In Memory of Keith Lane

The local media landscape suffered a huge loss with the sudden and unexpected passing of cameraman Keith Lane this past Saturday. He was laid to rest today.

The Fair Media Council extends our deepest condolences to his family, friends, coworkers at WNYW and colleagues throughout the media industry.

Keith Lane loved what he did, and the people he worked with. He would reach out to the Fair Media Council whenever he felt something was negatively impacting his industry. He wanted to protect that which he cherished and it was the love and concern that always shone through, no matter the conversation.

An outpouring of affectionate postings on his Facebook page reveals how much, in fact, he was cherished by his colleagues. The tales of his humor, caring and willingness to drop whatever he was doing to help others are endless.

A Long Islander, Lane lived with his family in Oceanside, where he was also a volunteer firefighter. He worked as a television cameraman for decades, but his footage of what transpired in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11, 2001 earned Lane media coverage of his own.

In an excerpt from the book, ‘Covering Catastrophes,’ Lane described working through a morning of horror like the consommate pro that he was:

I saw the fire chief’s Chevy Suburban and used it as a shield. I stuck the camera out and pointed up. The cloud of smoke started coming toward me. I never thought it would be that quick. Then I realized maybe I wasn’t safe there and that truck might not protect me. I realized I had to get out of there. I jumped up and started running. I turned the camera in my hand around so it was taping what I was running away from.

The Oceanside edition of the Long Island Herald covered the news of his death. You may read it here.

In his memory, you may make a donation to the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation.