[Grammar] Political leaders say these floods are the worst in 50 years.

[kadioguy]

(In the video "Australia's 'one-in-a-fifty-year' flood: BBC News Review")

[From 0:49 to 1:10]

Tom: So there is extreme flooding in New South Wales in Australia. More than 18,000 people have moved to escape the flood water. Political leaders say these floods are the worst in 50 years and there is a warning that rain and flooding could continue in the state.

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Why is it 'say', rather than "said"?

I assume: that's because Tom thought that the political leaders still held the same opinion at the time when he (Tom) was speaking.

Is that right?
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(Source)

 

[Rover_KE]

News reports are usually given in the present tense.

 

[kadioguy]

News reports are usually given in the present tense.

But that is Tom's talking about the news, not the news report itself. :-?

 

[GoesStation]

The title "News Review" suggests that the program (American English) is a review of recent news. That is itself a type of news story. However, the present tense does suggest that the flooding is ongoing.

 

[GoesStation]

However, the present tense does suggest that the flooding is ongoing.

The present perfect in the previous sentence makes this obvious.