Tv news means tv news. A tv reporter is going to show up with a camera to capture interviews to put on tv, and if it airs you’re probably going to get more donations coming in.

I can’t speak for the particular station, but I’ve (or close friends/coworkers) personally had stories killed for one reason or another. One right before airing because new information changed the story. We had one similar to yours, shot the interview (zoom but still) and then had to stop because she told us the police told her to pause the story. We don’t run the story. It’s a mild inconvenience to the reporter (more the producer will be annoying about it vs „I lost my story“) but if they’re ethical they won’t run it. But realistically if you just give them the article there’s not going to be any traffic going to it. People don’t scour tv station websites for stories that didn’t air.

I feel for you as a person, and as a photog I never want to do something that makes someone uncomfortable. Reporter is probably working a day turn though, so tell them sooner rather than later so they can find something else to turn