"Police ask media to use discretion, weigh newsworthiness"

UPDATE: Who played the tapes on-air?

KXRM Fox 21 - Yes

KOAA 5/30 - Yes

KRDO 13 - Yes

KKTV 11 - Yes (But did not play Works daughter's 911 call out of respect for Works family)

01/04/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - Colorado Springs Police released a statement today, meant to keep the media from re-traumatizing those involved in the New Life Church shootings, if they could. CSPD, following their legal obligation released 911 audio from the incident that left 3 dead, and others wounded; making 6 hours available for purchase until  5PM today.

Based on the news teases I heard, some of the local media outlets purchased the tapes.  Now, let's see if any find them newsworthy enough to play on-air.

Will playing that audio add anything to an already told story?  Should they or shouldn't they even air any of it?

Here is that CSPD statement that was released today.

Release of New Life Church 911 Tapes and Police Dispatch Transmissions
By For News Release questions, please contact our PIO

The Colorado Springs Police Department has a legal obligation to release the 911 tapes from the New Life Church shooting that occurred on December 9, 2007. When it is determined that the release of these tapes will no longer compromise the ongoing investigation, when requests are received, we have no choice but to comply with the law and that is our intent.

The team of investigators that worked this case and spent numerous hours with witnesses, victims, and family members of victims, have expressed a serious concern about re-traumatizing those already impacted by this incident. The Colorado Springs Police Department is asking the media to use discretion in weighing the newsworthiness of these tapes with the sensitivity to the community and the families involved.

Tapes will be available today until 5:00 PM at the Police Operations Center at 705 S. Nevada Ave. The cost is $30 payable by check or cash only. Contact Lt. Arms at 719-444-7412 to arrange to pick up the CD. There is approximately 6 hours of listening time on the CD.
 

"The crime tape is down, but the media still lingers"

01/04/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - Like pouring salt and vinegar in an open wound, the crime tape may be down... but the media still lingers.

In front of the house where the first homicide for 2008 happened yesterday... "they" arrive.  The darkened house front will soon be ablaze with 50000 candle power beacons in the night.  Got to get that LIVE shot, even if no one or nothing is there.  It's in their blood!

Hey... did you know that 2 others lost their lives just a stones throw from the scene of this crime? Can you remember the circumstances behind that case?

Photos by News Blab

"Kellie Mac... she ain't comin back"

01/04/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - The second in the "missing person" series is Kellie MacMullan, former co-anchor of Good Morning Colorado.  Kellie is now in Denver at CW2 KWGN.  Is this a step up...??? You bet it is!

She left while my head was turned and I only found out after she was well planted into that Denver news desk... being loved by the viewers. Her co-anchor while here in Colorado Springs, Zach Thaxton wrote the following about her departure.  http://www.krdotv.com/Global/story.asp?s=6909088

Congratulations Kellie!!!

From the CW2 website

"Colorado Springs first homicide of 2008"

01/04/08: Colorado Springs, CO  -

From the blotter:

Shooting on E St.Vrain Leaves One Dead and One Injured

On Thursday, January 03, 2008 at 8:11 PM, the Colorado Springs Police Department received calls of a disturbance at 2534 E. St. Vrain with shots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered two people with injuries and both were transported to Memorial Hospital. One person was pronounced dead at the hospital and a second person with multiple gunshot wounds went into surgery. Both the deceased person and the injured person are adult males.
Several K-9 units were dispatched to the scene to search for possible suspects, however, none were located. At this time, the Violent Crimes Unit is continuing the investigation. No suspects are in custody.

Update - E St.Vrain Street Homicide -
The victim in the homicide that occurred yesterday evening at 2534 East St. Vrain Street has been identified as 21-year-old Josh Sommervold of Colorado Springs. An autopsy by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office is pending. The other individual who was hospitalized as a result of multiple gunshot wounds has been identified as 26-year-old Adrian Works, also of Colorado Springs. His injuries do not appear to be life-threatening at this time. Investigators are still processing the scene and working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No arrests have been made. No additional information is available for release at this time.

Individuals with information concerning this shooting are asked to call CSPD at 444-7000 or they can remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 634-STOP.
 

"She once carried a tripod, now it's an umbrella"

01/03/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - The first "missing person" I am featuring here, one who left while I was ignoring my News Blab duties, is former KKTV reporter Ashley Fielder. Fielder just disappeared from the local news scene one day, never to return.  Rumors flew as to what happened to young Fielder.  The one, I think, which is nearest to the truth is the one involving her just packing her things and exiting stage left from the KKTV 11 News studios.  I could add a few juicy tidbits... but why bother...???  I think my video of her disrupting other reporter's questioning during a news conference was tidbit enough. Remember that one?

Anyway, I did find out what she's doing now, and a quick look at the webpage capture below... should tell you too.

From Donna Baldwin Talent - donnabaldwin.com

"A video for the sharing"

01/02/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - Since I haven't done anything with News Blab for the past 6 months, I know during that time there have been members of the local Colorado Springs media who have left town and others who have come to town. Since I have been out of pocket for all this time I figured I better see what changes have happened around here while my newsie radar has been elsewhere.
For starters I see that KRDO has hired anchor/reporter Heather Skold.
The last time I heard about Heather was back in September 2004 when her parents, Wayne and Alice Skold dropped me an e-mail sharing the fact that Heather was moving from her station in Grand Junction to Boise, Idaho where she accepted a position as morning co-anchor at KIVI. And now she is here at KRDO.
I found the following video about Heather on YouTube and thought I would share it... because it's very nice.
Welcome to Colorado Springs Heather!

"Jeff Thomas, maybe you should deliver newspapers rather than run one?"

01/02/08: Colorado Springs, CO  - A friend of mine asked me, "Hey Mike, are you going to apply for that committee at the Gazette?"

Well, since I stopped subscribing to the paper I had no idea what he was talking about, so I had to ask, "What committee are you talking about?"

The next day he brought in the 30 Dec 2007 article titled, Gazette enters new year with plans for accountability, written by the editor himself, Jeff Thomas. Okay, I guess that meant that in previous years there was no accountability over at the Gaz...???  Maybe that is one reason why I cancelled my subscription? No... now I remember... too many ads and not enough news was the reason.

Anyway... why would Thomas make a statement like that? Was it to get attention... was it to spark some interest... or was it because he really believes that accountability is lacking over on Prospect Street?

The committee he is planning to put together he is calling the Gazette Community Advisory Board (CAB).  He says the CAB will be comprised of 10 local folks, will meet once a month for three months, and then a new board will be formed.

The goal of the CAB, according to Thomas, is to be an attentive listening post, and to be a mechanism for exploration and change.

He wants the CAB to suggest changes to the ways The Gazette reports the news.

Okay... maybe I'm wrong, but isn't that the job of the newspaper editor?  Isn't that what Perry White did at the Daily Planet?  Didn't Louis Lane and Clark Kent and Jimmie Olsen get called into the Chiefs office a bunch of times, leaving that office with their tail between their legs some of those times?

Mr. Thomas... no disrespect intended, but you don't need a CAB to tell you how and when to report the news.  Why bring in a bunch of opinionated, non-journalistic newbie's to make a further mess of things?

Just get your people out their and report the news!  It's not rocket science for gosh sakes... And while you're at it, get rid of some of those annoying ads!!!

Either run YOUR paper... or start delivering them...

(Note of interest: This is something like KKTV 11 News promised to do when their new anchor team came onboard a while back. They never did follow-up on this... and maybe that was a good thing.)