Fox’s Hemmer Back From Haiti: “Never Been So Proud To Be An American”

Q&A

by Steve Krakauer | 3:08 pm, January 23rd, 2010

» 21 comments

Mediaite: While you were in Haiti, there were some writers, some people say unfairly, that took TV doctors and reporters to task for getting too close to the story, for becoming part of the story. What do you think of that charge?

Hemmer: You do your best to separate emotions from the facts, and if you feel that you need to aid and assist that’s a personal choice you make. I think the difference on this story, frankly, is the need is so great you could stop every hour of every day to help somebody. If you make the decision to help them or if a medical doctor feels it’s necessary to get involved, I’m not going to argue. Especially if you’re a doctor. I can understand. If you’re their last chance, that’s a powerful decision you make to turn your back.

“At the end of the day you close your eyes and all the images come flooding through your head. I found myself opening my eyes deliberately – I didn’t want to go back to what I considered very dark places.”

Mediaite: What is the thing you hope viewers take away most about the situation there?

Hemmer: I have never been so proud to be an American. I’ve spoken to some colleagues about, why that can be, in a circumstance like that. When the military arrived, these guys have been in war for nine years, training for a decade, when they stepped off the runway they are in charge and they make everyone else look like minor leagues. When you pull out that American passport it is like an all-access pass. So many would trade their position with you immediately. As a reporter go to these places, report the facts we see and find, sometimes report on the emotions and how it effects so many we know. When we fly in we have the option to fly out. Perhaps that’s what makes all the suffering bearable at the end of another long day.

Mediaite: You’ve been to war zones, covered Katrina. What differentiates this story from other dangerous or tragic ones?

Hemmer: Just the interaction you have with human beings whose need is so great. And knowing how raw this story played out, it cannot help but affect you. When you know amputations are taking place in a field below you, without anesthesia or proper medical tools, not only do you feel for those suffering through it but you feel for their family members.

Mediaite: Is there an image, or a moment that you will take away personally?

Hemmer: Too many. At the end of the day you close your eyes and all the images come flooding through your head. I found myself opening my eyes deliberately – I didn’t want to go back to what I considered very dark places.

(This has been edited for length and clarity.)

• Tomorrow’s “Back From Haiti” Q&A is with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien.

Here’s a look at one of Hemmer’s reports from earlier this week:

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Back From Haiti, Bill Hemmer, fnc, fox news, Haiti

sarainitaly

Thanks for covering these interviews, it is interesting to hear their impressions, as another *human*, not simply as a reporter. I can’t imagine the horror they witnessed. :O(

(it also gives FOX haters a chance to see that a FOX reporter isn’t a “racist” and is good at his job)

Looking forward to Soledad’s.
sarainitaly

why is that bold? i wasn’t trying to be bold. haha
http://mediaite.com Steve Krakauer

Fixed, sorry!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Frances-Kush/100000119486703 Frances Kush

I appreciate Mr. Hemmer’s efforts to bring the plight of the Haitian people to us.

However, for me, it makes ever more stark the difference between the Haitians and those living in New Orleans during Katrina. The Haitians don’t just sit on their hands waiting for the government — demanding that the government see to their every need. They do what they can, for whom they can, with whatever is available. Our citizens did nothing but bitch.

I am terrifically proud of the Haitians, and embarrassed by our New Orleans citizens.
Ted

Frances – Why are you embarrassed by the citizens of NO?
BJL411

“Excellent reporting” ? are you f’king kidding me? seriously?

THOSE BASTARDS AT FOX DIDN’T EVEN COVER THE HAITI CRISIS FOR THE FIRST 5 DAYS.. DON’T TELL ME THEY DID BECAUSE WE MONITORED THEM. THE ONLY STORIES THEY COVERED WERE FROM THE WHITE CHRISTIAN ‘GREAT OLE AMERICAN’ WHO WAS MISSING IN HAITI OR SOME “AMERICAN” COMING HOME!

GET YOUR FACTS RIGHT.. I SAW THEM ON THE 3RD DAY SPEND 4 MINUTES AT AN AIRPORT REPORTING ON WHETHER AMERICANS GOING BACK TO THE US HAD PROPER SEAT BELTS ON THOSE PLANES AND IF THEY’D BE SAFE FLYING HOME..

4 MINUTES ON SEATBELTS!

WAKE THE F’K UP AND STOP THE BULLSHIT THAT FOX HAS AN VALUE OR CREDIBLITY..

BILL HEMMER IS A DISGRACEFUL EMBARRASSING SHILL. SAW HIM GROW UP ON TV IN MY HOMETOWN,, MAKE IT TO CNN THEN LEFT TO JOIN THE RIGHT WING CROCK MACHINE ON FOX..

HE’S A SLIMEBALL SHILL LIKE THE REST AT FOX..
SWWT

… because typing in all caps gives you great credibility… as an anonymous internet poster no less.
sarainitaly

BJL411 says:
January 23, 2010 at 5:03 pm

LIE.

” Other Fox News shows — such as Special Report with Bret Baier and The Fox Report with Shepard Smith — did devote extensive coverage to the earthquake.” – Media Matters http://mediamatters.org/research/201001140029

Looking at the ratings of Bret, Shep and Greta, who did extensive coverage, it sure looks like more FOX viewers turned in to watch the coverage of Haiti than msnbc and CNN viewers….combined.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/fox-news-thursday-ratings-dominate-cable-news-haiti-coverage/#comment-17949

The difference between news and commentary programming. FOX news covered the earthquake non-stop. The commentary programs commented on the tragedy, and continued with their normal planned schedules. News vs. commentary. Oreilly’s talking points have been devoted to Haiti since the earthquake happened. Beck had pre-planned shows with Palin and a panel of African american conservatives.
sarainitaly

LIE.

” Other Fox News shows — such as Special Report with Bret Baier and The Fox Report with Shepard Smith — did devote extensive coverage to the earthquake.” – Media Matters

Looking at the ratings of Bret, Shep and Greta, who did extensive coverage, it sure looks like more FOX viewers turned in to watch the coverage of Haiti than msnbc and CNN viewers….combined.

The difference between news and commentary programming. FOX news covered the earthquake non-stop. The commentary programs commented on the tragedy, and continued with their normal planned schedules. News vs. commentary. Oreilly’s talking points have been devoted to Haiti since the earthquake happened. Beck had pre-planned shows with Palin and a panel of African american conservatives.

Repeat after me: commentary, news, commentary, news…
sarainitaly

BJL411 says:
January 23, 2010 at 5:03 pm

LIE.
my comment was for BJL
timzank

Does BJL411 work for Newshounds?
ImNotBlue

BJL411 says:
January 23, 2010 at 5:03 pm

Yikes!
m

It’s interesting to a split in the conservative mind on this conflict…

First we’ve got the conservatives do the right thing and side with the liberals on the issue that it’s the proper patriotic thing to do to be kind and nice to people.

Then we’ve got the conservatives who’ve got the mindset that they are foreigners. They’re poor. Should only blame themselves for an unstable government and shitty housing. Shouldn’t ask for help from us, but ought to be able to get themselves out of this trouble on their own. We shouldn’t give them handouts or grants. We need to teach them how to fish, not just give them the fish!!!
blueblogger

BJL you are one of my favorite posters on here. You need to apologize before John Stewart has an entire program on how you went over the top!!!! You were acting like KO did the other night. Calm down. FOX certainly isn’t worth getting your blood pressure up. Unlike most of you on here I don’t keep count of what each cable station does or doesn’t do. That comparison is a losing battle as far as I am concerned. They are ALL news -hores.
blueblogger

@m Many years ago a dear friend made a statement to me (when I was in my other life as a Republican) and believed everyone should pull themselves up by their bootstraps and help themselves. She quietly explained to me that sometimes and some people JUST CAN”T. Not that they WON”T but that they just can’t. Way to many things against them to begin with. That was the beginning of my new life as an Independent. Instead of the people of this country just being grateful for what we have and share as much as each of us are able to to others that JUST CAN’T. We need to do both. Give them fish and teach them how to fish at the same time.
KiKi

What annoys me the most is the idea that EVERY cable news station HAD to report on the Haiti Earthquake 24/7. Why?
To be in lock step with every other news station? I watched SOME coverage (when they were not shoving cameras in shocked, grieving or injured peoples faces) and then I turned the channel and watched something else non earthquake related.

BJL411- who are the ‘we’ in ‘we monitored them’? Do you get a paycheck for monitoring and health care benefits too? Or is this on a voluntary basis and you were not sitting on your ass watching TV all day, but happen to catch the coverage while you were out feeding the homeless or visiting with the forgotten in convalescent hospitals?
blueblogger

KiKi you made the point yourself. If you don’t want to watch turn the channel. That easy. No need to rant and rave on here. It is news and cable stations have nothing else to cover.
KiKi

Who is ranting and raving? I made one comment (not three) and ask BJL411 one question.(Who is we?) There is a whole world of news to cover, what a ridiculous statement.
Fidoohki

blueblogger says:
January 24, 2010 at 9:24 am

Give them fish and teach them how to fish at the same time.

That is exactly right with one addition. You have to make it clear that someday
we’ll stop giving them fish and expect them to get it themselves.
pyrope

BJL411, the reason YOU didn’t see Fox covering the plight of the Haitian people is because you’ve got your head up your lying ass. I saw their coverage and it was Pulitzer material. Funny though, I didn’t see Olbermann (your father) or Madcow (your mother) down there in the sweltering heat and the stench of the aftermath.

Ted, the reason why Frances is embarrassed about the way the people of New Orleans acted after Katrina is the politicians were trying to blame Bush for the fact that hurricanes occur and the welfare weenies were sitting on their asses waiting for a handout.

IT MUST REALLY SUCK TO BE A LIBERAL!
ImNotBlue

m says:
January 24, 2010 at 6:24 am

First we’ve got the conservatives do the right thing and side with the liberals on the issue that it’s the proper patriotic thing to do to be kind and nice to people.

It’s really sad that you can’t even talk about helping people, without trying to be partisan. Man… not everything revolves around your hate for people who don’t agree with you.

But, since you brought it up… your “theory” isn’t supported by evidence.

We shouldn’t give them handouts or grants. We need to teach them how to fish, not just give them the fish!!!

Wait, what part of this do you disagree with? You don’t think we should teach them to help themselves? Haiti is extremely poor, and overwhelmingly corrupt. Throwing money at their government isn’t going to help the people… helping the people will help the people. Isn’t that a good thing? Why do you think simply launching your checkbook at the problem solves it?

Fidoohki says:
January 24, 2010 at 6:56 pm

Well put. Sometimes you have to let people sink or swim… just because we see ourselves as “swimmers,” it doesn’t mean everyone else wants to be just like us.