Our local television news operations are good at a number of things. Delivering spot news, weather and interviews with high school football players are among these. Unfortunately, tight deadlines usually prevent them from fully exploring complex issues, which can’t be told with two interviews and some b-roll. Russ Riesigner’s “Drilling for Answers” report, which aired on Aug. 20, is the exception to the rule.

Riesinger starts off in standard mode, interviewing representatives Barrow and Kingston, both of whom express support for offshore oil drilling. Then David Kyler, of the Center for a Sustainable Coast, offers a contrary view, followed by comments from tourists who have been duped into marching with the drill team.

Politicians? Check. Treehugger? Check. Average folks? Check. And that’s where the story normally would have ended.

But WSAV drilled down deeper into the issue, offering the following insights that normally wouldn’t have been included in the standard issue package:

• Despite what the politicians say and most of America believes, offshore drilling won’t provide instant relief.
• Oil is fungible global commodity and this isn’t Las Vegas. There’s no guarantee that what’s drilled in this country will stay in this country.
• While there’s been plenty of talk about safer drilling platforms, there’s other infrastructure involved, including pipelines that bring their own environmental concerns.
• Rigs aren’t likely to appear off the coast of Tybee, anyway, as our coastline has poor prospects for oil production.

WSAV called the segment a “special” report and I would agree with that assessment.