It was a night of fast-moving developments in Boston, where stations were live overnight with coverage of the manhunt for the second suspect in the marathon bombings.

Some notes from the coverage: WCVB‘s special report, anchored by Heather Unruh and Ed Harding, was simulcast on CNN before Jake Tapper took over the network’s coverage around 1:30amET. WFXT‘s coverage, anchored by Mark Ockerbloom had several reporters spread throughout the city, including Mike Beaudet and Erica Richie. And WBZ got the first interview with the uncle of the suspects, who told the CBS O&O that they “do not deserve to live on this earth.” Watch it here.

Poynter’s Al Tompkins says the overnight coverage is an important reminder of “valuable it is to have experienced journalists on the air who know the city like the backs of their hands”:

I watched a WBZ anchor David Wade, for example, describe street-by-street where police were heading. Say what you want about TV anchors, but here is a guy with years on the street as a reporter and a Massachusetts native.

Boston media are like that. Days like this remind us of why we need journalists who have lived in the market they work in for a long time and who know how to report a story that doesn’t rest.

During WFXT‘s 10 p.m. newscast on Wednesday, reporter Mike Beaudet confronted the major backlash his investigation into a teacher’s porn star past has recieved this week.

In a story that first aired Tuesday evening, Beaudet confronted Kevin Hogan, an English teacher and crew coach at a top-rated local high school, about his alleged appearances in three gay porn videos. Since the story aired, WFXT has been hit with an onslaught of letters from viewers criticizing the story, and students at the high school have banded together in support of Hogan.

So Beaudet was left to explain himself Wednesday. Speaking with anchor Maria Stephanos, Beaudet emphasized that the story came from a tip and pointed out that a couple of parents he interviewed before the story aired were concerned about a teacher appearing in pornos. Video inside… Read more

Students at a top-rated Massachusetts public high school are blasting WFXT and investigative reporter Mike Beaudet for confronting a teacher about his apparent porn star past.

In a story that first aired during the Fox O&O’s 6 p.m. newscast on Tuesday, Beaudet confronted Kevin Hogan, an English teacher and crew coach at Mystic Valley Regional Charter School, about his alleged appearances in at least three gay porn videos.

After being ambushed by Beaudet in a parking lot, Hogan told the reporter that he didn’t know what he was talking about (video inside).  Mystic Valley has placed Hogan, who chairs the school’s English department, on paid leave as it looks into WFXT’s allegations.

Since the story first aired, Beaudet and WFXT have been heavily criticized by students at the school, who have banded together in support of Hogan. Read more