by Amani Channel

Any broadcast news professional knows the dangers that go along with field reporting. There are hostile individuals who may take their aggression out on a crew. Hurricane coverage can get dicey, and then there are the live shots.

Any photographer or LTO (live truck operator) will tell you never to drive with the mast up. The mast is the “stick” that you see on top of live trucks that allows them to beam a live signal via microwave to the station. It’s probably more technical than that, but I’m no broadcast engineer.

Regardless, a local Atlanta news crew made a mistake that could have cost them their lives.

From WSB-TV

Channel 2 Action News reporter Tom Jones had just finished a live report with photographer Leonard Raglin at the Fulton County jail. They were driving from the jail when the mast, the telescoping pole that carries a microwave dish used to send video to the station, hit the power lines. The mast is supposed to be lowered if the truck is in motion.

Jones and his photog escaped with no major injuries. These guys are lucky to be alive to say the least, and there’s really no excuse for what happened. Mistakes like that occur when crews are rushing, and not paying attention.

A reporter should always double check with his photog to make sure the mast is down. I’m sure that Jones and his cameraman are counting their blessings because they could have been cooked.