The Ferguson, Mo. story this week was in some ways a good fit for TV: compelling visuals of cops, tear gas, protesters and looters intermingled with issues of race, politics and crime.
Like Weather Channel newscasters during a hurricane, cable news reporters embedded themselves on the ground in Ferguson to gauge reaction after St. Louis County prosecuting attorney Robert McCulloch announced Monday night that a grand jury chose not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting and killing of Michael Brown.
Subtle legal issues took a backseat on TV as anchors absorbed abuse from some protesters. CNN correspondent Sara Sidner barely flinched as rocks were flung at her Monday night. At least one hit her in the head. “I’m OK, I’m OK, I’ve been hit by much worse in my day,” she said.
She later tweeted, "All I have is a bump on my head. Turns out it was a bottle thrown from a car. Thanks for your kindness. I'm fine. But #Ferguson is not."
CNN’s Don Lemon appeared overcome on screen by the smoke but later tweeted that he was okay as well.
A protester that night also knocked a camera to the ground while Fox News’ Steve Harrigan was on the air.
Then there was the strange split screen of President Obama telling people to remain calm alongside shots of cops flinging canisters of smoke to disperse unruly crowds in Ferguson.
MSNBC host Al Sharpton, who is better known as a civil rights activist than a journalist, jumped into the fray, speaking at a Brown family news conference Tuesday to criticize McCulloch.
The three primary cable news networks drew a collective 15.7 million viewers during the 9 p.m hour when the announcement was made Monday, far greater than their usual ratings.
Cable is not the only game in town.
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos nabbed the first on-camera interview with Wilson Tuesday afternoon, with segments aired on “World News Tonight” and “Nightline.”And broadcast networks broke into prime-time TV programming to air the grand jury decision.
TV critic Brian Lowry of Variety magazine wrote that TV coverage generally lacked context.
“While one can admire the long hours and bravery exhibited by on-the-scene reporters under trying circumstances,” he wrote, “the nature of this sort of coverage yields such a narrow aperture their hard work produces heat, perhaps, but scant illumination.”
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