THE DESK
The newsletter about TV news gathering...
and the people who do it
Volume 1, Number 1
May 6, 1997
DESKNOTES
This is the place where we're supposed to lay out the lofty goals for
this modest newsletter, tell you that we intend to include all the news
that's fit to print without fear or favor, that you have a right to know.
All those things are true, but this is a small operation. Our
goals may well be lofty, but our reach sometimes may not be. What
we can safely dedicate ourselves to is helping inform you about developments
in the way TV news is gathered, to discussing new ideas and methods in
how news gets on TV, and -- on those occasions when we can't be informative
-- to being interesting in talking about trends and developments in our
industry. We can also pledge that there are no hidden agendas here
-- no ploys to sell your email addresses to commercial vendors, no gimmicks
to subtly side with one group over another for financial gain, no ruses
to make money by palming off on readers advertising veiled as editorial
content.
We are no more beholden to any of the great commercial interests in
broadcast journalism than anyone else who derives a living from these companies.
While it may well be philosophically impossible to achieve a complete lack
of bias, we can promise to be fair, to consider the many points of view,
and to seek out all relevant sides.
More than anything else, we hope to be able to provide a digital landscape
where you will feel comfortable reading about how TV news is getting done
in other places, commenting about how it might be done better, and sharing
your notions of craft and questions with your colleagues. Don't hesitate
to email us your thoughts and ideas to TheDesk@newstrench.com
Paul Skolnick
BREAKING NEWS
Where's the Broadcast Beef?
Top 20 markets boxed out
of Investigative Awards
With three words, the judges of the annual awards competition for Investigative
Reporters and Editors, Inc. (IRE) spoke volumes about the state of enterprise
work in major-market TV news. The words were: "No awards given."
The judges didn't say why no entry from the nation's largest local
TV stations was worthy of an award. It could be that nothing stood
out in what had to have been a pack of submissions. Maybe 1996 was
just a humdrum news year. Or perhaps the day arrived last year when
we really did conquer all of the social demons that have been grist for
the journalistic mill for so long -- things like racism, corruption, poverty,
and out-and-out unfairness -- and there really is nothing new under the
sun to tell the viewers about.
There are probably 70 TV stations in the Top 20 markets that have regularly
scheduled newscasts. And these tend to be the markets where they're
programming more and more hours of local news -- five hours a day is the
norm in some of them. Numerically, according to Nielsen, the Top
20 markets represent nearly half the TV Households in the country (43.78%),
more than 118 million people. It's hard to believe that there wasn't
a politician with his or her hand in the till, an innocent person languishing
in prison, a gross miscarriage of justice, or even a question of propriety
that could be presented in a compelling way.
Or perhaps it was the audience surveys at work, those outrageously
expensive samplings of supposedly public opinion that have told us for
several years that our viewers don't really want to be jostled, don't want
to be disturbed by bad news, don't want to see the seamier sides of life
when they turn on the TV. Perhaps the surveys prompted us to cut
back on our efforts, to stop trying as hard to light up the dark corners
of life, to stop spending the money and making the effort to bring something
"new" to the news.
It's a sad situation that one can only hope won't be repeated this
year... or in any subsequent one. We as an industry now have much
of what we have begged for years to have -- the air time, the equipment,
and the staff. It's now up to us to use these things and our abilities
to gather news to bring our viewers information they can't get anywhere
else.
---
HDTV Delay?
Could it all come down
To Faulty Towers
The ambitious and expensive plan settled on a few months ago by government
and industry to convert the U.S. to high-definition TV by the middle of
the next decade may have been in jeopardy as soon as it began. The
reason, according to a front-page article in the New York Times on May
4, may have nothing to do with bureaucracy, corporate bumbling or Congressional
meddling. It could be that there just aren't enough people who know
how to build the 2,000-foot transmission towers the new HDTV signals will
require.
Industry experts told the newspaper that there are only a half-dozen
or so crews in the entire country who have the experience and the expertise
to erect tall towers. Efforts to use tower-builders who have worked
previously only on much shorter cellular-phone and beeper units haven't
been effective -- a fatal accident in one case in Texas, and problems elsewhere.
In a nutshell: there are enough trained tower builders to erect about
twenty transmitters a year; industry demand for the conversion to HDTV
will require construction of perhaps 100 towers a year. Industry
experts said it takes several years to train people to build TV towers.
---
Fast Track to Becoming a
Newsroom Hero:
Ways to Cut Your Online
Budget without Losing
Service
I recently reviewed my accounts with commercial online providers.
Some of the services I had subscribed to for years without thinking much
about it, ponying up a monthly fee in many cases just to keep the service
on standby. But with the growth of the World Wide Web and the easy
(and free) availability of some kinds of information, I suspected that
perhaps part of what I was paying for was out there for nothing.
The review I performed was relatively methodical, even by corporate
standards. I got a legal pad, listed the services I had subscriptions
with, what those subscriptions cost, and what I used the services for.
I pulled the files with invoices from each of the services so I could review
just how frequently I logged on.
It was an extremely instructive hour. It turns out cobwebs had
crept into much of my accounting. At least one service I'd loyally
paid twice each year for the last decade or so is now duplicated on the
WWW -- or at least duplicated in all the parts I care about.
I put together a summary of my review in the hopes that it might instruct
someone else. It's at http://www.newstrench.com/03gath/gath003.htm.
Feel free to leave the URL out of the memo to your boss explaining how
you think you've come up with a way to save a couple grand a year.
---
TRACing Down The
Data on Uncle Sam
I've watched for a couple years now as the folks at TRAC -- the Transactional
Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University -- have posted to the
WWW increasingly complex and interesting data about just how equal our
protections under Federal Law are. TRAC is really David Burnham,
a former New York Times reporter, and Susan Long, a statistician and obviously
an adept user of the Freedom of Information Act.
If you're unfamiliar with TRAC or the Web site, it's worth a look --
http://www.trac.syr.edu/.
It's the kind of information that, in the abstract, any blue-blazered
news consultant would tell you viewers don't care much about -- intricate
details of how many cases federal law-enforcement agents present for prosecution
in various federal districts, how many are actually prosecuted, and the
range of sentences. In reality, the data explains that one of the
fundamental assumptions Americans are taught to hold -- that we are all
equal under the law -- is not true. The data explains that you could
be four times as likely to face an IRS audit in one jurisdiction than in
another, that the chances of doing hard time for drug possession are much
less in some places than they are in others, that weapons violations are
a more serious offense in some parts of the country than in others.
Basically, the TRAC data can provide the basic information for a story,
or series of stories, on one of the most powerful themes in the country
today -- that there is fundamental unfairness in the way our laws are applied.
A day in the clerk's office of your local federal courthouse, and you should
be able to find a lot of faces to go with the names, a lot of flesh to
turn the statistics into stories.
---
TrogTalk:
Broadcast History in Bite-Size Chunks
by Dave Linder
dlinder@vegas.infi.net
Dinosaurs once roamed the earth, beginning with the Jurassic Era, defined
as
the period a few decades after Philo T. Farnsworth (and a couple of
other
techno-nerds) invented the lights and wires in a box that became Tee
Vee.
These dinosaurs started out as creative geniuses, inventing as they
went
along. They didn't have books, manuals, consultants to guide
them -- just
free thought. "Gee, let's pack up a bunch of Mitchells and go
over to Korea
and let's see what kind of things we can get on film; let's talk to
the
boys, the grunts, the GI's." That kind of thinking by the men
and women
(even then) of CBS got a lot of dino eggs hatched, as they watched,
in awe,
the world come into their living room.
A lot of WWII Bell & Howell Filmo and Eyemo combat cameras were
available in
the surplus stores, and some other imaginative types started thinking
"Gee,
maybe the newsreel guys can teach us a thing or two," and, "Why can't
we go out
and shoot the mayor cutting a ribbon for the new highway, and maybe
even get
a cute animal story or two, and use one of the telecine chains to play
it on
the "news".
Something like that happened. Along about the time network news
went from
15 minutes to 30, local stations started thinking that they, too, could
expand. In those days, all stations, TV and radio, had to "serve
in the
public interest, and necessity" and had to provide a large percentage
of
their broadcast day to news and public affairs. It wasn't until
the
sixties, that local news became something other than an obligatory,
license-
saving pain in the ass to station managers. Creative genius came
to play.
Al Primo invented "Eyewitness News" about the same time as Walter Cronkite
took over from Douglas Edwards and JFK went to Dallas and the 50's
Happy
Days evolved into the 60's. Network, then local news (or was
it the other
way around?) became Profitable.
With profit, came an infusion of cash. Well, maybe not an "infusion",
more
like a "trickle". Station managers reluctantly agreed to add
a photographer
or two, with the incumbent gear they required, a reporter or two (cheaper
to
equip, but generally paid twice as much), and saw that the audience
grew,
therefore the advertising rates grew, and therefore profits grew.
So,
reluctantly, they gave in to pleading from News Directors (augmented
by
"research" provided by their new "consultants") that they Had To Do
More.
And More was sure to come.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
For those of you who may be unfamiliar with
Dave from his relatively regular postings to
various online journalism gatherings, rest
assured that he knows TV history because he
has lived so much of it. Dave has held more
jobs in TV news than he can count... almost.
After nearly three decades as a broadcast
journalist, he left last year to go into
"public-sector video," which basically means
helping a large and rapidly growing county
in the western U.S. keep its meetings and
other events on cable TV.
WHO'S WHERE
The Desk is happy to publish your good news.
Email promotions, changes, new jobs, to us at
TheDesk@newstrench.com.
Include a phone number
where you can be reached.
SUE McINERNEY has been named news director of WFOR-TV, the CBS o&o
in Miami. She leaves the news director's job at KDKA, the Westinghouse-CBS
o&o in Pittsburgh.
NEIL GOLDSTEIN, who had been news director at WFOR-TV in Miami, becomes
news director of WJBK-TV, the Fox o&o in Detroit. The job was
vacant since longtime news director Mort Meisner was suspended and ultimately
dismissed after a dispute with the GM.
LIAM SULLIVAN joins WGHP, the Fox O&O in Greensboro, as Managing
Editor. Liam was previously at WTVJ in Miami. [ShopTalk, 5/5]
CAROL RUEPPEL leaves her job as news director at WDIV-TV in Detroit
to become VP/GM of WITI-TV in Milwaukee.
ED CHAPUIS has been named news director of KCRA-TV, the NBC affiliate
in Sacramento, effective June 2. Ed returns the station (where he was,
if memory serves, Assignment Editor and Managing Editor in the 80s) after
a tenure as news director at KTNV-TV, Channel 13 in Las Vegas. Chapuis
replaces Bill Bauman, who left to become General Manager at WESH-TV in
Orlando [ShopTalk, 5/2]
CARYN BROOKS has been named news director at WSYM-TV (Channel 47),
in Lansing, Mich. FOX 47, which is owned by Journal Broadcast Group,
Inc., will launch a 10 p.m. newscast in fall. Brooks, who joins WSYM-TV
on April 30, was executive producer of special projects for WJBK-TV, the
FOX-owned station in Detroit, Mich. She joined WJBK as a senior producer
in 1993. Brooks also worked as an executive producer at what was
then WCIX-TV (now WFOR-TV), the CBS-owned-and-operated station in Miami,
Fla., and as a producer at WPLG-TV, also in Miami.
Brooks received a masters of science degree in journalism from Northwestern
University in 1981. She is a 1980 graduate of Smith College in Massachusetts.
Brooks is a native of Hollywood, Fla. She and her husband have three
children. [ShopTalk, 4/30]
WBNS (Columbus, OH) has named ANGIE KUCHARSKI News Director. She is
currently the Assistant News Director at WBNS' sister-station WTHR-TV in
Indianapolis, and will take over news room duties on June 9. Kucharski
is a veteran news professional with over a decade of news experience.
She received her Master's degree in Broadcast Journalism, with "Highest
Distinction," from Northwestern
University's Medill School of Journalism. Kucharski has worked with
network affiliates and news bureaus in several large, competitive markets
such as Chicago, Austin, and Washington. She held positions as Assistant
News Director at KTBC in Austin, Texas and as News Director at KAAL in
Rochester, Minnesota. [ShopTalk, 4/29]
CHERYL CARSON decided not to join WTVT, the Fox owned operated station
in Tampa, as vice president of news, after announcing the move. For
personal reasons, she said she'd stay on at WGHP in Greensboro, North Carolina.
[ShopTalk, 4/29]
TO BE ASSIGNED (JOBS)
This is the place to find out about job
Openings in TV news gathering. Email info
about jobs to TheDesk@newstrench.com.
NEWS DIRECTOR (WGHP)
WGHP, the Fox-owned station in Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem,
North Carolina is seeking an experienced news manager to lead and inspire
a talented team of professionals. Those applying must be able to motivate
and manage the people responsible for 32 hours of news per week. Our goal
is to constantly improve our award-winning news product and maintain solid
journalistic ethics. Positive interaction with other departments will be
critical to our team-oriented management. Women and minorities are encouraged
to apply for this opportunity in the 46th television market. Mail resumes
to Karen Adams, VP and
General Manager, WGHP/Fox8, HP-8, High Point, NC 27261 [ShopTalk, 5/5]
KSTU, the Fox O&O in beautiful Salt Lake City, Utah, is expanding
again. GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER: Can you tell a story like no one else
can? We need someone who can take any story - from politics to police beat
- and hold the viewers' interest. Show us you can tell a story the FOX
way. For all positions send tapes, resumes and salary requirements to:
Personnel/KSTU TV/5020 W. Amelia Earhart Drive/Salt Lake City, Utah 84116.
Fox 13 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. [ShopTalk, 5/5]
COMPLETE NEWS STAFF (WSYM)
Fox-47 WSYM-TV in Lansing, Michigan is searching for aggressive and
energetic people to be a part of our start-up news operation. We are looking
in all areas: anchors, reporters, photographers, producers and assignment
editors. You will be working in a state-of-the-art facility and helping
to "reinvent" news in Lansing. It's an opportunity to work in the Journal
Broadcast Group, an employee owned company which also operates WTMJ-TV
in Milwaukee and KTNV-TV in Las Vegas. We are dedicated to being the leader
in television news in our markets. If you're ready for a challenge and
the rewards that go with it we want to hear from you. Please send
your resume, tape and cover letter to: Caryn Brooks, News Director, WSYM-TV,
600 West Saint Joseph St., Lansing, Michigan 48933 [ShopTalk, 5/5]
ASSIGNMENT MANAGER
Waterman Broadcasting is looking for an Assignment Manager to run our
assignment desk in a combined ABC and NBC newsroom. The Assignment
Manager coordinates news coverage for both affiliates to include: scheduling
and assigning crews, overseeing beat checks and advance planning.
Must demonstrate good news judgement while planning and assigning stories
to reporters. Also must help maintain professional standards, establish
and develop contacts in the community, and enterprise stories.
The qualified candidate will have at least 4-5 years of experience
in a television newsroom, as well as a four-year college degree.
At least two years of experience on an assignment desk preferred.
Operational knowledge of SNG and ENG systems and video editing proficiency
are a must. Must have excellent management abilities with strong
organization, communication and telephone skills, as well as the ability
to work with various personalities. EOE. All qualified candidates should
send a letter outlining news philosophy and resume to: Mike Reilly, Dir.
Of Corporate Affairs, Waterman Broadcasting, 3719 Central Avenue, Fort
Myers, FL 33901. Fax 941-939-2152. Email: mreilly@water.net
REPORTER (KOLO)
News Channel 8 KOLO TV is looking for a reporter who will report general
assignment stories five days a week. One year of television news reporting
experience required. Strong writing and editing skills a must. Candidates
must be creative, hard working, dedicated to news and able to take criticism.
Only those who are willing to learn need apply. Computer skills helpful.
Send tape and resume to: Ed Pearce News Director, News Channel 8 KOLO TV,
P.O. Box 10,000, Reno, Nevada 89510 No phone calls please.
News Channel 8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. [ShopTalk, 5/5]
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR (WTHR)
The Indianapolis market leader in news coverage and demographics is
searching for this key #2 Assistant News Director. To work in this
progressive news-oriented company you need to be audience savvy, smart,
dedicated, a great people motivator and a strong content manager.
We will provide the resources you need to win. The successful candidate
has an acute interest in the stories and strategies that go into generating
increased audience in and out of rating books. You will coach reporters
to greatness and work closely
with news director on policy and hiring. Minimum seven years
experience as a local television news manager and producer or reporter.
Experience in major market news departments and preferred college degree.
Send or email resumes to Jacques Natz, News Director, WTHR, 1000 North
Meridian, Indianapolis, IN 46204. EOE. Email: <mnatz@msn.com>.
[ShopTalk, 5/2]
---
UPCOMING EVENTS
TRAINING FOR TV NEWS REPORTING: Today's television journalists face
rapid technological changes and increasing professional demands. Whether
you are preparing to enter the field or are an experienced TV journalist,
this intensive one-day seminar can help you meet these challenges. Learn
advanced skills in planning story coverage, working in the field with a
camera crew, conducting interviews, doing standuppers and writing, voicing,
and producing news packages. The training is conducted while actually covering
stories with George Strait and Herb Brubaker. Location: University of Maryland
at College Park. Date: May 15, 1997, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Cost: $499 For more information call 1-800-711-UMCP or (301) 405-6244
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS & EDITORS, INC. NATIONAL CONFERENCE, June
12-15, Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Phoenix, AZ. $200 for members, $240
for non-members. Contact: IRE, 573-882-2042 or http://www.ire.org/.
Material designated as coming from ShopTalk
is reprinted by permission of Don Fitzpatrick
of Don Fitzpatrick Associates
(http://www.tvspy.com/dfahome.htm)
The Desk is published by Thunder & Lightning News Service.
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