During U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R-18th District) visit to Morton last week, news media from Peoria traveled to town to cover the congressman’s schedule.
Schock, who first spoke at length to members of the Morton Rotary Club traveled to OSF Center for Health in Morton to tour the facility and discuss healthcare issues with pediatrician Dr. Matthew Knight.
While there, Schock was swarmed with television cameras, as was expected. Media was kindly invited into the facility to film and gather a few quotes from both Schock and Knight. However, it was known to one television crew that both Schock and Knight were going to discuss, in private, matters relating to healthcare.
Knight, whose sole focus was to instill the importance of considering children as legislators in Washington, D.C., work out a healthcare bill, recognized his time with Schock was limited, and he had a very important message to deliver.
Unfortunately, members of the television station continued to shove a camera in Schock’s face, repeatedly asking for an interview. While this is an expected tactic for any journalist, print or television, sometimes it creates problems.
Such was the case Thursday.
Knowing he was going to speak privately with Knight, the television news crew placed its task in front of a more important issue — healthcare.
And, by doing so, they limited an important discussion between a pediatrician and a congressman.
Sometimes, it is best for us, as watchdogs, to step aside and let the news happen. More likely, the story will come out better afterward.
