Today’s horror in Ottawa reminds me of my newswriting days.

For me, it’s difficult during awful times like this not to reflect back on those newswriting days (2001-2005) where I would often walk into the newsroom at Citytv in Toronto amid the chaos of a breaking news story. Today that newsroom, and all other newsrooms across the country, are clamouring to cover the atrocity.

I remember the feeling of being brought instantly to full alert upon learning the initial details of a breaking news story. At first the facts are few and tersely worded: (for example) Gunshots in (name of city and neighbourhood); two officers reportedly hit.

When big news breaks, events in the ensuing half day unfold very quickly, although never quickly enough if you’re at the news desk and in charge of updating a large audience, whether it’s via TV, radio or the web. Continue reading →