Seattle’s Broadcast Steering Committee Takes Off!

Members of Seattle’s Broadcast Community have always compared notes in an informal way. We’ve discussed newsroom trends while waiting behind yellow tape at a crime scene, or over a drink at a going away party for a retiring colleague.

Now there is a more formal outlet for our radio and TV news members, one in which we not only trade gossip and complaints but, more importantly, seek solutions to common problems and concerns. It’s SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local's Broadcast Steering Committee.

Our second meeting was held May 3, and it was enthusiastically attended by shop stewards from KING-FM, KPLU and the three organized TV stations.

We spent a lot of time talking about the dangers faced by field crews. Our meeting came just two days after May Day, when at least one reporter and several photographers were injured while covering the downtown Seattle protests. 

We discussed ongoing safety concerns in the field: interference with live shots, harassment from unfriendly citizens, even threats of violence. Our members have so far not experienced the assaults and robberies that have plagued news crews in California, but it is getting more dangerous out there.

SAG-AFTRA Seattle will host a safety summit this coming September. We will focus on how best to protect our members as they do an increasingly dangerous job. Once details of the summit are finalized, we’ll send out an email.

Meanwhile, the next Seattle BSC meeting will be held in August, date to be determined.

This item was originally featured in the August 2016 local newsletter.