Thanking Those that Rarely Get Thanked

Back on February 8th, FTVLive told you that after 17 years, WIVB (Buffalo) Reporter George Richert was signing off from the station. 

Richert leaves the station at the end of the month to become the director of communications for Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.

WIVB has been shedding longtime staffers like a cat sheds fur in the Summertime.

But before he leaves the station, Richert thanked the people that truly made him look good.

Not the GM, not the News Director, but the News Photographers.

The News Shooter might not be around in another decade, as station after station switches to MMJ's.

But, Richert worked most of his career with a Photog along side and he sent the shooters at WIVB a thank you for being there.

Here is is letter to the shooters:

Dear Photographers,

I don't even remember who it was who first invited me to have dinner in the Photographers' Lounge, but I want to thank you all for tolerating it.

I've tried to earn the right to be there because I think it represents a sort of brotherhood with our big sister.

It's hardly a 'Lounge' at all...More like a simple table for the purpose of eating fast and getting back to work.

After all, that seems to be the life of a photographer.

You run from story to story, often times finding creative ways to make something out of absolutely nothing.

Yet, when the script finally comes in, your hard work still doesn't usually live up to the high expectations of what's written.

Reporters like me run around looking stressed out, when you have the ultimate deadline resting on your shoulders; the final minutes and seconds before a story or a show airs.

You're usually the first to realize that a (voiceover) wasn't shot at all, or that a certain file simply doesn't exist, and yet you're expected to somehow "make it live."

Reporters like me get to sit in the car while you stay out and shoot the b-roll we need or set up the LIVE shot.

You battle the elements and clock to make a dark LIVE shot look halfway decent, but often times the only feedback you get is to "iris down!"

For you, I love the days when your creative talents shine through and you get a lot of compliments.

But I realize most days you must feel like a masterpiece painter who is only given two colors, and ten minutes to work with.

I want you know that you're the UNSUNG HEROES and the backbone of this industry, and I will never forget you.

My favorite part of this job has been driving around with each of you and sharing the highs and lows of our lives each day.

Those are the lifelong bonds that I will miss the most.

From the bottom of my heart... Thank You.

With Love & Respect,

George

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