Reporters, camera operators and journalism colleagues everywhere openly struggled with their shock and grief on social media Wednesday after TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were shot dead while reporting live on air in Virginia.
It was, perhaps, an unusual display of emotion for people typically trained to keep feelings to themselves.
In the hours after the slaying of the two WDBJ-TV journalists, anchors, reporters and entire newsrooms posted tributes and photos in solidarity with the fallen journalists. Vicki Chen, a 24-year-old investigative producer with KVUE in Austin, Texas, called on her colleagues to use the hashtag #WeStandWithWDBJ.
She was soon joined by other journalists.
New York social news editor Micah Grimes urged his fellow journalists to “talk to colleagues today. We all know Alisons and Adams. We’re all dealing with mental trauma today.”
“Can’t imagine losing friends that way no less watching it live on TV,” wrote Ashton Edwards, a news reporter with Fox 13 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“When news people say we’re a family — we’re not exaggerating. Everyone who works in TV is mourning,” wrote Mark Meredith, a reporter for KDVR Fox 31 in Denver.
The Newseum in Washington shared a tribute from the museum.
Wednesday afternoon, journalists were also replacing their social media profile pictures with TV test pattern color bars in honor of the slain journalists.
Suri Crowe, a news reporter for WSET-TV ABC in Lynchburg, Virginia, wrote on her Facebook page, “This is a devastating day for us in TV news. I knew Alison Parker and met Adam Ward. Alison was just a charming, sweet girl. I’m so very broken-hearted for their friends and families and my colleagues WDBJ7 this is not a story I wish to cover but I hope we can all honor their memories.”
Colleagues commended the Roanoke station for its grace and composure as it continued to report on the deaths of its own.
“Not sure how to keep working today, and I’m not in a newsroom. Hug your co-workers today, newsies — they’re your team, your family,” tweeted Karna Bergstrom, a digital content coordinator at the University of Minnesota-Rochester. Later, she wrote: “I can’t imagine putting together an obit piece on my co-workers.”
#WeStandWithWDBJ. We're live in Virgina. Report in minutes on #ABC11eyewitness pic.twitter.com/3EyBaOHHaI
— Elaina Athans (@AthansABC11) August 26, 2015
"Although I walk through the valley of the shadow of death… I will fear no evil." #WeStandWithWDBJ @WDBJ7 #WDBJ pic.twitter.com/3gaPRRmbOG
— Corey Dobridnia (@cdobridnia) August 26, 2015
With friend and photog Leonard Raglin. #WeStandWithWDBJ pic.twitter.com/OGDCL7h01Q
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) August 26, 2015
With deepest sympathies to our extended news family @WDBJ7 #WeStandWithWDBJ pic.twitter.com/cpDljT2tpi
— Elizabeth Gentle (@newsgirl448) August 26, 2015
I do this job with pride. But today I do it with a heavy heart. #WDBJ is in my thoughts and prayers #WeStandWithWDBJ pic.twitter.com/9J42Xs8x33
— Shevaun Bryan (@finessebryan) August 26, 2015
Our hearts ache, but today #WeStandWithWDBJ proud and unafraid. pic.twitter.com/3xONrjz6Wz
— Morgan Chesky (@BreakingChesky) August 26, 2015
Our WTVR CBS team created this photo to use on social media. Feel free to save the photo and use on your Facebook page if you wish.
