When something as tragic as the massacre in Orlando occurs, local stations often stretch already thin staffs even thinner in an attempt to provide viewers with updates about what’s happening and why.
TVSpy reached out to the Orlando station ownership groups to find out how they’re pitching in to help out:
Cox Media Group-owned WFTV:
Cox Media Group tells TVSpy WJAX-WFOX in Jacksonville, WSB in Atlanta, WFXT in Boston and WHIO in Dayton and its Washington, D.C. bureau sent reporters, photographers and producers to help the Orlando ABC affiliate and to provide live coverage for its other stations in the group “without imposing on WFTV.”
CMG is sharing its content among its TV, Print and radio outlets and sent a digital team to “back-up WFTV and give content to the group.”
A Cox spokesperson tells us other stations may join later depending on how the story develops.
Hearst-owned station WESH:
Currently WBAL in Baltimore, WXII in Winston-Salem-Greensboro, N.C., WYFF in Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C. and WGAL in Lancaster-Harrisburg, PA. have sent people to the Orlando NBC affiliate. “WPBF in West Palm Beach also is providing assistance in Orlando and sharing content with WESH — and WESH with WPBF,” says a Hearst spokesperson. “Hearst Television’s Washington, DC, news bureau also deployed a team and provided important content from D.C. throughout the coverage.”
Fox-owned WOFL:
A Fox spokesperson told TVSpy the station group is sending members from its other stations, including Philadelphia and Chicago, to Orlando. A team from Tampa station WTVT will be handling most of the live shots for the owned stations.
Graham-owned WKMG:
“Our hearts go out to the people of Orlando. WKMG is part of the Graham Media family and we all support each other,” said the vp and GM of Detroit NBC affiliate WDIV. “I can’t imagine what they and their viewers are going through.”
A WDIV spokesperson told TVSpy there’s been a “concerted effort by all GMG stations to assist WKMG.”
“WDIV has offered to help in any way,” said the spokesperson. “We assisted them with social media support on Sunday and we sent our news anchor, Kimberly Gill, down to Orlando to report for us, and to help our sister station, if needed.”