren't looking for the next f-bomb from a small TV station in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Markxxx]

I listen to a lot of OTR and perhaps they never kept the records of the shows with a bad swear slip up. The worst I heard was "hell" on a couple of shows, all drama except one time on "The Bickersons," when Mr Bickerson, "let's get the hell outta here," which was an obvious ad lib.

The closet risque thing I recall is Gracie Allen flubbing a joke, where the punch line was "dropping his suspenders." When she said the line, she said, "Dropping his belt," which turned the joke from a man in his shorts (suspenders) to a subtle hint at oral sex (belt).

Gracie) He dropped his belt.
[silence then the laughter starts and grows. George realizes this and jumps in]

Georgie) Suspenders Gracie, it's suspenders

Gracie) That's what I said, George? Oh wait a minute. [pause while laughter gets louder, and she thinks and gets it]...Oh yeah you're, that's a bit different isn't it.

[then a lot of laughter, with George quickly changing the subject]

 

[michael hagerty]

I listen to a lot of OTR and perhaps they never kept the records of the shows with a bad swear slip up. The worst I heard was "hell" on a couple of shows, all drama except one time on "The Bickersons," when Mr Bickerson, "let's get the hell outta here," which was an obvious ad lib.

The closet risque thing I recall is Gracie Allen flubbing a joke, where the punch line was "dropping his suspenders." When she said the line, she said, "Dropping his belt," which turned the joke from a man in his shorts (suspenders) to a subtle hint at oral sex (belt).

Gracie) He dropped his belt.
[silence then the laughter starts and grows. George realizes this and jumps in]

Georgie) Suspenders Gracie, it's suspenders

Gracie) That's what I said, George? Oh wait a minute. [pause while laughter gets louder, and she thinks and gets it]...Oh yeah you're, that's a bit different isn't it.

[then a lot of laughter, with George quickly changing the subject]

A lot changes in 60-70 years.

 

[searadiofreak]

How about the notion that this is what you are "expected" to do when you mess up? Seriously, our youtube culture has brought this on. Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up. Sometimes it even gives you a shot on The Today Show. Perhaps we should set policies of no swearing EVER, whether on tape or otherwise. This could easily solve this problem.

Seriously? "Reporters are expected to swear when they mess up?" By whom?

Obviously, since you've never once set foot in a television or radio station (except to pick up a prize), that is a policy in virtually every broadcast facility in this country.

Put down the pipe, the folks at the "Today" show aren't looking for the next f-bomb from a small TV station in the middle of nowhere.

Obviously you missed my sarcasm. I don't have a pipe to put down, and go to my radio workplace everyday and have for 30 years. Take it out on someone else, please..

 

[dtuba]

Clearly it was not her fault. She recorded her stand-up with the F-bomb by mistake: It is the Photog's job to burn any and all bad takes! And as for the editor, M. Hagerty is correct: she did not edit this package herself, it was either the photog/truck operator or some 19 year old intern back at the station. Ive been out of the news biz for years now, but it wouldn't surprise me if they have everyone from the news director down to the janitor editing clips these days to save a $$ or two.

It was probably done in a time crunch as well. As the sat truck operator, I remember nights when it was 2 minutes to air and the lead package was not fed yet, you'd have assignment editors freaking out and yelling, "just send it the way it is!".

TV news can be a pressure cooker. Don't blame the reporter because she's the only one you see.