what others are saying

I love "Breaking News, Breaking Down." It's beautiful. It's important.

It's beautiful in that it deals with a very sensitive subject with a deft hand. It's important because journalists still don't understand these issues. EMS workers at a disaster scene are put on six hour shifts followed by a debrief with a mental health person. Journalists do twenty hour shifts, slam down a couple of scotches and after a week of that get on a plane and head to the next disaster. And then they wonder why their marriages are strained and they're drinking too much. It doesn't have to be that way, as you demonstrate.

Just saw it......and loved it. Such compassion.....such a lovely homage to your world. Well done lad!!!!!

Mike Walter has managed to capture on screen an element of media life that's been neglected for too long - the impact of covering traumatic stories, on the victims and the reporters and photographers who face it day after day. In this extraordinarily frank and honest piece, Mike introduces us to people who fall into both camps. It is gutwrenching to watch their own lives unravel as they try to highlight the grief others are going through. With this documentary Mike has taken us all a step closer to a greater understanding.

The public assumes that journalists are immune to the difficult stories they cover and one never considers its effect on them. I found "Breaking News, Breaking Down" eye opening and their personal journeys very interesting and moving.

Breaking News, Breaking Down is a compelling study of the toll that telling the story can take on the storyteller using the case of Hurricane Katrina when some journalists found themselves both victim and reporter

Mike served as the moderator for our Freddie Award winning DVD, Surviving Trauma & Tragedy: Lessons For Future Physicians & Mental Health Professionals. I cannot speak highly enough about his skills and style in front of a camera. He is very engaging and asks the right questions to help people peel back the layers of self-inquiry. His style is highly interactive, inquisitive and thoughtful, yet reassuring and empathetic. His contribution to the production was invaluable.

In creating a video for the Capital Area Food Bank, Mike Walter & Tim Deluca produced a 7 minute piece that speaks with clarity about our complex mission; in addition, the video succinctly and with passion lays out the story of hunger here in the Washington area. Mike's life experiences and pathos along with his vast experience in broadcasting bring together rare qualities that are integrated into the work he and his company produces. We were so very fortunate to be able work with Mike Walter, we use the video to educate our volunteers about our mission here at the food bank and to educate the public about hunger here in the Metropolitan Washington Community; it does the job and hits the mark every time.

Mike Walter is a superb interviewer, advocate and friend to those who have gone through traumatic events. Gift From Within is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to supply credible and supportive information to those with PTSD. We also educate and support family members and friends. We needed someone with Mike's skills and sensitivity to help us create a DVD that would help our customers (mental health professionals) satisfy the needs of their clients (returning veterans) and Mike's dedication and talent helped us to do just that.