He was racing to get the audio to broadcast on KFBK. Los Angeles television station CBS TV captured the intense 90 second video and audio of an explosion of gunfire between ex killer cop Christopher Dorner and law enforcement in San Bernardino County on Tuesday. KFBK producer Scot Murdoch worked quickly to get the incredible audio on KFBK airwaves. Hundreds of rounds were fired from heavy artillery weapons while officers under fire frantically shouted orders. The audio captured the intensity and volatility of the situation but there was just one problem -- a police officer said the F-word during the gun battle. Specifically, he said "Get the F--- out of here now!"
Ever since the Janet Jackson Super Bowl incident, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has severely cracked down on radio and TV stations. If we let an obscenity get on the airwaves, we risk heavy fines, imprisonment and worse yet -- losing our license. Everyone at KFBK is required to take FCC/Obscenity training every year.
Scot worked feverishly to edit the word out, doing what we call "surgical editing" on the audio wave -- carefully cutting out a nano second. He kept asking me, "Can you hear it? Can you hear it?" Under FCC rules, we have to edit out an obscene word to the point that a listener cannot discern what it is. A bleep with "Fu--" is not okay. If you can understand it, you're in violation.
Scot skillfully edited the audio and Kitty O'Neal gave listeners a warning about the graphic content of the gunfire, but I looked at Scot and said: "If there is ever a time the F-word should be allowed on the airwaves this is it."
Dorner was the subject of a chilling national manhunt; targeting cops, their families and killing innocent people. When San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies confronted him last Tuesday, they were facing a heavily armed man in a battle for their lives. One deputy lost his.
So is it okay to air gunfire that killed a man but not okay to broadcast a bad word?
No one likes the F-word. It is harsh, offensive and disrespectful. 99 percent of the time it should never be used in a broadcast -- either in serious news or entertainment. But in a rare, incredible life and death situation captured vividly by CBS TV reporter Carter Evans, the magnitude of the moment should allow the use of the word. Intelligent listeners would discern the seriousness of the incident.
We edited the word out. But should we have?
