DETROIT – Dozens of trucks filled West Riverfront Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 20 for “Touch-A-Truck,” a free, public event that let kids and adults step inside all kinds of vehicles. Some of the biggest hits were a SWAT team vehicle, a snowplow, and one of Local 4’s very own news trucks.
Photojournalist Alex Atwell allowed kids to crawl into the back and sit at the computer as if they were editing footage. They also were able to pick up the phone and radio to “make a call” to the station. For the children more interested in steering wheels than computer screens, Alex let them sit in the driver’s seat, turn on the windshield wipers, and honk the horn. He also answered many questions from kids about his favorite parts of the job.
Recommended Videos
Not only were participants able to experience being inside the news truck, they were also given the chance to do a mock “live report,” complete with a Local 4 camera and microphone. Many kids gave reports on the weather, traffic, and all the fun they were having at "Touch-A-Truck." The camera was also hooked up to a monitor in the vehicle, so siblings and parents could watch the report in real-time from inside the truck.
Many people visited Local 4’s van multiple times, and quite a few said it was their favorite truck at the event. Kids and parents enjoyed the chance to test their reporting skills, work on the computer, and get a great photo with the news truck in the background. The hands-on nature of this event allowed each person the opportunity to experience what it’s like to work out of an office with wheels, resulting in a day of fun for all ages.