Oh MillyVegas.... oh Ben Roethlisberger...

This past week, Milledgeville has been home to media vans and reporters, a sight most have never seen before. As a mass communication student in this community I can see both sides to this debacle. It's neat to see what professionals do in high profile/breaking news type stories. But as a lover of this community and school, it is frustrating to see what lengths the media will go to in order to get a scoop. In class, Pate called it "Drive-by reporting" comparing it to a drive-by shooting... they come in, disrupt, cause tension, get the story, and get out of town, leaving everyone to deal with the strain their presence created.
Dr. Miller asked some questions on her blog concerning these reporters....

What did you learn this week about the nature of media coverage in a time of crisis or emergency?
~The nature of media coverage in a time of crisis or emergency is FAST, FAST, FAST! It's pretty cutthroat! They want the details first and it doesn't matter to them who they tick off, hurt, or embarrass. As long as they have the stories as they develop then they are golden.

What's the one lesson of crisis public relations you'll always remember from this event? What is your takeaway from this, as a practitioner?
~It is important to speak first on behalf of your client so that the story everyone is talking about is the one you want them to hear. Once a side gets presented, the court of public opinion has already cast their judgment. You have to make sure it is in your favor by getting your story out the way you want it, before anyone else has a chance to sway peoples minds.

And what would you like to tell the people of the world who have a whole new impression of Milledgeville?
~Milledgeville is a wonderful, small, southern town. It is our home away from home. An incident like this would have happened regardless of the actual town Roethlisberger was in. Milledgeville is one of the safest cities I've been in and this incident doesn't change how we feel about this town. And yes, the police chief may sound a little southern, esp with a name like Blue, but he's a cop, not a public speaker so give him a break.