A possible kidnapping or abduction story like the one involving Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC News’ Savannah Guthrie, is always difficult to cover. But for TV journalists reporting on this story, it hits closer to home, as the victim is a colleague, albeit a prominent figure beloved by many.
As Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance approaches the two-week mark, the circumstances that led to the kidnapping, the gradual revelation of credible leads, the ransom notes sent to various media outlets, and the Guthrie family using social media to plead for their mother’s return add to the complexity of this story, which has also captivated the nation.
For our latest edition of 5 Questions For…, TVNewser reached out to two TV reporters on the ground in Pima County, Arizona, CNN’s Ed Lavandera and NewsNation’s Brian Entin, to get their perspectives on covering a story with an almost personal connection.
1. How long have you been in the Tucson area?
Lavandera: Our CNN team arrived in Tucson the day the news of Nancy Guthrie’s abduction first broke. We have been reporting on the story every day since, so we’re almost two weeks into this heartbreaking story.
Entin: I arrived in Tucson on Monday, February 2.
2. How does it feel covering this type of story, considering it directly affects a fellow TV journalist?
Lavandera: Like any tragic story, I never lose sight of the pain and fear the families at the center of the story are enduring. But this is different in the sense that we work in a small community of journalists who have direct connections to the Guthrie family. I have never met Savannah, but so many of my network news colleagues have known her a long time, and everyone, and I mean everyone, says she’s the kindest person they’ve ever known. I can’t even fathom what she’s going through, but I suspect she would want us to report this story, as we would any story like this, with respect and always remembering that the fate of an 84-year-old mother is what matters here. And we want nothing more than to see Nancy brought back to her family.
Entin: It’s heartbreaking to think about what Savannah and her family are going through. Several times a day, I can’t help but think what this would be like if it were my mom. We all feel terrible for what she is going through.
