Haute Hurricane: Style guide to Frances reporting
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While we ourselves can’t say we bothered with any Hurricane Frances coverage – though we did do our part and conjured up a new cocktail by that name .. and we’re selling licensing rights – the Miami Herald gets all Fashion Week on us and shares some style and etiquette tips while covering the billion-dollar damage-inducer:
What you should wear: Always choose the flimsiest rain jacket available, to visually dramatize the effect of strong winds. All foul-weather gear should be brightly colored in the event you’re swept out to sea or sucked down a drainage culvert, and someone actually goes searching for you. [Count you out, Al Roker.]
What you should televise: The first rule of hurricane coverage is that every broadcast must begin with palm trees bending in the wind. Never mind that the puniest summer squall can send a coconut palm into convulsions, your producer will demand this meaningless shot.
…
The most sought-after footage is, in order of ratings:
1. Big tree on strip mall.
2. Big tree on house.
3. Big tree on car.
4. Small tree on car.
5. Assorted shrubbery on car.
[6. Big tree on the hack wearing flimsy rain jacket holding microphone.]
What to do when the hurricane actually strikes: Obviously the sensible move is to broadcast from the protected lee of a strong building, but for that you could get fired.
Your producer will instead order you to step into the teeth of the storm, where you risk being clobbered by flying glass, coconuts, shingles, patio furniture or surfboards. [And only then will you be put on the waiting list to go from local to regional news.]
Jossip
