A journalist is supposed to cover the assignment irrespective of what is being played in the background. The field demands ultimate patience, hard work and technique to continue the job despite massive pressure on the ground. A similar episode about the ultimate test of professional composure was witnessed.
While delivering a nighttime live report on California’s gruelling summer heat wave for Los Angeles-based station KTLA News, reporter Rachel Menitoff found herself sharing the spotlight with an uninvited, six-legged guest: a flying cockroach.
Menitoff was broadcasting live from Sherman Oaks, warning viewers about the dangerous conditions caused by the extreme heat, when the creepy-crawly suddenly landed right on her. Instead of panicking, screaming, or running off-camera, Menitoff didn’t miss a beat. She pushed through the rest of her segment flawlessly.
It was only after the cameras stopped rolling that she finally brushed herself off and vigorously shook out her clothing.
“I knew it was on me,” Menitoff later admitted to KTLA.com. “But I knew if I took notice of it, I wouldn’t be able to continue on with the report. So I said to myself, just get through this moment and then kind of shake it off.”
A “perfect storm” for pests
Ironically, the very topic Menitoff was reporting on was exactly what drew the insect to her in the first place. According to entomological experts, American cockroaches are nocturnal and thrive in warm, humid environments. When summer temperatures spike, these pests become significantly more active and are much more likely to take flight.
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“Ironically, the story was about the extreme heat in the Valley, and these cockroaches are attracted to the heat and the warm temperatures and our camera lights,” Menitoff explained. “So it was sort of the perfect environment for the roaches.”
Social media salutes the patience of the reporter
After the clip aired, viewers flocked to social media to praise the reporter’s incredible nerves of steel. Menitoff kept the mood light, sharing the footage on her Instagram with the caption: “Trying to steal my thunder 🪳.”
She later added in an Instagram story, “Trust me, it was NOT easy to keep my cool.”
Meanwhile, back in the studio, her KTLA colleagues couldn’t help but shudder at the footage during the next morning’s broadcast. Summarising the collective dread of the newsroom, meteorologist Kirk Hawkins joked, “Now we’re all going to have nightmares about flying cockroaches.”
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