The controversial police-involved shootings of Michael Brown and Philando Castile prompted protests and rallies across the country, sparking new conversations about race relations and bias in America. These stories are examples of how stations devoted time and resources to telling stories in ways that provided context and meaning when emotions ran high.
WFAA-TV's David Schechter's reporting method of using two folding chairs and a sign that reads "INTERVIEWS: THIS WAY" is a stripped-down storytelling technique that lets the words of an interview stand out. Where man-on-the-street interviews may feel rushed and incomplete, "Two Chairs" is a deliberately raw conversation where all sides of sensitive topics can be discussed with context and humanity.
WFAA’s “Verify Road Trip” series takes viewers on the road to get answers to their own questions. This is an innovative reporting method created by WFAA’s David Schechter to show consumers our newsgathering process in a transparent, trustworthy, and relatable way, which is particularly important when reporting on sensitive issues, as evidenced by this story on the Black Lives Matter movement. Transparency meets fact-checking. Each story ends with David’s reminder, “Don’t take my word for it. Take (the viewer’s.)"
These stories are examples of what it means to reflect and highlight the diversity of your community – in a positive way – daily.
