Storm madness
Television reporters have a tough job to do during a typhoon. A TVB reporter braved the recent storm to give viewers a first-hand account of what was happening in Tsim Sha Tsui.
The wind was so strong that night he was almost blown down, but he was very brave and did a good job.
Everybody knows it is dangerous to go outside during bad weather. When the typhoon swept past the city last Sunday, there was so much wind and rain the No 9 signal was raised.
But news reporters have to do their job, come rain or shine.
They deserve praise from the community.
Yanki Ho Tsz-yan, Kit Sam Lam Bing Yim Secondary School
From the Editor
Thanks for your letter, Yanki. There is brave, and then there is just plain silly. News journalists are brave when they go into conflict zones or risk imprisonment or worse to bring important stories to the world. Those are stories worth risking life and limb for.
But no one 'needs' to know what a storm looks like, or worse, what a TV reporter trying to file a report in a storm looks like. That's rather like rushing into a burning building to tell viewers what it feels like to be trapped in a fire.
There needs to be some sort of sense involved when gathering news stories. The risk needs to be weighed against the value to the viewer. Frankly, if you want to know what a roaring typhoon looks like in Hong Kong - next time one comes along, look out of your window.
Susan, Editor
