The fallout from Saturday’s car bombing in downtown Palm Springs—the FBI now calling it the largest bombing in Southern California history—has extended beyond law enforcement and into the world of local news.
Viewers took to social media to question the lack of live television coverage. One post by Christopher Parman went viral: “Where was our local live television news coverage when Palm Springs was bombed?... I still turn to TV in a crisis. I want reliable, credible reporting without having to scroll through social media.”
Others echoed the sentiment. Ian David Smith cited the valley’s smaller market size as a possible factor in what he saw as delayed coverage, and Kent Birtwell declared that “our local news sucks big time,” claiming Facebook and residents were more effective in spreading information.
NBC Palm Springs’ Fred Roggin responded on his show, The Roggin Report, to clarify what happened behind the scenes and how coverage was prioritized.
"Many of you were confused because it wasn’t on TV. We were showing it on our digital platforms," Roggin said. “This market is different. In today’s world, when something happens, the first place people go to is social media. In this market, that means Facebook.”
Roggin acknowledged that traditional live TV coverage was not immediately cut into, but emphasized that NBC Palm Springs’ digital platforms were among the first to report verified information. He pointed out that local media was hours ahead of Los Angeles outlets, and in fact, NBC Palm Springs posted some of the earliest verified details online.
As for criticism of staff experience, Roggin was candid: “The majority of us went through puberty years ago.” He noted that the team includes seasoned journalists like Barry Strong, Mark Mester, Olivia Garvey, and digital reporter Thalia Hayden—with nearly 90 years of combined broadcast experience.
Roggin also tackled misunderstandings about market classifications. “Transmitter power has nothing to do with it. Market size is based on population. And if you’re watching on YouTube TV or cable, transmitters don’t even apply.”
He concluded with a reminder that verified reporting—not flashy graphics—is what matters most in breaking news situations: “We may not have the bells and whistles of a major market, but we provided verified information in a timely manner. That’s what news is supposed to do.”
Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.
By: Fred Roggin
May 19, 2025
