It’s always interesting when the media analyzes thyself, and even more interesting when itself is the news.

I was watching the 10 pm news on WLS-TV, ABC7 in Chicago last night. The anchor, Ravi Baichwal, was segueing to a field reporter when I heard a loud bang and Baichwal looked to the side in shock. And so the field reporter began her segment. When it came back to the news desk, we the viewers were told an SUV had crashed through one of the windows of the street-level studio on State Street, across from the famed Chicago Theatre.

As of this writing no reason has been given for the crash, which eyewitnesses said was deliberate. There were no barriers on the sidewalk in front of the studio to prevent such an incident, though temporary jersey barriers were put in place today. Though this could have been a much worse crime, nobody was injured and the driver was arrested on the scene. Baichwal handled the situation like a professional, though he was mere feet from it happening. He advised viewers that the newscast going forward would be “fluid” and you couldn’t expect anything better despite the circumstances.

You can see the replay of the incident on ABC7’s Web site and photos of the boarded-up studio window I took tonight, one with Baichwal behind the desk once again. I am sure more permanent barriers will be put into place, and they will also be in place when WBBM-TV CBS2 moves into its own street-level studio just a block away next year.

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