The all-news cable networks captured the horror of yesterday’s high-school carnage in Littleton, Colo., as it unfolded in all its drama.
CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC provided vivid, wall-to-wall coverage of the shooting and its aftermath – unlike other school shootings of the past few years, when TV cameras arrived after the fact.
And, they remained with the story well into last night – before resuming their coverage today.
There was wrenching video of students fleeing Columbine HS in terror, their hands raised in surrender and of tearful parents reunited with them at a nearby elementary school.
There were also unforgettable images of blood-soaked students escaping the school through shattered windows, falling into the arms of courageous sharpshooters waiting below.
During the chaos, a few horrified students – speaking in whispers – used cell phones to relay their observations to TV viewers.
MSNBC and CNN broke in with the story at 1:54 p.m. EDT and, initially, shared the same feed from KUSA, the local NBC affiliate in Littleton.
Fox News Channel broke in at 1:58 p.m. to confirm there was a school shooting. FNC used a feed from KMGH, the local ABC affiliate, and also used two reporters from its Denver bureau, Carol McKinley and Alicia Acuna.
FNC also dispatched correspondent Sheperd Smith to Littleton, from where he reported last night at 11 p.m.
MSNBC covered the tragedy live until 2 a.m. and picked up again at 6 a.m., canceling its usual simulcast of Don Imus’ WFAN radio show.
CNN aired a special report at 10 p.m. last night. A network spokesman said CNN will continue its coverage all day today, using a team of 35 correspondents.
The broadcast networks also were quick to cover the story and substitute different programming.
ABC quickly shifted gears and devoted last night’s “Nightline” to the shooting.
CBS announced late yesterday it would air a special edition of “48 Hours” tomorrow, “Young Guns” (10-11 p.m. on WCBS/Channel 2), that will focus on the Littleton tragedy.
NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, who was supposed to host an MSNBC town meeting on the Kosovo conflict last night, instead hosted an hourlong live edition of “Dateline” encompassing the tragedy.