Phoenix Chopper Crash
By now, I'm sure everyone has read or seen the story out of Phoenix of the helicopter crash.If you haven't seen the story, click: http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=61246
It brings back some memories for me.
One of my first days at WTLV 12 in Jacksonville was marked by a helicopter accident. Our traffic reporter was doing her report. It was her FIRST day on the job. The helicopter was circling an area bringing viewers the latest information on traffic tie-ups when it went down.
The pilot was able to maneuver the helicopter into an empty field before crashing, taking his life and that of the new reporter.
This crash also takes me back several years to a friend of mine who also died in a copter crash.
Rob Pierce was an extraordinary young man, full of youth, energy and loads of enthusiasm. He could do it all, report, shoot video, produce, you name it. We both went to the University of Florida.
I was a couple of years ahead of him, but watched him progress from a producer/reporter/anchor at the station's college channel, WUFT, on to WCJB TV 20 as a producer. Afterwards, we both ended up in Jacksonville. While there, Rob was a videographer shooting video on land and in sea! He did some excellent pieces with our main anchor, Marcia Ladendorff, on sea life and the environment. With Jeannie Blaylock, he shot and edited some of her first Buddy Check 12 stories, which by the way set the standard for tv stations across the country to do stories to remind women to do their monthly breast exams. From Jacksonville, Rob went to WTVJ to his first love of videography.
He was there for several years and shot alot of his video from the helicopter of WTVJ. Some of his work even showed up live on the TODAY show as he reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. It was great to see! The last time I saw Rob was at the Emmy Awards in Florida back in the mid to late 90's. He seemed happy and content.
However, in early 2000, that was cut short. His life was tragically taken in a senseless helicopter accident. I still remember reading about the chilling details of the accident and also on how senseless this accident was. I don't want to rehash those details, but all I will say, this should NOT have happened and yet it did. Rob was a great person, a person that the industry has missed, a person that I have missed.
The personal toll on bringing viewers a bird's eye view of the news can be devastating. Yet, one of the goals of the videographer to put the viewer right in the middle of the action, while delivering beautiful pictures.
Rob was an expert at that, among other things. He was literally a master of all trades!
He is still missed to this day.
It brings back some memories for me.
One of my first days at WTLV 12 in Jacksonville was marked by a helicopter accident. Our traffic reporter was doing her report. It was her FIRST day on the job. The helicopter was circling an area bringing viewers the latest information on traffic tie-ups when it went down.
The pilot was able to maneuver the helicopter into an empty field before crashing, taking his life and that of the new reporter.
This crash also takes me back several years to a friend of mine who also died in a copter crash.
Rob Pierce was an extraordinary young man, full of youth, energy and loads of enthusiasm. He could do it all, report, shoot video, produce, you name it. We both went to the University of Florida.
I was a couple of years ahead of him, but watched him progress from a producer/reporter/anchor at the station's college channel, WUFT, on to WCJB TV 20 as a producer. Afterwards, we both ended up in Jacksonville. While there, Rob was a videographer shooting video on land and in sea! He did some excellent pieces with our main anchor, Marcia Ladendorff, on sea life and the environment. With Jeannie Blaylock, he shot and edited some of her first Buddy Check 12 stories, which by the way set the standard for tv stations across the country to do stories to remind women to do their monthly breast exams. From Jacksonville, Rob went to WTVJ to his first love of videography.
He was there for several years and shot alot of his video from the helicopter of WTVJ. Some of his work even showed up live on the TODAY show as he reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. It was great to see! The last time I saw Rob was at the Emmy Awards in Florida back in the mid to late 90's. He seemed happy and content.
However, in early 2000, that was cut short. His life was tragically taken in a senseless helicopter accident. I still remember reading about the chilling details of the accident and also on how senseless this accident was. I don't want to rehash those details, but all I will say, this should NOT have happened and yet it did. Rob was a great person, a person that the industry has missed, a person that I have missed.
The personal toll on bringing viewers a bird's eye view of the news can be devastating. Yet, one of the goals of the videographer to put the viewer right in the middle of the action, while delivering beautiful pictures.
Rob was an expert at that, among other things. He was literally a master of all trades!
He is still missed to this day.
posted by Scott Rubens at
7:33 AM
1 Comments:
Scott, You're doing a great job with this blog. It's very informative, and is a great tool especially for those that may be interested in directing as a career.
As for Rob.... I had no idea. I remember him from WTLV, he was a great guy. So sorry to hear of his loss.
By
Debra Effinger, At
July 31, 2007 3:24 PM
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