TRIAL TROUBLES: Local TV station in hot water with Hernandez judge

By adamg on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 12:29pm

UPDATE: Judge bars one specific WHDH photographer from courthouse and jury.

WCVB reports the judge in the Aaron Hernandez case is considering banning Channel 7 from the courthouse after jurors reported one of its vans followed them yesterday and somebody inside took a picture of their license plate.

Topics:

Media

Free tagging:

WHDH

Aaron Hernandez

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Comments

"Followed" them? Maybe

By tcf098 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 12:41pm.

"Followed" them? Maybe Channel 7 was just going on a Dunkin run before heading back to the studio.

I like the headline

By Michael on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 12:46pm.

But you really need to lead off with "New at 12:30" and close with "what this means for your weekend, at 6"

What it really needs

By SHABAZZ X on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:08pm.

What it really needs is a big red "BREAKING NEWS" graphic for the picture.

ugh

By johnmcboston on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:31pm.

BREAKING NEWS - something happened hours ago!!

Dumbass live shots

By Michael on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:34pm.

"Well, Biff and Tiffany, it's quiet here outside the school now at 11:00, but 12 hours ago there were some VERY TENSE MOMENTS when someone saw the strap of a backpack hanging out of a locker"

Dumbass live tweeting from court

By roadman on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 2:01pm.

Oh, wait, Juror # 5 is now picking their nose. And Juror # 7 has started yawning again. The excitement is electric here.

Juror

By Anon on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 12:47pm.

Wants out of the trial if you ask me.

clearly not the case

By mg on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 2:08pm.

Since both jurors who reported this were questioned by the judge and affirmed that they were confident it wouldn't affect their ability to deliberate. If they wanted out, they could have said they were intimidated or prejudiced by it.

Interesting that

By Kathode on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 12:54pm.

WHDH's home page says nothing about their van except for "Two jurors questioned in Hernandez case." Is this supposed to encourage people to serve as jurors?

Let's

By TCM on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:04pm.

Burn them at the stake.

It says the juror took a picture of the news van's plate

By aldos on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:07pm.

I'm not sure but I think you have it backwards

Pathetic Producer?

By John Costello on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:08pm.

Ridiculous Repoter,? Klutzy Kameraman? Judgy Judge? Let's hear it for the mouth breathers and their equally vacuous audience at the Aliteration Station.

Saw on Twitter that the judge

By Hardy Har Har on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:08pm.

Saw on Twitter that the judge was about to talk to the jurors @ 945 - went to the WHDH live stream to watch. The judge proceeded to lay into WHDH for a couple of minutes, then the video feed mysteriously froze. A coincidence, I'm sure.

Yes!

By cybah on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:09pm.

I was watching this unfold on twitter also.. The judge is pissed!

Would someone translate?

By Felicity on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:12pm.

"Two jurors have reported that yesterday a particular WHDH-TV van was at the parking lot, was looking at jurors, was driving after cars and one the jurors got behind it (news van) and took a picture of the license plate (of the news van)," Garsh said

This sounds like the juror took a photo of the news van's plate.

Multiple Jurors

By SwirlyGrrl on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:16pm.

The news van followed the jury van to the lot where the jurors were parked. The news photographer took a photo of a juror's license plate AND another juror then tailed the news van and got a photo.

That's how I mentally sorted this out.

Disgusting TV "News"

By Elmer on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:22pm.

I don't own a television, but I admit to watching the online stream from WHDH, basically to see the weather forecast. The rest of their so-called "news coverage" is appalling; nothing but crumbs of information, with regurgitation of sensationalized national/world and celebrity gossip stories.

Particularly stomach turning are the self-promotions they constantly do; ludicrous claims that you can "trust" them for everything you "need to know". The thought that some people actually do is frightening!

WHDH

By cybah on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:33pm.

WHDH, like its sister station WSVN (in Miami) is the front runner of the of "Tabloid News" format. They basically mirrored WSVN, which is a nasty format. Makes"Xtra" or "Entertainment Tonight" seem like real news by comparison.

Lots of people watch WHDH and like it. I can't stand it, if i wanted flashy graphics and sound, I'd stare into a strobe light while listening to Trance, and it would be more informative.

I myself occasionaly watch WCVB. I find it to be less flashy, and more newsy. i was a faithful viewer of WBZ for many years.. gave up as they decided to go the route of WHDH and become 'flashier'.

Memories Of Sally Fitz

By Elmer on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 2:12pm.

WSVN's Sally Fitz pioneered the technique of emotionalizing her delivery so as to sensationalize even the most benign stories. It's now commonly used by nearly all TV news anchors and "reporters", but Sally Fitz was first and foremost.

The above clip is later in her career; Rick Sanchez is there as a protégé, still learning from Sally.

They dragged the others down too

By tachometer on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 4:16pm.

Back in the day WHDH was consistently last in the ratings but their viewership ratings spiked when they converted to the tabloid format. This caused a bit of a panic at channels 4 & 5 so they started trying to make their newscasts a bit flashier to fend off the competition. A sinking tide lowers all boats too I guess.

WHDH says...

By oddjob60 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:33pm.

This morning, in the Aaron Hernandez trial, the judge questioned 7News as to any impropriety with the jury in the case. 7News did not approach any juror or talk to any juror. We also did not videotape or take pictures of any juror. We are continuing to work with the court and investigate the situation.

That's it.

Source

I'd like to point out...

By M on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:51pm.

"approach" is not the same as "follow," and the allegation is that they took pics of license plates, not jurors themselves. So this statement could be accurate if the allegation is true.

Notice that they don't deny following the jurors

By perruptor on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:52pm.

Following the jurors is specific behavior that the judge finds unacceptable. I can't see any legitimate purpose for doing it, either.

high five

By M on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:54pm.

Let's hear it for careful wordcraft!

I also just saw this

By datadyne007 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:53pm.

I also just saw this statement and what it doesn't say is particularly damning. They deny taking pix of a juror, but don't deny taking pix of the license plate or following a juror.

Btw, love your screenname.

but

By cybah on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:55pm.

WHY were they taking pictures of the license plate?

Did they want to see if they could run the plate and see who it was?

I wouldn't put it past 7.

By datadyne007 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:59pm.

I wouldn't put it past 7 (Note: I generally like 7 for its entertainment value). They could easily find the owner with a plate. Happens all the time online when someone innocently posts a pic of a car without blurring the plate.

I can't think of another

By oddjob60 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 2:16pm.

I can't think of another reason why. It'd help them track down a juror quicker once the verdict's announced. "Exclusve! First words from a Hernandez juror! ONLY ON 7!!!!!!!!!"

Sorry, but jury deliberations

By roadman on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 5:11pm.

should remain secret even after the trial is over. And any juror who talks to the media upon completion of the trial (or publishes a book, etc.) should be charged with contempt of court.

Why?

By anon on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 9:48pm.

That makes absolutely no sense.

So, you'd have no problem with opening

By roadman on Tue, 04/14/2015 - 11:44am.

the jury room to the media so they can "live tweet" during the deliberations. Because allowing the jury to spill their guts about what went on during supposedly secret deliberations, even if it's "after" the verdict is rendered, is the same thing.

Awesome Alliteration!

By Sources Say on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 1:42pm.

Love your dramatic use of alliteration in the headline, Adam. It's so very 7News of you.

Frances Rivera

By datadyne007 on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 2:44pm.

Super awkward how Frances Rivera (excellent former WHDH reporter) is being forced to report about this while co-hosting her show with Thomas Roberts from 1-3 on MSNBC. She hasn't disclosed that she actually came from there today. Typically she likes to mention her time in Boston.

Just one station had a

By Hardy Har Har on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 3:09pm.

Just one station had a cameraman banned from the courthouse for the remainder of the trial.

Good

By roadman on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 4:17pm.

Let's ban all cameramen/women from courtrooms. Not to mention the "live tweeters".

WIth respect to the First Amendment, there is NO legitimate reason to have immediate coverage of a trial as it's happening. It's a serious legal proceeding, not a NASCAR race.

i have

By cybah on Thu, 04/09/2015 - 4:47pm.

I agree with ya roadman.. but I've said this before about the Tsnarnev trial and I was ripped to shreds over it on here.

Like you, I'm tired of seeing this and really wonder the 'news' factor of doing it this way other than just 'being the first to post about it'

Nosy Newsperson. Tracking

By Charlie on Mon, 04/13/2015 - 12:26pm.

Nosy Newsperson. Tracking Troubles. Forbidden Following. Privacy Problems.

TRIAL TROUBLES: Local TV station in hot water with Hernandez judge

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