1. Black Rainbow
Tuesday, March 11th-10:43 a.m.
1,392 words. Approximate reading time: 6 minutes, 56 seconds.
“You can’t be serious with this,” Elaina said as she walked into her editor-in-chief’s office, holding up a few sheets of paper covered in text. Howard, the editor-in-chief, looked up from his computer at Elaina with an exasperated facial expression, and motioned for Elaina to close the door to his office behind her.
Elaina shut the door quietly, and continued, “I can’t believe you’re asking me to put a positive spin on this, Howard. How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
“Look, Elaina,” Howard sighed, “I get it. The world’s going to shit and it’s tough to make some stories look good, but these sorts of stories in particular need to have some sort of positive take on them.”
“Seriously? It was bad enough when there was a shortage of aluminum and I had to turn a story about empty beverage coolers in stores into a fluff piece about how people were having trouble finding their favorite soda and having to settle for the generic. But this, this is-”
“I’m gonna cut you off right there, Elaina,” Howard said. “This is your job, so you either need to do the work assigned to you or you need to start drafting a resignation letter.”
Elaina opened her mouth to protest, but Howard raised his hand up to stop her. “The station doesn’t want to lose you; you know that. But that doesn’t mean that you can just come in here and tell me how to present the stories.
“Obviously, we want to make sure that the people are informed and aware of what’s going on in the world around them. That’s our main focus.” Elaina nodded at that. “And sure, pumping in a little bit of fear-mongering helps keep our ratings high,” Howard joked. “People like to be scared, a little. But what people don’t want is to be completely terrified.”
“Okay, Howard, I get that,” Elaina responded, “But it really seems irresponsible to try and make a nothing-burger out of the fact that shelves are empty in grocery stores and that reps are saying they aren’t sure if they’re going to be able to fill them back up. I don’t want people terrified, either, but I’d like to see them be prepared.”
“I know, but you should know better than that,” Howard said. “It just doesn’t work that way. What’s that line from the old movie? ‘A person is smart; people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.’ We have to report the news, okay? But we don’t have to report it in a way that’s gonna cause riots.”
Elaina sighed heavily. “Alright, fine. Just... help me out here a little bit. What do I do? Just read out the facts in a chipper voice and act like everything’s okay, or what?”
“It’s all right there in the report from your sub-editor. The fact checkers have gone over everything and okayed it. Just play up the fact that government experts say not to worry, and that they’ve already come up with a solution to the problem.”
“Sure,” Elaina said with a derisive chuckle. “They’ve solved the problem by only allowing certain people into the grocery stores now. I guess it’s a little easier to keep the shelves full when you’re telling a whole segment of the population that they can’t eat anymore.”
“Hey, now, careful with the tone,” Howard warned. “Those people made their beds. And it’s not like they don’t have a choice still.”
“You’re right. Sorry,” Elaina replied, then glanced at her watch. “Shit-we’re going live in about an hour. Alright, let me go get my thoughts together and then get into hair and makeup. Thanks for talking this out with me, Howard. I’m feeling better about it.”
“Glad to hear it!” Howard said as he stood up from his desk and walked around to the door, opening it for Elaina.
“Thanks again,” Elaina said as she walked out of Howard’s office. “I won’t let you down, How.”
She made her way back to her desk and sat down in her chair with a sigh. She took a few moments to read over the facts of the story again, then began practicing her opening quietly. When she thought she had it down, a good mix of “serious news story” and “genius dog can do math,” she typed up some copy and sent it out to the Teleprompter operator, then slipped over to hair and makeup.
While Elaina was getting her hair done, she eyed the stylist, a young woman in her early 20s. “Hey Jenn,” Elaina said, catching the stylist’s attention. “What do you think about this? Reports we’re getting are saying grocery stores are running out of food.”
Jenn looked slightly uncomfortable. “I don’t really... I mean-look, I’m just a hairstylist. What I think doesn’t really matter in the long run, right? Is the government doing anything about it?”
“Yeah,” Elaina replied, but something in Jenn’s eyes made Elaina think twice about elaborating. It was always the same with Jenn; she didn’t ever seem to have thoughts of her own. That scared Elaina a little if she thought too much about it, so she just tried not to think about it.
“Well, that’s good,” Jenn said. “Then there’s nothing to worry about, right?”
“Right,” Elaina muttered. After her hair was done, she headed back into the newsroom and took her seat at the desk in front of the cameras.
“You got my copy, right?” she asked the Teleprompter operator. He nodded and smiled at her. She smiled back just as the producer came bustling in.
“Alright, everyone!” the producer shouted. “Let’s get ready for the news! We are live in 10... 9...”
Elaina took a deep breath and looked into the camera, twisting her lips into a smile. ‘I’m doing the right thing,’ she thought. ‘I’m doing the right thing, I’m doing the right thing. The people need to be informed but not terrified. And I need to keep my job.’
“3... 2...” the producer pointed at Elaina and the words on the Teleprompter started slowly scrolling while Elaina read.
“This is Channel 3 News at Noon; I’m Elaina Steamer. Today’s top story: experts warn that you may see less food on the shelves the next time you go to the grocery store, but that may actually be a good thing! We'll tell you why.
“Also coming up: President Crupps announced today that government health experts are working on new protocols to keep you and your family safe during this difficult time. Channel 3’s Noel Channing sits down with Dr. Brooks Acker to find out what we need to be doing to combat the virus.
“And meet the brave rescue pup that ‘rescued’ her owner by dialing 911. That and more, today on Channel 3 News at Noon.” She shifted her chair to face Camera Two as the title graphics played and waited for her producer’s signal. As soon as she got it, she began speaking again.
“Some grocery stores have been reporting that their shelves have been emptied and they aren’t sure when items are going to be restocked. However, our sources inform us that government experts have already worked out a plan to alleviate the strain on grocery vendors across the country. Effective April 1st, those that have not been inoculated against the virus will no longer be allowed access to grocery stores, including big box stores that also sell groceries.
“This news comes on the heels of a recent announcement that only inoculated individuals are to be allowed in entertainment venues such as stadiums and concert halls, and many experts are hailing this news as a good thing, as they are hopeful that more people will decide to get inoculated against the virus, as the inoculation rate still hovers at around 85% of the population.
“I’m joined now by Noel Channing, who had an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Brooks Acker to get full details on the new protection protocols coming from the NHD. Noel?”
“Thanks, Elaina. I sure would hate to roll up to the grocery store on April 1st without my inoculation code!” Noel exclaimed.
Elaina chuckled and said, “That’s right, Noel, and should serve as a reminder to our viewers to make sure that their apps are always kept up to date. So what do you have for us on these new protection protocols?”
“Well, Elaina, I spoke with Dr. Acker about the new protocols that are coming from the NHD over the next few weeks, and here’s what he had to say...”
1,392 words. Approximate reading time: 6 minutes, 56 seconds.
“You can’t be serious with this,” Elaina said as she walked into her editor-in-chief’s office, holding up a few sheets of paper covered in text. Howard, the editor-in-chief, looked up from his computer at Elaina with an exasperated facial expression, and motioned for Elaina to close the door to his office behind her.
Elaina shut the door quietly, and continued, “I can’t believe you’re asking me to put a positive spin on this, Howard. How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
“Look, Elaina,” Howard sighed, “I get it. The world’s going to shit and it’s tough to make some stories look good, but these sorts of stories in particular need to have some sort of positive take on them.”
“Seriously? It was bad enough when there was a shortage of aluminum and I had to turn a story about empty beverage coolers in stores into a fluff piece about how people were having trouble finding their favorite soda and having to settle for the generic. But this, this is-”
“I’m gonna cut you off right there, Elaina,” Howard said. “This is your job, so you either need to do the work assigned to you or you need to start drafting a resignation letter.”
Elaina opened her mouth to protest, but Howard raised his hand up to stop her. “The station doesn’t want to lose you; you know that. But that doesn’t mean that you can just come in here and tell me how to present the stories.
“Obviously, we want to make sure that the people are informed and aware of what’s going on in the world around them. That’s our main focus.” Elaina nodded at that. “And sure, pumping in a little bit of fear-mongering helps keep our ratings high,” Howard joked. “People like to be scared, a little. But what people don’t want is to be completely terrified.”
“Okay, Howard, I get that,” Elaina responded, “But it really seems irresponsible to try and make a nothing-burger out of the fact that shelves are empty in grocery stores and that reps are saying they aren’t sure if they’re going to be able to fill them back up. I don’t want people terrified, either, but I’d like to see them be prepared.”
“I know, but you should know better than that,” Howard said. “It just doesn’t work that way. What’s that line from the old movie? ‘A person is smart; people are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals and you know it.’ We have to report the news, okay? But we don’t have to report it in a way that’s gonna cause riots.”
Elaina sighed heavily. “Alright, fine. Just... help me out here a little bit. What do I do? Just read out the facts in a chipper voice and act like everything’s okay, or what?”
“It’s all right there in the report from your sub-editor. The fact checkers have gone over everything and okayed it. Just play up the fact that government experts say not to worry, and that they’ve already come up with a solution to the problem.”
“Sure,” Elaina said with a derisive chuckle. “They’ve solved the problem by only allowing certain people into the grocery stores now. I guess it’s a little easier to keep the shelves full when you’re telling a whole segment of the population that they can’t eat anymore.”
“Hey, now, careful with the tone,” Howard warned. “Those people made their beds. And it’s not like they don’t have a choice still.”
“You’re right. Sorry,” Elaina replied, then glanced at her watch. “Shit-we’re going live in about an hour. Alright, let me go get my thoughts together and then get into hair and makeup. Thanks for talking this out with me, Howard. I’m feeling better about it.”
“Glad to hear it!” Howard said as he stood up from his desk and walked around to the door, opening it for Elaina.
“Thanks again,” Elaina said as she walked out of Howard’s office. “I won’t let you down, How.”
She made her way back to her desk and sat down in her chair with a sigh. She took a few moments to read over the facts of the story again, then began practicing her opening quietly. When she thought she had it down, a good mix of “serious news story” and “genius dog can do math,” she typed up some copy and sent it out to the Teleprompter operator, then slipped over to hair and makeup.
While Elaina was getting her hair done, she eyed the stylist, a young woman in her early 20s. “Hey Jenn,” Elaina said, catching the stylist’s attention. “What do you think about this? Reports we’re getting are saying grocery stores are running out of food.”
Jenn looked slightly uncomfortable. “I don’t really... I mean-look, I’m just a hairstylist. What I think doesn’t really matter in the long run, right? Is the government doing anything about it?”
“Yeah,” Elaina replied, but something in Jenn’s eyes made Elaina think twice about elaborating. It was always the same with Jenn; she didn’t ever seem to have thoughts of her own. That scared Elaina a little if she thought too much about it, so she just tried not to think about it.
“Well, that’s good,” Jenn said. “Then there’s nothing to worry about, right?”
“Right,” Elaina muttered. After her hair was done, she headed back into the newsroom and took her seat at the desk in front of the cameras.
“You got my copy, right?” she asked the Teleprompter operator. He nodded and smiled at her. She smiled back just as the producer came bustling in.
“Alright, everyone!” the producer shouted. “Let’s get ready for the news! We are live in 10... 9...”
Elaina took a deep breath and looked into the camera, twisting her lips into a smile. ‘I’m doing the right thing,’ she thought. ‘I’m doing the right thing, I’m doing the right thing. The people need to be informed but not terrified. And I need to keep my job.’
“3... 2...” the producer pointed at Elaina and the words on the Teleprompter started slowly scrolling while Elaina read.
“This is Channel 3 News at Noon; I’m Elaina Steamer. Today’s top story: experts warn that you may see less food on the shelves the next time you go to the grocery store, but that may actually be a good thing! We'll tell you why.
“Also coming up: President Crupps announced today that government health experts are working on new protocols to keep you and your family safe during this difficult time. Channel 3’s Noel Channing sits down with Dr. Brooks Acker to find out what we need to be doing to combat the virus.
“And meet the brave rescue pup that ‘rescued’ her owner by dialing 911. That and more, today on Channel 3 News at Noon.” She shifted her chair to face Camera Two as the title graphics played and waited for her producer’s signal. As soon as she got it, she began speaking again.
“Some grocery stores have been reporting that their shelves have been emptied and they aren’t sure when items are going to be restocked. However, our sources inform us that government experts have already worked out a plan to alleviate the strain on grocery vendors across the country. Effective April 1st, those that have not been inoculated against the virus will no longer be allowed access to grocery stores, including big box stores that also sell groceries.
“This news comes on the heels of a recent announcement that only inoculated individuals are to be allowed in entertainment venues such as stadiums and concert halls, and many experts are hailing this news as a good thing, as they are hopeful that more people will decide to get inoculated against the virus, as the inoculation rate still hovers at around 85% of the population.
“I’m joined now by Noel Channing, who had an opportunity to sit down with Dr. Brooks Acker to get full details on the new protection protocols coming from the NHD. Noel?”
“Thanks, Elaina. I sure would hate to roll up to the grocery store on April 1st without my inoculation code!” Noel exclaimed.
Elaina chuckled and said, “That’s right, Noel, and should serve as a reminder to our viewers to make sure that their apps are always kept up to date. So what do you have for us on these new protection protocols?”
“Well, Elaina, I spoke with Dr. Acker about the new protocols that are coming from the NHD over the next few weeks, and here’s what he had to say...”