Media participation in rescue questioned

Journalism ethics came into question this week after two local television news stations assisted Henderson Police in a strategy to rescue two children held inside a barricaded apartment.

"It definitely sparked a lively debate in our newsroom," said Ed Chapuis, news director for KTNV Channel 13.

Jesus Velasquez, a photojournalist from Channel 13, was the first media person to arrive at the scene Tuesday afternoon after James Everfield, 48, had barricaded himself in an upstairs apartment in the Hampton Court complex at 1030 Center St., along with his girlfriend, Nichelle Jackson, 29, and her two children, Terry, 5, and Larry, 6.

A news team from KVBC Channel 3 arrived a short time later, setting up cameras and calling in their helicopter pilot for aerial coverage.

About 7:15 p.m. -- more than seven hours into the standoff -- Henderson Police requested and got cooperation from Channel 3's helicopter pilot to hover directly above the unit.

Police hoped the noise would distract the occupants while the Special Response Team drilled a hole in the apartment's wall for a fiber-optic camera to monitor Everfield's movements.

The helicopter hovered above the unit for about five minutes before flying away, refueling and returning again to assist police by making several additional passes overhead.

About 8:15 p.m., Capt. Mike Mayberry notified Channel 13 that Everfield wanted an exclusive interview with them, adding that police wished to use the station's cameraman and two SRT officers disguised as reporters to gain access to and arrest Everfield.

Photojournalist Erich Albl volunteered, but later turned over the $50,000 camera to police who would go it alone when Chapuis made the call not to put his employee in danger.

"There were two issues," Chapuis said. "Police officers are paid to be in the line of fire. As journalists, we take risks but not undue risks. This was one that was not required of us, and it was beyond what was necessary.

"The second issue is the ethics of cooperating with the police and, in essence, lying to draw a guy out. We are supposed to be objective, fair and not lie. I allowed them to use the camera because Mayberry expressed a sincere concern for the safety and livelihood of the children."

Chapuis said he "slept just fine" Tuesday night after making the decision after 10 minutes of discussions with his reporter, cameramen and police.

"The ethical dilemma comes down to this: We are charged with being fair, objective and truthful. When reporters walk up to a door, the people think that we are who we say we are.

"You don't see something like this very often. Metro Police have never asked us to do anything like this. Henderson was in command of the situation, and they thought it was necessary."

Mayberry told the media about SRT's strategies upon enlisting their support, something Metro's Special Weapons and Tactics team has never done.

Roger Bell, Channel 3 news director, commended Chapuis' decision not to involve a photojournalist in police business, and said he did not have a problem with involving the station's helicopter because it was already at the scene.

"It's always a give-and-take situation," Bell said. "We're always working together with police. This was more an issue of cost in flying the helicopter than anything else."

Journalism educators took a different view.

"I'm a really strong believer that journalists should cover the news, not create the news," said Mary Hausch, an assistant professor in UNLV's Hank Greenspun School of Communication. "How can you be objective when you become a part of the story?"

Hausch, a 20-year newspaper veteran, said she was uncomfortable with the reporters "bragging" in their coverage about their stations' involvement in the incident.

"A journalist is not a policeman, and a journalist is not a role that can be modified to become one," said Travis Linn, a journalism professor at the University of Nevada, Reno. "But a journalist is also a citizen, and if a citizen is called upon to help police, they should help."

Linn, whose broadcast background includes jobs in Texas and with CBS News, said Channel 3's helicopter was able to help police accomplish a goal without deceiving anyone or altering the story, and at the same time got the chance to get a better view of the residence.

"As far as the police requesting Channel 13 to participate in deception and the television station going along with it ... it's deception whether or not (the photojournalist) was there.

"The consequences are that in the future people may not believe they are talking to reporters, which means the reporters could be in danger and their credibility has been undermined."

Hausch cited a tenet of the Society of Professional Journalists, a fraternal organization, which demands that "journalists should be free of obligations other than the public's right to know."

"I would question your conduct if a man lit himself on fire and you stood there and kept taking pictures instead of trying to put the fire out," Hausch said. "Those types of situations are rare and fairly unique. I understand the competitive nature of the business, wanting to get the exclusive first. ... (But) when you see people bragging about their role, it makes you wonder ... are (the media) cutting deals with (sources)?"

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