All four major Atlanta news stations had crews in Jackson on Wednesday to cover the execution of Troy Davis, which occurred shortly after 11:00 p.m. following a last-minute postponement and a day of protest.
NBC-affiliate WXIA had two reporters in Jackson, covering both the execution and the interplay between protestors and police officers. Matt Pearl was joined by Devin Feely, who described a “massive police presence.”
At the top of WGCL‘s 11 p.m. newscast, the CBS-affiliate read a sampling of how viewers were reacting to the execution on Facebook. Reporter Jennifer Mayerle was in Jackson.
George Franco reported from Jackson for Fox O&O WAGA. Beyond providing updates on the progress of the execution, Franco spoke to a handful of protesters, including Atlanta-based rapper Big Boi.
ABC-affiliate WSB extended its 11 p.m. newscast to a full hour on Wednesday, preempting “Nightline.” Tony Thomas reported live from Jackson throughout the night.
“What strikes me as a person whose not a lawyer is the cruelty of this whole process,” Thomas said at one point, describing the hours between the scheduled time of the execution and the Supreme Court’s decision not to issue a stay. “As several hundred protesters gather, it’s like a roller coaster ride of emotions for everyone involved.”