Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Black TV crew attacked in South Carolina

A crew from CBS affiliate WSPA-TV in Spartanburg, S.C. were attacked by four people while reporting on a homicide story. The attackers also used racial slurs.

The incident happened Monday in Union, S.C., where WSPA reporter Charmayne Brown and the cameraman, both African-American, were reporting on a homicide case across the street from the family's home, when members of the family confronted the crew and asked them to leave. When they refused, the family members attacked Brown with fists and used racial slurs. The camerman and several other bystanders intervened. The incident was caught on camera by a rival station, NBC affiliate WYFF-TV.

All four, who are white, have been arrested in the attack.

The homicide case involved the murder of 73-year old Tommy Howell, who was found dead in his home Monday morning. The grandson (Michael Shane Howell) was arrested in the case.

WSPA is owned by Media General, while WYFF is owned by Hearst-Argyle. Both stations serve the Greenville (S.C.)-Spartanburg (S.C.)-Ashville (N.C.) market, whose DMA is ranked 36th. The market is also home to Sinclair's ABC affiliate WLOS-TV (based in Ashville) and Meredith's Fox affiliate WHNS-TV.

No comments: