News outlets under fire over videos of reporters covering Hurricane Ian
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A number of news organisations were criticised on social media on Wednesday for sending journalists to report in the path of Hurricane Ian.
In one such case, member of the Fox Weather team, Robert Ray, struggled to make it through a live report in severe wind and rain in Fort Myers.
“It’s really coming in right now, Neil, and it is tough to even speak, and I’m sorry ... as we take the wrath of Ian coming into Fort Myers, and we can hear the sounds in the distance — pops, snaps — we need to be careful, things are getting dangerous here,” Ray said.
Watch Fox Business reporter Robert Gray thrown into the field as Hurricane Ian makes landfall in Fort Myers, Florida.
Gray: "I hope people are hunkered down right now ... Don't come out, stay inside."
Fox Business host Neil Cavuto: "Robert, please be safe my friend." pic.twitter.com/qanomddLZZ— The Recount (@therecount) September 28, 2022
A number of observers wondered about Ray’s safety.
“It’s wild that with all the technology/social media we have, we still force people to do this,” one person tweeted in response to a clip of the video posted on Twitter.
The Weather Channel also had reporters on the ground in coastal Florida struggling to complete their reports, as did other news organisations.
It's not a major hurricane if there isn't at least one Weather Channel reporter fighting for life, limb and dignity. Low key why I watch TWC. #hurricaneian pic.twitter.com/GM44uXTE3A
— Clowning and suffering (@sentientnerd) September 28, 2022
“Dude get inside and point your finger out of the window bruh,” a person on Twitter wrote in response to a clip of a report on The Weather Channel that ended with the reporting telling the host that “we’re going to regroup and get into a safer place.”
*RARE* first person view of storm surge. This camera is 6 feet off the ground on Estero Blvd in Fort Myers Beach, FL. Not sure how much longer it keeps working. You’ll see it live only on @weatherchannel #Ian pic.twitter.com/WwHtvgVxjY
— Mike Bettes (@mikebettes) September 28, 2022
Some observers were sceptical about the news value of reports from the ground in the midst of a storm like Hurricane Ian, suggesting that the presence of reporters in the path of the storm was more to entertain that inform viewers — especially given the availability of technology to capture images from the storm without putting people in harm’s way.
“Ridiculous,” another person tweeted about the Fox clip. “Its all fun and profits until a reporter gets swept away.”
The Independent has reached out to Fox News and The Weather Channel for comment on this story.