McRoberts in Haiti: why journalists shouldn't stay detached

To Mike McRoberts and crew of at least one or two + vehicle. If the human need there is so great give your car up to those who need it and forget about reporting and help out where possible. You are in your own words a human being first. Even better let your cameraman carry the next kid you find or take two or as many in need as you possibly can. It takes a natural disaster in a third world country for anyone to stand up and give a damn in the first place, where was all the reporting on the human tragedy in Haiti before the earthquake? I couldn't have even pointed to it on a map before now.

Thank you for sharing your experiences over there with us. Sometimes we get so use to hearing what the death toll is up to that we kinda disconnect from it. Reading your blogs reminds us how real it all is and gives us a better insight to the emotion and feelings going on in Haiti. It has reminded me that while I've taken a quick glance at the news update, this tragedy is still going on and people are still going through the experiences you've described while the rest of us here go on about our daily jobs.

Mike, you truely are a legend. The kind of journalist that others should strive to be. Keep on doing what you do. You make me proud to be a Kiwi.

Hi well done when you are in a situation like that then as you did you do what comes naturly to you Go for it and dont let other reporters put you off what you did for that child God Bless

Thanks for making a difference in a little girls life. Who knows or cares why she was finally given assistance, the most important thing is that she is going to be ok. For me this highlights the lack of coordination over in Haiti. How exactly does it come about that a journalist is in a better position to help ahead of purpose trained rescue crews supported no doubt by some of our money??

Good on you for helping the little girl, Mike, but really it makes me wonder how many journalists and media crews too many there are in Haiti just now, taking up transport, accommodation, food adn other reseources that are desperately needed by the Haitians themselves, and by aid and rescue workers. Many of the stories that are coming out of Haiti are being supplied by other media. If we can get the story without overloading the place with yet another news team, wouldn't it be better to do it that way? You're a lovely guy, Mike, and a really good reporter, but I think TV 3 and TVNZ should seriously think about their policy of having reporters on the spot in every "story zone" and consider whether other options for getting the story could be considered.

You really touched our hearts. We need more people like yourself in our world. I agree, you are human before your a journalist. You've got a huge heart. Thank you.

OK, I am not knocking the help and aid given. Jolly good. What I am very annoyed about is the arrogance shown. This act will be turned into a marketing opportunity. When TV3 advertises its news programs, it will use the example of our heroic man, Mike McRoberts with a poor child in his arms. Give charity but don’t advertise. Don’t turn the act of helping into something that will be used in selling something.
I can imagine the advert now. A slow motion image of Mikey in Haiti with turbulence all around then a glimmer of hope as he brings this child out. Mick will be saying how affected he was and then how TV3 gave him the opportunity to help and how humbled he is by the experience. The there will be the sound bite about only TV3 can bring you this.
Congrads to a man who is extending humanity to those who need it. But I don’t ever want to see this act being turned into a marketing snipped. That is degrading for the child.

Mike your a bloody legend mate. I saw the clip on 3 news and had a couple of tears in the eye, but you made me proud to be a kiwi. Good on all the Journalists over there who are helping out

It angers me to hear that aid can't get through to Haiti when we see journalists Mike McRoberts out on the streets assisting people in desperate need. The NZ govt has said, weakly, that Haiti is a long way away and probably too far away for this country to give much help. And yet Mike McRoberts made it here. If he and TV 3 can do it, why can't the NZ government provide help? Why can't the American aid agencies get in? There are echoes of Hurricane Katrina here. The most powerful nation on earth, and Mike McRoberts made it in there before they did. Shame!