PHOTO: MICHAEL A. HARRIS/THE EXAMINER
Imagine that you're a reporter going to cover the news, but instead you find yourself becoming the news. That's exactly what happened to this Examiner on Thursday, during a gubernatorial news conference on same-sex marriage.
Following some comments by New York Governor David A. Paterson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was set to speak. As the mayor began addressing a room full of about 100 of my colleagues during a press conference carried live on both local and national television, Bloomberg began scolding me. What began as an accident -- when a photographer knocked my coat and tape recorder on to the floor and caused it to play -- turned into an embarassing international news story.
The video below shows the incident. As a reporter who uses a wheelchair and wears hearing aids, it can be hard to hear and operate an audio recorder at times. In fact, according to a Daily News reporter sitting four feet away, the sounds from the device were inaudible. A NY1 News reporter later told me the sounds were not picked up by the microphones on the podium either. I turned the light on my camera off, checked to make sure that my BlackBerry was on vibrate. Meanwhile, Congress members, state legislators, city council members and fellow reporters turned their eyes toward me and began to whisper and stare. Even once the source of the sound was identified and someone bent down and handed me the coat, it still took me another 30 seconds or so to locate the recorder and turn it off. I was in a state of panic.
With the mayor scolding and staring down at me the entire time, as a dead silence filled the room, I slumped down in my chair, my face turned red and began to feel like less and less of a person.
Once the mayor resumed his remarks, I thought it was all over, but as I was about to learn, the worst was yet to come.
As the press conference began to wind down, the reporter in me kicked in, and I posed one of five questions allowed to the governor on the topic of the day - same-sex marriage legislation. At the conclusion of the press conference, I instinctively made a bee-line for the podium, snagging interviews with advocates and legislators.
As Jeremy Peters of the New York Times Albany Bureau approached me and asked what happened, I thought nothing of it. Reporters chat with eachother quite frequently, but when the conversation began to turn into an interview, I realized that I was becoming the story. In the coming hours, my BlackBerry beeped and my cell phone rang non-stop, as reporters from around the state and across tthe country began requesting interviews. I came home to find myself on every TV channel imaginable, even those few who weren't there.
By Friday morning, The London Telegraph had published the story, and video of the incident, on their Web site. For the first time in my life, I began to hate YouTube, as the video spread like a virus onto blogs all around the world I was embarassed and upset, but the mayor wasn't the only one I was upset with.
I was upset with the media, as well. From the Associated Press to Politico to The New York Times, every story referred to me as a "disabled reporter" or "reporter in a wheelchair." I consider myself neither: I am a reporter who happens to use a wheelchair. In every interview, I was careful to never even mention my disability. But that was the headline in every single news story.
Mayor Bloomberg even said: "I treated him the way I would have treated any other reporter." I only wish that the media had done the same.
Writing on the website of The New Republic, Michael Crowley put it best:
The video is a must for those interested. A minor incident but the kind of thing with which the NYC tabloids will have a field day.
If only the story had been limited to the New York City tabloids.
Part 2: A discussion on the mayor's apology and the media frenzy that ensued.
Comments
Great story and glad to see YOU posted it.
As writers, we never intend to be the story, but when we are can only hope that those covering us are fair and unbiased, leaving their misperceptions out of it.
Was glad to see that Bloomberg mentioned how you are there all the time and that you're a good reporter.
Although, did he start to use profanity in that recap? And who was the man behind him shaking his head and smirking?
It is a shame to see the media handle it like that, Michael. As the parent of two DHH kids, I can completely sympathize. Even at a young age they just want to be treated the same, not singled out, not have their hearing loss / hearing aids mentioned. As my eight year old son says, “Who cares if I wear hearing aids? I’m no different than anyone else other than the fact I have some extra stuff on my ears.” :-)
Bloomberg was right about one thing, Michael Harris is a good reporter.
You handled the situation very well. I am sorry you had to go through the media craze. Still we are proud of you!
You handled the situation very well. I am sorry you had to go through the media craze. Still we are proud of you!
"disabled reporter"???
I think it is those columnists who labeled you this are mentally disabled. Medias now a day really don't have any decency, or common senses, do they?
It is not appropriate for the music to be on, but Bloomberg don't need to have the blue face as he is going to kill someone (probably you).
There is nothing you did wrong (it is an accident), don't worry, don't listen to those good for nothing medias.
Your articles have shown that you are earnest in your research and that denotes a professional reporter. I understand that the Mayor felt passionately about the issue but accidents happen. I think it's a great reminder about a reporters' professional ideals.
So did the reporter who set off your recorder do anything about his causing this? Help turn it off? And who is that idiot behind Bloomberg?
Great story Michael, you got me hooked. I will be tuning in for part 2, and that is what it is all about.
You were handed lemons and you made lemon aide.
Well played.
Michael:
Just loved reading about you in the New York Times! Awesome. Let this be a lesson especially to public officials who need to have their collective consciousness raised.
Good article. Bloomberg proved once again that he's an arrogant, self-important jerk.
I'm with you all the way, and I probably would have behaved in the same fashion (keep quiet, try to fix the problem), but the Monday-morning quarterback in me would have told me the next day "I should've said 'Hold your horses. I'm movin' as quickly as I can!'"
Gary www.garypresley.com
Bloomberg could have handled this in such a better, more professional, way (same goes for the rest of the media). Glad you posted your side of the story. People need to lighten up. Stuff happens and we need to take it in stride. He could have just smiled and said something funny. Instead, Bloomberg reminds me of Nigel Tufnel in Spinal Tap in his dressing room complaining about the size of the appetizer bread.
Wow, he gave a go-to-hell look, didn't he? That was unnecessary, and I agree with Curtis, he could have made a funny comment & put everyone at ease. Instead, it looked like everyone was a bit uncomfortable, not just you Michael!
Houston Legal Issues Examiner
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!