I am married to a reporter. They do this stuff every day. Day in, day out. Generally speaking, the job of a TV reporter on an assignment like this is “hurry up and wait.” They are not going to listen to the speech over and over. They are going to look at their phone, check their hair, text their friends, and file their nails.
Think about what you might do during a boring meeting or conference call at work. Why would you expect the reporters to be any different.
Do read “anti” Palin, read “bored” reporter.
I don't mean to be a total jerk, but the job of a reporter is to REPORT the story, which means that the reporter first has to get out and learn the story.
If the television personality in question is just waiting for the "lights, camera, action" cue, then the personality isn't a "reporter", but rather is what the British would call a "news reader".
PS: Note that Carol Minn Vacca's offical title at Bay News 9 is "Reporter".
PPS: And please also note that Carol Minn Vacca got her start in politics in the employ of the DEM voter fraud champion, Roy Barnes.