WNAC-TV ended its 6 pm news broadcast with a bulletin reporting that Great Blue Hill in Milton had erupted and was spraying lava and ash onto nearby homes. The report showed footage of lava flowing down a hillside (taken from the March 27 eruption of Mount St. Helens) and edited remarks from President Jimmy Carter (who expressed concern) and Governor Edward J. King (who called the situation "serious"). According to reporter Jan Harrison, the disaster had been caused by a geological chain reaction set off by the eruption of Mount St. Helens a week earlier. At the end of the bulletin, Harrison held up a card that read "April Fools!".[1][2][3]
Reactionedit
Following the report, some Milton residents began to flee their homes.[1][4] The Milton Police Department received over a hundred calls from people who believed that the report was true.[5] The Massachusetts Department of Civil Defense was also inundated with calls from residents who wanted to know if they should evacuate their homes.[6]
WNAC-TV received dozens of calls from angry viewers. The station issued an apology during its 11 pm newscast.[5] The next day, the executive producer of the 6 o'clock news, Homer Cilley, was fired by the station for "his failure to exercise good news judgment" and for violating the Federal Communications Commission's rules about showing stock footage without identifying it as such.[3][4][6]
Referencesedit
^ abLoohauls, Jackie (March 30, 1984). "These practical jokers didn't fool around". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
^"Off beat: April Fool's joke had people blowing their tops weeks before mountain did". The Columbian. May 24, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
^ abSabulis, Thomas (April 3, 1980). "Ch. 7 reacts, cans jokester". The Boston Globe.
^ abMcNamara, Eileen (April 2, 1980). "'Yuk-Yuk News' (on Ch.7, folks) no joke in Milton". The Boston Globe.
^ abPiot, Debra K. (4 April 1980). "TV station fires producer for airing April-fool prank". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
May 04, 2024
great, blue, hill, eruption, prank, april, 1980, wnac, aired, fake, news, bulletin, that, stated, that, great, blue, hill, erupting, intended, april, fools, prank, resulted, panic, milton, massachusetts, surrounding, area, news, report, editwnac, ended, news, . On April 1 1980 WNAC TV aired a fake news bulletin that stated that Great Blue Hill was erupting Intended as an April Fools prank it resulted in panic in Milton Massachusetts and the surrounding area News report editWNAC TV ended its 6 pm news broadcast with a bulletin reporting that Great Blue Hill in Milton had erupted and was spraying lava and ash onto nearby homes The report showed footage of lava flowing down a hillside taken from the March 27 eruption of Mount St Helens and edited remarks from President Jimmy Carter who expressed concern and Governor Edward J King who called the situation serious According to reporter Jan Harrison the disaster had been caused by a geological chain reaction set off by the eruption of Mount St Helens a week earlier At the end of the bulletin Harrison held up a card that read April Fools 1 2 3 Reaction editFollowing the report some Milton residents began to flee their homes 1 4 The Milton Police Department received over a hundred calls from people who believed that the report was true 5 The Massachusetts Department of Civil Defense was also inundated with calls from residents who wanted to know if they should evacuate their homes 6 WNAC TV received dozens of calls from angry viewers The station issued an apology during its 11 pm newscast 5 The next day the executive producer of the 6 o clock news Homer Cilley was fired by the station for his failure to exercise good news judgment and for violating the Federal Communications Commission s rules about showing stock footage without identifying it as such 3 4 6 References edit a b Loohauls Jackie March 30 1984 These practical jokers didn t fool around The Milwaukee Journal Retrieved May 12 2014 Off beat April Fool s joke had people blowing their tops weeks before mountain did The Columbian May 24 2010 Retrieved May 12 2014 a b Sabulis Thomas April 3 1980 Ch 7 reacts cans jokester The Boston Globe a b Volcano joke ends in firing Bowling Green Daily News 3 April 1980 Retrieved 2 April 2014 a b McNamara Eileen April 2 1980 Yuk Yuk News on Ch 7 folks no joke in Milton The Boston Globe a b Piot Debra K 4 April 1980 TV station fires producer for airing April fool prank Christian Science Monitor Retrieved 2 April 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Great Blue Hill eruption prank amp oldid 1147821456, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
