CNN can report WTC security is ‘pretty damn good’ – but first they have to bail out their news crew
More on security lapses at WTC
In November, 1995, on the day after a school bus was hijacked in Florida, I was in a meeting where a news executive wanted one of our reporters to do a “Could it happen here?” story. The suggestion was made that the reporter see if they could actually walk onto a school bus in Maryland while one of our crews shot video from a distance.
I’m not sure if I used the words, “That’s the dumbest idea I’ve heard from a boss in a long while”, but I’m certain it was at least evident in the tone of my voice as I told the assembled staff, “Of course he can walk onto the bus, but then what?”
It’s the “but then what” that news people (and others) often fail to take into account when they come up with such exciting and bold ideas. My discussion of the “but then what” that day, which included the possibility of our reporter being arrested, helped kill that story (and my relationship with that boss).
My guess is that someone in the office at CNN or out in the field forgot to have the all important “but then what” discussion when they assigned a crew to report on security at the World Trade Center site. There have been two well-publicized security breaches, including four BASE jumpers who sneaked in the day before and got to floor 104 for their jump.
The “but then what” in this case resulted in the arrest Tuesday of producer Yon Pomrenze and cameraman Connor Fieldman Boals. The pair apparently made climbing a fence part of their plan for getting inside.
CNN seems to be putting into place the “we will disavow any knowledge of your mission” plan in their response to questions about this WTF moment.
Whether it was a rogue assignment hatched in the field, or plotted by a news executive in an office at CNN’s World Headquarters in Atlanta, the climbing the fence move reminds me of this: Through the years, many a person on an important mission has successfully made it over the fence at The White House. But their excuse for not asking “but then what” can usually be chalked up to the mental illness that gets them free room and board at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. What’s CNN’s excuse?
Tina Moore, New York Daily News:
The duo first tried to push their way though a partially open gate at Vessey and Washington Sts. around 2 p.m., he said.
They were stopped by a PA police officer who told them they weren’t allowed inside.
“Both then told the officer that, ‘If a 16-year-old can get on the site we should be able to get in as well,’” Coleman said.
“This is an incredible waste of police resources,” fumed PA spokesman Joseph Pentangelo.
The men then allegedly walked east to the Vesey Street entrance to the World Trade Center PATH station, and officers allegedly saw Boles twice try to climb the fence. He was stopped, Port Authority police said.
The men then allegedly tried to push their way forcibly through a controlled gate at Vesey and Church streets, at which point they were arrested.
They were charged with criminal trespass, obstruction of governmental administration, and disorderly conduct, police said. Police also confiscated a GoPro camera and a video camera on a tripod the producers were carrying.
A CNN representative said the producers’ alleged actions were not part of their assignment.
“They were not asked to sneak onto the WTC site,” the representative told 1010 WINS. “They were in the surrounding area to do a story about the recent incidents at the WTC and other sites – and the notion that daredevils are being drawn to them.”
