The Mississippi river starts as an ankle deep creek in Northern Minnesota. From there it flows south, growing stronger till it has zig-zaged its way thru America.

On Friday, I was part of the little creek that became the Duke Lacrosse “bombshell.” I was working with Julia Lewis in Durham covering the Helping Hand Mission’s Christmas dinner. Julia and I were chewing the fat about work when she got word Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong didn't have enough evidence to proceed with a rape case against the three Duke Lacrosse players. We jumped in the van and flew to Mike Nijfong’s office. Julia was yelling phone numbers for me to dial on my phone while she was talking on hers.

We arrived at the courthouse and got a copy of the DA’s statement and within seconds she was on the phone, live on the air, and it was out. This huge story was all over the country and it all started with that one phone call. Within minutes all the...

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My story tonight will start with a single black frame of video. That frame will never air. The director won’t punch to the video until he actually sees something there. But that one frame of black video, that 1/30th of a second, will stand as a symbol of what TV News would be if it weren’t for the dedicated TV News Photographers that risk they’re life everyday.

That single frame of video will also stand as a tribute to Gordon Davis, a ten-year veteran of WJLA TV who was killed earlier this week while covering a news story. Gordon stepped in front of a car while crossing the street after shooting an overnight fire. He leaves a wife and 15 year old daughter behind.

Gordon’s death underscores the dangers News Photographers face every day. Let’s face it, we generally show up where something bad has happened, it’s not always a safe area. And in our need to be first on the air, sometimes we take short-cuts to get there.
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Richard Adkins
News Photographer

This is one of those days that highlight the glamour, glitz and glory of the fast paced world of electronic journalism. And I have some lovely swamp land for sale as well.

You can’t take cameras in the federal courthouse. So federal court duty means standing outside all day waiting for someone to come or go from the building. Because there are so few step needed to get from the street through the front doors, you’ve got to be ready every second with camera to capture the action.

Today was cold… and the wind blew all day long. The building blocks the sun and you’re stuck in the shade shivering and pacing the sidewalk.

We’re here to cover the Grand Jury, and Grand Jury meetings are secret, so we have no idea when the guy we’re looking for will be coming in. I start the day 9:30am, it’s 2:40pm before our subject comes strolling in. He’s there ‘til...

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Richard Adkins
News Photographer

We don’t work in an office. That’s not what we do. It’s easy to forget, but everyday News Photographers face perils, dangers and troubles in what may seem like the simplest places.

Not only do we have to overcome the elements, dodge the hurdles placed in the way by emergency officials and find the perfect view of the event… we have to overcome the pressure to be first on the air, first on the scene, first with the pictures.

Overnight, WJLA News Photographer Gordon Davis was killed when he tried to cross a road while covering a fire. He apparently didn’t see the car, and stepped right in front of it. He had parked his microwave truck on the opposite side of the road from the fire.

With the camera on your shoulder, all News Photographers are blind on the right side. I don’t know if the camera blocked Gordon’s view, or if he simply just missed the approaching...

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Richard Adkins
News Photographer

There’s an old truck driving song that claims the singer is “Looking at the world through a windshield”… I know the feeling, I spend a lot of time on the road.

It’s one hundred and thirty two miles perfectly from the back door of WRAL to the Old Courthouse in Wilmington, NC. I know this all too well, I drove it 6 times last week. It’s two hours, add some change if you hit traffic, and it’s all interstate four lane. Sort of a boring drive, but one you can put both the engine and your mind on cruise control.

Think about it, two hours each way, that’s four hours total and half of an average work day. Add it all up, then add Friday’s trip to Greenville, and you get half the average work week spent behind the wheel.

Don’t get me wrong, I love to drive. I enjoy a few hours of uninterrupted NPR, or listening to some Classic Rock on the...

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