This one started off better than last. This time I only had to deal with a former president’s death instead of the tragic death of 12 miners. It’s really damn sad that I consider that a good thing.
Anyway, after Ford’s death Bob and I started working on what is a growing tragedy, the war in Iraq. Our first major mission of the year was to head down to Fort Stewart, GA and do a story on troops deploying for the 3rd time to Iraq (first group to do so). The same week the president gave his speech on his new policy for Iraq. On our way down we learn that the prez will be going to Fort Benning, GA the day after the speech. The idea then becomes for us to cover that too. And then one more thing, we find out Katie Couric is anchoring live from Fort Stewart the day we arrive.
Bob was mad was so mad when he found out about Katie. It makes it look as though we’re playing catch up and well, he doesn’t like playing second fiddle to anyone, which, in way, is what this amounted to.
Within the platoons they have family support groups that create phone trees and share information on their movements within the region. We attended one of their meetings and interviewed wives about thier husbands deploying. They were honest and tired of having to be seperated from their husbands. More for their children than anything else. That was our story and it was received well.
The next day we did our thing live for a few hours and then drove clear across the state to Fort Benning in Columbus, GA.
I spent most of my time figuring out logisitcs for where we would be live from Fort Benning. Since the president was headed there dealing with White House advance can become complicated. They tell you where to go and it even trumps anything the Fort may have in mind.
Meanwhile, another producer from Atlanta was to help us with finding and interviewing a family with a good story. As it turns out we got a lead on a woman who had lost her son, written a book about the experience, and still vehmently supported the president.
We were already exhausted from the night before due to being up late shooting and then having to get up at 330 am to be live for the morning show so we weren’t really looking forward to interviewing her after the 9pm speech, having to go back and write and then having to be up early again to be live. But that’s what it takes.
We went the hotel Bob wrote as I made sure the satellite truck was ready to send his voiceover track to Atlanta. It didn’t take him long and we got to go to sleep by midnight ready for another 3am wake up call.
Neither one of us thought this was a remarkable story content-wise but for the next few days we were flooded with emails about how great it was. That may be but it makes me sad to think that some of the people I had spoken to and seen playing with their children throughout the week wouldn’t be alive much longer.