In many ways, it was perfect SEO-fodder: a funny gaffe, pretty American journalist… all wrapped with the topic of the moment, the Grammy Awards.
As CBS reporter Serene Branson prepared to introduce a segment about the awards, something strange happened. Her speech slurred, she lost her place, she seemed distracted. It is – on the face of it – quite hilarious. But as newspapers across the world rushed to get the clips on their sites, many of them should have taken a step back and asked why it happened.
It is emerging now that Serene may have suffered a stroke on air. I say may because we’re not altogether sure yet – all that we do know is that she was taken to hospital after that segment. [UPDATE: It has since emerged that while Ms Branson was observed by paramedics afterwards, she did not need to go to hospital.]
But, as she undergoes tests, and as her family, friends and colleagues worry – newspapers are running stories like these:
“Grammy’s reporter goes gaga” said The Sun, before hastily changing its headline to read “Grammy’s journo taken to hospital“. You’ll notice that while The Sun rephrased much of its story to suit a sombre tone, they haven’t given the same luxury to its readers – many of whose comments still appear from the previous article. “That’s so funny!” says one, referring, of course, to the original story’s content.
The Daily Record got in on it too, quickly removing a article which started with:
Serene Branson was presenting for CBS2 at the biggest music bash in the world when she struggled to put together a coherent sentence
Hastily replacing it minutes later with:
CBS reporter Serene Branson was last night under observation in hospital after it was feared she may have suffered a stroke live on air during the Grammy Awards broadcast.
But perhaps worst of all – posted well after the news of Ms Branson’s apparent stroke – is this effort from 3am, the gossip section of the Daily Mirror:
If this Grammys video clip doesn’t make you laugh out loud, see a doctor
We don’t know why we bothered with the gazillion pictures of dresses, suits, shoes and the leopard we showed you earlier – this is all the Grammys coverage you need.
Serene Branson is an American TV presenter with blonde coiffed hair, very white teeth (naturally, well… probably not naturally, compulsory) and lashings of make-up. All good so far, except she can’t speak… a word. Not even a word that resembles one you’ve heard before. Watch it – it’s officially hilarious.
As I type, the article remains on 3am.co.uk. I hope, sincerely, that it gets removed/edited soon.
But this raises a couple of issues. Number one, did all of these sites get so excited that they forget to use their common news sense? Did it not occur to them that there could be more to it? Number two, for those that have edited, is it acceptable for newspapers to republish video of someone who maybe having a stroke?
Disclosure: I posted this on my own Tumblr this morning – without giving thought to a further problem. I’m not surprised that these places saw the video and figured it would make a great story – but I wonder if, in the rush to be first up with a story, they forget an editorial process which should prevent stories like this getting out there.
UPDATE:
Staggeringly, I’ve just discovered this report from the New York Daily News. Which, despite making reference to her hospitalisation, still pokes fun at Ms Branson’s “gibberish”:
A Los Angeles reporter delivered a bizarre string of gibberish on live television Sunday night while at the Grammys.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
3am.co.uk have removed their story.
How did Fox News treat the situation? Like this:
Im sure you’re getting quite a few page hits on this article, but some of your facts are incorrect.
She was not hospitalized. According to the CBS website:
Serene Branson was examined by paramedics on scene immediately after her broadcast. Her vital signs were normal. She was not hospitalized. As a precautionary measure, a colleague gave her a ride home and she says that she is feeling fine this morning.
I havent heard anything further about it, but my guess was that it was a transient ischemic attack, sort of a mini stroke that can come and go very quickly.
Im sure we’ll be hearing more about this as the news cycle continues.
Hi Vitiare — yep, I’ve read that now. Although that has only recently been announced – well after I wrote this post. I will edit now.
Well, heck, it WAS funny. When I first saw it, I laughed for just that reason. No, it’s not funny that she (may have) had a stroke, TIA or other medical problem, but what was seen and heard was funny. I wasn’t laughing at her calamity, but at the funny nature of what I saw and heard.
Sure, after watching it a second time, it occured to me that she might have suffered some sort of episode and that was not funny at all. So I guess it’s a matter of opinion whether it’s okay to laugh if one sees or hears something that’s funny. In my opinion, it is not only okay, but it would surprise me that someone wouldn’t. Of course, after that, if it is discovered that there was some serious issue going on, continuing to make humor is in bad taste. But until you know what’s going on, you are hit with just the experience itself.
So, loosen up the butt hole for crying out loud! If something like that happened to me in public and it looked funny, I would have no problem with someone laughing. I would want them to help me if I needed it, but they are certainly free to laugh.
You’d have to be not just abnormally insensitive, but also pretty thick to assume this was a ‘flub’. Quite possible that she had a petit mal seizure rather than a stroke.
Isn’t it sad that this is ‘newsworthy’? Imagine the issues which people with communication impairments have with people who think they’re ‘funny’.
Hope the chick is okay.
Turns out it was just a bad migraine.. according to the latest reports.
The folks who created these did a fantastic job, didn’t they? I’m just the messenger.
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it’s a shame really the articles like these might good news.
I’m sure that Serene has had a time of interviews and words written about what happened, but how does it really class is news?
It would have been awful. If anything, worse, had been the final outcome… I personally think that people should be a little bit more conservative with their views on fellow humans or at least take a little longer to know the full facts!
I drop a comment when I appreciate a post on a site or if I have something to contribute to the discussion.
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And, if you are writing at other online sites, I would
It is triggered by the sincerness communicated in the article I looked at.
And after this post Serene Branson: The disturbing viral video which exposed us all | Dave Lee / jBlog.
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