Springfield Police Officer's Death (Boston, Worcester: live, stations, area)

[capecodcathy]

First, please allow me to offer my sympathies to the City of Springfield, and the Officer's family and friends.
I live on Cape Cod, relatively far away from Springfield. Yet, I still believe this Officer's funeral deserved the same coverage as local firefighters have received. Obviously, WCVB does not concur as evidenced by this response to my email:
My email to Channel 5:
"Why does a Firefighter's death in the line of duty funeral deserve FULL wall-to-wall coverage by your station, but a Springfield Police Officers death - in the line of duty - does not?
Both professions serve and protect. Do you value a firefighter more than a police officer?
WTH is WRONG with you people?"

WCVB's response, via someone named Susan Warren:

"Dear Catherine:
WCVB has carried the funerals of police officers who have died in the line of duty in our viewing area in the past. This tragedy unfolded in the Springfield television market.

Thank you for your comments and for watching NewsCenter 5.
Sue
News Dept."

Really? Springfield isn't part of MASSACHUSETTS????
Springfield IS a city in Massachusetts. And this was a MASSACHUSETTS Police Officer who died in the line of duty.

I must be out of the loop.

[western mass and love it]

That is a shame, the Springfield stations usually will carry any firefighter or police funeral from all over the state. In any event i feel that it was a big news story regardless of what part of the state it happened to occur in.

[CaseyB]

WCVB is a Boston station. They might cover something in Worcester, but Springfield is really out of the broadcast area. It should be covered by Springfield stations and Hartford as well as NECN.

[Bruins_Fan]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

WCVB is a Boston station. They might cover something in Worcester, but Springfield is really out of the broadcast area. It should be covered by Springfield stations and Hartford as well as NECN.

I have to agree with Casey on this one. It's really not the same media market, even though it is the same state. Not much different between say, Tampa and Fort Myers, FL. About 2 hours apart by car, in the same state, but 2 distinct media markets.

[lrfox]

There was plenty of coverage of the actual incident. In fact, I remember it as breaking news. So it's not as if Boston ignored it.

The funeral is more of a community event. Furthermore, Springfield is not in the Boston media market. For those reasons, I agree with Casey and Bruins_Fan.

Terrible tragedy. It's amazing what a single selfish individual can do. His wife (or girlfriend, not sure) is now scarred for life both physically and emotionally and an entire community lost a man who was just doing his job.

[bofspringfield]

Its unfortunate that the officer died while he was on duty. His death was fully covered...by both, broadcasting stations and newspapers on this side of the state. The point of him being a "hero" was made loud and clear.