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Is this news?

1

1sttimecaller

WNIR is reporting in newscasts today the medical condition of the wife of host Jim Isabella. (Hipaa, anyone?)

I certainty sympathize with the host dealing with his wife in a life threatening medical emergency, but is this news?
Could be fodder for the hosts within content/dialogue, but does it belong in an organized newscast?
 
First, hospitals and medical professionals are bound by HIPAA, not private citizens (I'm assuming here Jim is the one telling the station her condition). Second, the trick to news is that it is an organic thing and not all rules apply to all situations -- which is why you need experienced news people to make the determination. There are fewer and fewer of them of course. But anyway, given the death that has enshrouded WNIR in recent months, I can see why this might be newsworthy.
 
I would also assume that it is Jim reporting on his wife's condition. If Jim is away from the station for a while, I don't really object to WNIR explaining his wife's absence this way if both Jim and his wife agree to it.

Is it news? Probably not.
 
WNIR is reporting that Irene Isabella passed away last night. It's the fourth death in less than a year for the WNIR family: Howie Chizek, Tom Erickson, Production Director Tom Cullison's wife and Jim Isabella's wife.
 
WNIR is one of the last of the old style "hometown" radio stations.

A station that almost "belongs" to the community, that is so engrained in a town's fabric.

So for a station like that, reporting on the wife of one of their hosts fits in with the motif.
 
My condolences to the Isabella family.

It sounded odd to hear this reported as a top story followed by the anchor asking for "your prayers". All normal in a talk show, call me old school, in a newscast sounded out of place. I cringe when I hear stations tout new programming or an award they won in a newscast too.

If you were WNIR would you keep reporting tragedy that surrounds your staff? Coping with continued grief and heartbreak on a personal level is painful enough, much less meeting every client, and listener who will undoubtedly ask about it.
 
How is this any different than what Fox 8 does on the TV side? Obviously, viewers care about it and I'm sure its the same on the radio. People feel very connected to the personalities and do have a genuine interest in it and want to be informed. If the family wants prayers and support from the public, I see no problem with it.
 
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