Conffederate
Confederate

April 18, 2008

Another Vet Snaps Under Pressure

As David Burge noted in Bylines of Brutality, the emotional toll on media veterans is becoming ever more pronounced, leading to all sorts of radicalized, anti-social, and occasionally violent behavior.

Today, another media victim has apparently cracked under the pressure in my own backyard. Well, not literally my backyard, but close:

Eric Ralph Watson, 34, of 201 Old Grove Lane in Apex, was charged with one count of secret peeping. He was arrested shortly after 6 a.m. in the Brittany Trace subdivision, about a mile from his home.

Apex Police Capt. Ann Stephens said a neighbor saw a man matching Watson's description Thursday afternoon on top of an air-conditioning unit peeping into the bathroom of a female neighbor.

The witness called police and alerted the residents who live at the house.

Early Friday morning, Stephens said, the woman's husband confronted a man believed to be Watson, who approached the house again. The husband called 911, and an Apex police officer arrested Watson nearby.

Stephens said Watson and the woman do not know each other but that they might have attended the same gym.

Watson, a reporter for NBC affiliate WNCN-TV in Raleigh, was released from police custody with a promise to appear in court.

Hopefully, one day, there will be a cure for such behavior. Until then, as long-time media observer Treacher noted, it is important to treat journalists with not just revulsion and contempt, but with revulsion, contempt, and pity.

Posted by Confederate Yankee at April 18, 2008 02:04 PM
Comments

But...but...but... he was just practicing his "Get that interview!" skills...

Posted by: Jeff at April 18, 2008 02:29 PM

Hey! That's in MY backyard!

Gonna have to contact Mrs Stevens and see if they need a couple extra eyes ...

Posted by: Dan Irving at April 19, 2008 12:02 AM

When will this brutal, useless journalism end? When we will stop throwing our sons and daughters into its bloody maw? When will we stop destroying our international standing through this insidious, satanic campaign?

Mr. Bush, tear down the Columbia J school!

Posted by: Pablo at April 19, 2008 08:09 AM

Uh, Bob? Don't look now, but this is really becoming a quagmire.

CNN personality Richard Quest was busted in Central Park early yesterday with some drugs in his pocket, a rope around his neck that was tied to his genitals, and a sex toy in his boot, law-enforcement sources said.

Quest, 46, was arrested at around 3:40 a.m. after a cop spotted him and another man inside the park near 64th Street, a police source said.

Posted by: Pablo at April 19, 2008 11:06 AM

The quagmire that modern high stress media has become is clearly having a serious negative consequence on the poor reporters and commentators caught in this inhuman media machine. I blame Karl Rove.

Posted by: glenn at April 20, 2008 10:55 AM

When last seen, Watson was bitterly clinging to his notebook and press card ...

Posted by: Gary Rosen at April 20, 2008 02:51 PM

I think you ought to delete his address. It really shouldn't be in there.

Posted by: AYY at April 21, 2008 11:12 AM

His address is part of the story quoted, and appears in the original text. Citing addresses of newsmakers is also part of standard journalistic practice in many news organizations.

It stays.

Posted by: Confederate Yankee at April 21, 2008 11:53 AM