Why insert fictional characters into an already compelling story?

It was not fiction, from what I've read this is when one of the networks was trying something new, like focusing more on the families and the emotional side of things. Emmett was old fashion and dealt with just the facts, and the younger kid reporter was something different back in those days. Kind of like today there's all these reality programs like TMZ, Entertainment Tonight, etc.

So it's based on true events. Maybe some one else can shed some more light on this episode.

"We pruned the hedges of many small villages" (the three amigos)

frankd, I have to respectfully disagree with you.

Of course, I don't know your age, but I'm of an age closer to the producers of the series and the Emmett Seaborn character is one of the most brilliant techniques of the entire work. There's two reasons for this. First, those of us who were alive and "witnessed" all of these events first hand, did so through television. Most people had one (and usually only one)and TV was THE direct connection to all things Spaceworthy. But,second, not everyone watched the same newscaster;Conkite was CBS, Jules Bergman was on ABC and David Brinkley was on NBC. The Seaborn character is a wonderful almagam of all of these journalists and provides continuity between the episodes of the series without having to deal with old, grainy and in many cases just plain non-existent examples of the actual news coverage.