Behind the scenes at ABC Channel 7 News

        By Ethan Singleton

Earthscope recently visited the headquarters of ABC Channel 7 Bay Area
News and found a team of researchers, technicians and news anchors
committed to broadcast journalism.  With the internet becoming the
most popular source for information, many are questioning the
significance of television news.  However, whatever the medium, the
importance of well-researched, responsible journalism is essential.
While there are many people with a narrow view of what journalism
should look like, all that really matters is that people stay
knowledgeable about the world they live in, and that there are people
committed to giving them the tools they need to be educated, informed
members of society. This requires dedicated teams of professionals
worldwide, and ABC Channel 7 news is just that.

Former news anchor Cheryl Jennings was our tour guide. She lead us
into the room where seemingly everything happens.  In one corner are
the researchers, in another the video editors, and in the middle of
all this is where the filming takes place. This came as a surprise to
us; we had expected there to be a whole separate room where the
filming took place. It became clear through our conversations with the
staff that there is no clear work schedule at ABC Channel 7, it is not
a standard 9-5 job.  Some people have to be in as early as 4 am for
the morning broadcast. It is unpredictable in others ways as well,
because they never know what kind of day they are going to have.  This
makes sense seeing as it is dependent on events in the outside world.