The newsletter about TV news
gathering...
And the people who do it
Paul Skolnick
Managing Editor
skolnick@newstrench.com
Volume 1, Number 7
September 7, 1997
BREAKING NEWS
IT HAS BEEN AWHILE,
HASN'T IT?
Okay. August is over, and it's time to get back to work. Ah! Don't we wish that it had been the wiles of summer alone that had delayed this issue. Not so. We've actually been BUSY!
But September is bringing us right back into the swing of things - especially of trying to bring out this modest newsletter on some kind of schedule. We'll do our best to stick to the "once every three weeks or so" routine that we've been running on since the spring.
---
DISASTER PREPS:
ARE YOU READY FOR
THE BIG ONE?
A good part of our attention has been turned since early in the summer to developing disaster-preparedness plans for TV stations. And we're happy to announce that the first phase of the Thunder & Lightning News Service plan - an interactive online quiz called "Are You Ready for The Big One" -- is now a reality. You can see it for yourself at our web site, http://www.newstrench.com.
With the East and Gulf Coasts keeping a close watch on hurricane activity in the Caribbean, the West Coast bracing for what some are predicting will be the worst El Nino this century, and the middle of the country wondering if the coming floods will be as bad as the ones they're still cleaning up from, there's no doubt that disaster coverage is a timely topic.
Let's face it: there are lots of good reasons TV stations break into continuous coverage to talk about impending or unfolding disasters in their viewing areas. Civic responsibility is certainly at the top of the list. Fulfilling the obligations of an FCC license is another. A third reason is that disasters are usually the kinds of stories television news does best because the stories lend themselves to the strengths of the medium - immediacy, action, people.
Somewhere down the list is a business consideration. In the intensely competitive arena for viewers, disaster coverage is something that can realign the audience.
Consider the millions spent on advertising, the big chunk of air time given over to promotion. And then think about that moment when viewers WANT more information from their TV set. A disaster is the one time viewers go looking for news. If they don't find it where they think it should be, they vote with their clickers.
That's why it's important for TV stations to be as ready for continuous coverage of deserving events as it is for any other kind of story. And our Web site is the beginning of a major effort to help stations get ready.
The interactive quiz is a chance to figure out just how ready your station is for the kinds of stories that could consume your personnel and equipment and engage your viewers. It takes a few minutes to complete the online questionnaire (your score is returned immediately by email) but it's a few minutes well spent. It's better, we think, than trying to find a few minutes after the disaster is underway trying to figure out how you're going to cover it.
So we invite you to go to our site at http://www.newstrench.com, search your station's soul, answer honestly, and see how you stack up. And we urge you to prepare your station and your staff to be ready to cover whatever Big One might strike your DMA.
---
THE WEST COAST'S BIG ONE
(ONE OF THEM, AT LEAST):
WHERE TO TRACK EL NINO
West Coast newspapers are full of talk about what's going to happen this winter. Measurements in the Pacific indicate that the tide is turning itself around, as it does about once a decade. The result is something known technically as an "El Nino Southern Oscillation" meteorological condition, shortened by scientists to ENSO and by the public at large to "El Nino." Whatever it's called, it can result in severe - and potentially disastrous -- weather conditions in places that aren't used to such things.
The U. S. Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Prediction has an impressive Website at http://nic.fb4.noaa.gov:80/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/index.html with an incredible amount of general and specific information about El Ninos past, present, and future.
Data about conditions in middle of the Pacific Ocean, and what that means to weather predictions across the United States for the next six months are updated every Monday. The site also offers graphics of predicted temperature and precipitation variations in GIF and Adobe Illustrator formats, which can be downloaded and used on the air.
---
WORDSMITHS OF THE
TV WORLD, UNITE!
As a debate raged in ShopTalk over the last couple weeks about proper usage, specifically, and ways to improve news writing, generally, someone suggested that perhaps a Website might be devoted to TV news writing. Presumably, this meant the good as well as the bad.
News writing is one of our businesses, and attempting to improve it wherever possible is another one of our businesses. So it seemed logical that we should volunteer to host such a site under the aegis of the Thunder & Lightning News Service.
Volunteering was a whole lot easier than actually doing it. We're still trying to sort out some of the sticky problems - things like copyright, trademark, invasion of privacy, and defamation of character -- associated with such a site. We have no doubt that these things WILL get sorted out.
We could use a little help, however. Let us know what YOU'D like to see on such a site. What would be helpful to you? What would be humorous? What would be interesting? If you can, send along examples of what you're talking about. mailto:skolnick@newstrench.com
---
STRUNK & "STYLE"
GO DIGITAL
Nearly 80 years ago, a Cornell University professor published on his own a brief book about writing well. It was called "The Elements of Style," by William Strunk, Jr. One of Strunk's students, E. B. White, became one of the finest stylists of the century, and periodically through his life updated what Strunk liked to call his "little" book.
Strunk and White are both gone now, but the "little" book has gone digital. The original 1918 edition is online at http://www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/strunk/index.html.
The digital version, like the many paperback editions that precede it, can be a great source of quick help and an inspiration. It's something that everyone who works with words should read once a month (if not more frequently).
---
META-SEARCH SYSTEM:
IT'S OKAY, BUT. . . .
There's a new meta-search system online with a cool name - eXTReMe Search (http://www.extreme-dm.com/) - but aside from the name, it doesn't seem to offer many advantages over the other systems already out there. eXTReMe Search is optimized to work with Netscape 4.0, but it still requires you to pick a particular search engine and enables only one selection at a time. Thus, if you need to look for a name, for example, and you want to cover many specialized search engines, you can search them only one at a time. eXTReMe Search does remember what you're looking for - since there's a "companion" window that acts as the interface to the actual search engines - but the copy-paste system that's been embedded in virtually every release of Windows since the mid-80s does the same thing. eXTReMe search boasts that it can handle multiple simultaneous searches... but so can any other engine, and any other meta-engine, if you engage new browser windows. Nice name. But we can't say for how long it'll be around.
---
INTERNET SCOUT:
A SERVICE THAT PROVIDES
A SERVICE
Of all the services that claim to search the Internet and tip you off to what's cool or neat or interesting, only "Internet Scout" (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/index.html) seems to serve up a consistently interesting weekly report that contains sites that are often helpful.
"Internet Scout" comes from the University of Wisconsin, and is a service of InterNIC, the consortium of the National Science Foundation, AT&T, and Network Solutions, Inc. that handles the administrative aspects of the Internet in the U. S.
"Internet Scout" - which is emailed every Friday in text or html format, and posted on a Web page in html and pdf formats - is a weekly roundup of what's new and newly discovered on the Internet. It focuses on academic and research issues, because that's who it believes InterNIC's audience is.
"Internet Scout" has a Spartan look and sound. There's little of the breathless, self-congratulatory hype found in so many of the commercial WWW-tip services. Instead, "Internet Scout's" team of Web-surfers in Madison surf through thousands of sites and write sober, accurate analyses of what they find.
They seem to be more interested
in the content of the sites they visit than in the technical wizardry.
You won't read a lot in "Internet Scout" about "cool graphics" or Java
applets that tell you the time. What you will hear about is information
that may be useful to you, sites that contain data which you may be able
to use, and invariably in every issue, news of a site about some arcane
subject that could well lead you to wondering if there's any subject in
the world that's not yet oneline.
DESKNOTES
TrogTalk:
NEWSMAN COMPLAINS ABOUT
NUTRITIONAL CONTENT
OF NEWSCASTS
By Dave Linder
dlinder@vegas.infi.net
To me, "Intensity" is more than a weak attempt to create a tv drama based on a semi-famous horror/slash novel. (Author's note: does the use of the </> make that read: "...a horror-slash-slash..."? Perhaps that is what I subconsciously intended. If I didn't and it impressed someone, well then, I did intend it that way!}
"Intensity" could be the adjective that describes the mood of television nowadays. Promos scream out to capture the unsuspecting viewer faster than he -- and in lesser degree, we are told by sociologists and psychologists, she -- can grab the clicker to zap over to the next channel to see what's over there. "Give me INTENSITY and give it to me NOW!" is the mindset of the average tee vee viewer. At least it MUST be so in the minds of the promotion gurus who write that stuff. Those same promo gurus and tease writers, in actuality, have as much of a hand in the shaping of the medium as anyone else.
Anyone who has toiled in the "cruel and shallow money trenches*"; those "long plastic hallways**" that make up your average TV station today, know that the promotion/consultant mavens dictate content to a degree at least as much as the news or programming executive.
You may be watching a typical network's sitcom on the local affiliate, and just as the (canned, of course) laughs over the toilet or other bodily function die out, we are blasted out of our BarcaLoungers(tm) by the strident, urgent tones from our local teevee anchor reading copy written by the promotion department or a producer who knows how to SELL a story -- "Bizarre Sex Slave Murder -- we'll tell you where at 11" -- "What's the best place to Kiss? We'll show you at 11!!"
Intensity! Never mind that the "sex slave murder" occurred in Peru, or the best place to kiss is a "romantic restaurant" or some lover's lane! Hell, they aren't even divulging a bit of sex-ed, thanks no doubt to the enlightened post-AIDS era, and the Sally Jesse's and Ophrah's of the dayside. And, of course, they sure as hell aren't giving us The News. They are feeding us a diet of low-cal, low-fat, decaffeinated, sugar- and substance-free gruel.
What they are offering is the usual serving of banalities, seasoned with a dash of spice in the form of violence or sex (or both), served on a dish of satellite feeds and flashing red and blue lights, with a soupcon of yellow crime-scene tape. The menu is stacked top to bottom with little regard for depth and real information. But, by God, it sure has a lot of spice!
Perhaps it may taste spicy because you have been served a plate of "intensity" -- a feeling of urgency, enhanced by "team coverage" or "local reaction". The chefs in the kitchen are fresh out of training in the culinary art of "nouvelle cuisine", drilled in the "less is more" philosophy of high storycounts embellished with the parsley sprigs of sports and weather, nearly always served with a dash of (attempted) humor.
Like the old joke about Chinese food, you are hungry an hour later. And full of empty calories.
You may say to yourself as you read this bit of zwiebeck toast, "So, Mr. Dinosaur, to what diet do you attribute your long life in Tee Vee News?"
My answer is simply, "I am a Dinosaur -- a Troglodyte who is dying of starvation because the subsistence that made me grow strong in my youth has been replaced by empty calories, with occasional binges on the intense narcotics provided by Major News and his henchmen."
Given a steady diet of this daily grist of low-substance gruel you, too, will most certainly succumb to the numbness that comes with malnutrition.
-
FOOTNOTES:
* Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (from which tome? Damned if I can remember.... I have the full quote framed and hanging on my wall, but -- damned if I can rememb....)
**ibid
[EDITOR'S NOTE: For three decades,
Dave Linder plied the TV news
trade
in a number of markets and many
different capacities. Today,
he's a
viewer (occasionally) who helps
a
large and fast-growing Western
county
do video projects.]
---
WHO'S WHERE
SCOTT SASSA to President, NBC Television Stations Division. He replaces John Rohrbeck, who - according to a memo from NBC CEO Bob Wright - will continue as a senior executive at NBC. SASSA comes to NBC from Marvel Entertainment, MTV, and Turner Broadcasting. In Rohrbeck's five years as head of the division, NBC acquired six new television stations (doubling the number of o&o's).
JIM PARKER, News Director of WICZ-TV, the FOX affiliate in Binghamton, NY, moves to News Director WHBF-TV, the CBS affiliate in Davenport, IA-Moline-Rock Island, IL.
KELLI OLEXIA moves from nightside reporter to weekend anchor/reporter at WTOV-TV Steubenville, OH/Wheeling, WV. TRACEY GRAYZER moves from reporter, WWVA-AM to WTOV-TV as nightside reporter.
GARY GABRIEL has re-upped as a reporter at KABC in Los Angeles.
BRIAN JONES will take over the day-to-day operations of news gathering for Fox News. Additionally, Jones will coordinate all broadcast news fed to the network. George Case will continue in a senior news advisory role for the Fox News Channel and will assume the primary responsibilities for News Edge and relations with Fox affiliate stations.
ANDY BRIGGS moves from 5:30 p.m. weekday anchor at WJAC-TV(NBC), Johnstown, PA., to his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA., as a reporter at KDKA-TV(CBS O&O). Andy will be covering news for Washington County. He is represented by CJ~C Marketing Works, Nashua, NH.
KERRY CONNOLLY moves from Weekend Morning Anchor at WBBH-TV(NBC), Fort Myers, FL., to her home state of Connecticut, as the Weekend Morning Anchor/Medical Reporter at WFSB-TV(CBS), Post-Newsweek Station, soon to be Meredith Corp. The new weekend morning newscast is set to debut this month. Kerry is represented by CJ~C Marketing Works, Nashua, NH.
SHAWN KILLINGER of the CBS News Foreign Desk in New York becomes a General Assignment Reporter at FOX 31 News in Rochester, NY beginning October 20th.
CHRIS REGNIER is the newest addition to the KFOX newsroom in El Paso, Texas. Chris will report and do some fill-in anchoring for the station. The award-winning Regnier comes from KUAZ in Wichita Falls, Texas. CHRIS REGNIER is represented by DAVID BRUNNER of DB & ASSOCIATES in Neffs, Pennsylvania.
CHRISTINA MCKENNA re-ups at KIRO as reporter.
CRAIG TREADWAY goes to WNYW, New York as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Craig was a reporter/anchor at NECN in Boston.
ANGELA DAVIS goes to WFAA as a reporter. Prior to WFAA, Angela worked at KSTP in Minneapolis.
DAN HARRIS goes to NECN in Boston from WCSH in Portland, Maine.
Christina, and Craig are represented by Carol Solomon-Leff; and Angela and Dan are represented by Dennis J. Holland, both of Athletes and Artists, a division of the Marquee Group.
After more than seven years in the Bakersfield, CA market, JIM WALKER has been hired as a reporter by KTVT Channel 11, the CBS station in Dallas/Fort Worth. He is represented by Steve Swienckowski of Raleigh, North Carolina.
VICTOR ROCHA is the new Assistant News Director at WTHR-TV in Indianapolis. Victor joined them from WMC-TV, the NBC station in Memphis, TN, where he had been working as Assistant News Director for more than two years. During his career Victor has worked as an assistant news director, executive producer, special projects producer, show producer, reporter and writer.
WTVT, the FOX o&o in Tampa, has hired the son of its top anchor who will work as a general assignment reporter/anchor at the Fox-owned and operated station. 27-year-old Mark Wilson comes from weekend anchor/general assignment reporter in Raleigh, NC, NBC o&o WNCN. Mark's dad, John Wilson, anchors the 6 and 10 o'clock news at WTVT, where he has been for fifteen years. Mark is a graduate of Florida State University.
MARISA CHUN to general assignment reporter at KREM, the CBS affiliate in Spokane, WA. She had been a field producer and writer at KXTV in Sacramento since last year. Marisa is a graduate of Harvard Law School and a former Senior Trial Attorney for U.S. Department of Justice in Washington D.C.
CHRIS VELARDI moves from producer/reporter at Time Warner Cable's NewsCenter 7 in Ithaca, NY to a reporter position in the Berks County bureau of WFMZ in Allentown, PA.
JIM DONOVAN, consumer reporter and investigative producer for CNBC's "Steals & Deals", joins WGHP Fox 8 in High Point, North Carolina as an investigative reporter. An Emmy winner and National Cable Ace nominee, Donovan will work in the '8 On Your Side' consumer unit. Jim is represented by DAVID BRUNNER of DB & ASSOCIATES in Neffs, Pennsylvania.
HOLLY DOYLE and STEPHANIE SCHAEFFER join WGEM in Quincy, IL. as producer/reporters. Doyle is a 1997 graduate of the Northwestern Medill School of Journalism. Schaeffer is a 1997 graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Kent Collins has joined WGEM as news consultant. Collins is a professor at the University of Missouri. He also owns Medialine and writes a newspaper column. His years in broadcasting included stops in Denver and New Orleans (and a stint in the early 70s in Quincy).
JOHN LANSING, current Station Manager at Scripps Howard-owned WXYZ-TV in Detroit has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Scripps-owned WEWS-TV in Cleveland. He replaces Gary Robinson, who is retiring. Lansing is an ex-newsie who was news director at WBBM in Chicago and WCCO in Minneapolis.
CNBC Business News has named MARK HOFFMAN and KEVIN MAGEE executive producers and BRUCE STEVEN PERLMUTTER senior producer. Hoffman was also named director of talent development.
BRETTE LEA has joined WKRN-TV, Nashville's ABC affiliate. Brette will be co-anchoring the 10pm and reporting for the 5 and 6pm newscasts.
BOB YOUNG has assumed the role of Station Manager at Fox's WGXA-TV in Macon, GA.
STEVE NORRIS has accepted a position as Weekend Meteorologist/General Assignment Reporter at WXIX-TV FOX19 in Cincinnati. Steve jumps from WKEF-TV (NBC) in Dayton, Ohio where he co-anchored and did weather for their morning show TODAY IN DAYTON. He is represented by Steve Swienckowski of Raleigh, NC.
NINA JIMENEZ has recently joined KNXV-TV, ABC 15 in Phoenix, as a general reporter and back-up anchor after having been at WXIA-TV, NBC 11 in Atlanta, for the past three years.
Management appointments at Bay News 9 - Time Warner's 24-hour local news channel for the Tampa-St. Petersburg area: CARLA FIELD, from Producer, WFLA-TV Tampa-St. Petersburg, to Executive Producer; DELINDA HIGINBOTHAM, Producer, WFLA-TV, to Executive Producer; LARRY BONETTI, Producer, WCPX-TV Orlando, to Executive Producer; SUNDE GREER, Assignment Manager, NorthWest Cable News, Seattle, to Managing Editor; ERNIE SADASHIGE, Assignment Editor, WTVT Tampa-St. Petersburg, to Assignment Manager.
RAMON ESCOBAR has been promoted to Vice President of News/News Director for NBC 6/WTVJ in Miami. Ramon has been with NBC 6 over the past three years. Most recently, he served as Managing Editor and prior to that as the Executive Producer of Special Projects. Ramon came to NBC 6 from WNJU-TV, the Telemundo o&o in New York where he was Executive Producer. Ramon succeeds Deborah Collura, who left to be News Director at WDIV in Detroit.
DAVID SAMPSON begins work at Dateline NBC as Medical Producer. David has been producing at KCAL-TV for the past two years. Before that, he was Dean Edell's producer at KGO-TV in San Francisco. Now he'll be working with Bob Arnot, and will be based in Burbank.
TREVOR LANDRY has accepted a job as weekday sports reporter at WMDN-TV in Meridian, MS. He joins WMDN from WHBQ-TV in Memphis where he has worked as a sports photographer for two years.
RANDY AHRENS is leaving his position as weekend meteorologist at KXII- in Sherman, TX., to accept the morning meteorologist position at KCEN- in Waco, TX.
PAMELA CHAN has joined WPIX/Channel 11 (New York) as a New Jersey bureau reporter. Chan began her career at the New Jersey Network in Trenton.
JENNAPHR STITELER to WKBW-TV
in Buffalo as a general assignment reporter, from WTVR-TV in Richmond where
she held the same title.
TO BE ASSIGNED
(JOBS)
REPORTER (OCN)
The Orange County Newschannel
is looking for an aggressive reporter. 2 to 3 years experience preferred.
We want someone who excels at breaking news and digging up exclusive stories.
Show me the big stories you broke in your market. Send a VHS tape, resume,
and references to: Scott Hollowell, News Director, OCN. 625 N. Grand Ave.,
Santa Ana, California 92701 OCN is an equal opportunity employer. No phone
calls please.
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR (WOFL)
WOFL-TV Orlando, FL, is seeking
an Assignment Editor for a start-up FOX news operation in the 22nd market.
The successful candidate will assist in setting up the news operation,
establish news contacts with community agencies, and assist the News Director
in screening job applicants. Ultimately, this position will develop and
assign news stories, coordinate reporter coverage, handle multiple news
gathering tasks, monitor scanners, manage telephone traffic and launch
live coverage. Strong people skills required. Working knowledge of the
Orlando market strongly preferred. Must have at least three years of broadcast
news experience in assignment capacity and a college degree. Send your
resume, a tape of your show, and a one-page letter on why you are the person
for this job to: Personnel Manager, 35 Skyline Drive, Lake Mary, FL 32746.
Resumes must be received by September 5, 1997. No phone calls. EOE.
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR (WTVH)
WTVH-5, the CBS affiliate in
Syracuse, NY, is looking for a news Assignment Editor in a 45-person shop.
Must have ability to generate story ideas for daily news coverage. Must
have 3 years TV news experience, excellent people skills, be a quick thinker,
clear communicator, and be an exceptional organizer. College degree required.
If you would like to be part of this exciting news organization, please
send resume with salary requirements to: Human Resources Dept., WTVH, 980
James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203. EEOE.
MANAGING EDITOR/COMMUNITY VIDEO
JOURNALISTS/ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
Neighborhood News 12, the cutting
edge in multi-media local news coverage, is leading the way in digital
news gathering. This hyper local news product is seeking a Managing Editor.
The successful candidate will possess strong supervisory, writing and copy
editing skills and an interest in leading the way while working with new
technology. We are also seeking "Community Video Journalists" who will
enterprise, shoot and edit their own work on new digital video camcorders
and laptop field editors. Assignment Desk Editor and Voice- Over Announcer/Copy
Editor positions are also available. Please send your resume and non-returnable
tape, indicating position of interest to: PO Box 999-PC, Woodbury, NY 11797.
An equal opportunity employer. Managing Editors candidates can also E-Mail
resumes to: BROMANSK@Cablevision.com.
REPORTER (Conus)
We are looking for a reporter
to cover, produce and present news stories for Conus and Conus Washington
Direct members and clients- with heavy emphasis on live shots. Respond
as needed to breaking news and contingencies outside regular schedules.
Advise and assist in special event planning and execution. Five to ten
years TV news reporting experience, including extensive live work. Strong
writing, producing, and visual story telling skills. Ability to translate
complicated Washington issues into interesting local news stories. Please
send tape and resume to: Human Resources Job # 165-97 Conus Washington
3415 University Ave. St. Paul, MN 55114 No Phone Calls Please EOE
SEGMENT PRODUCER
Chicago's largest full service
video production company is expanding again. We seek a qualified writer/producer
to handle a variety of projects. Successful candidate will have experience
in news, segment producing, long form and corporate production. Send Resume
& Reel to Alex Epstein, Managing Producer, Orbis Broadcast Group, 100
S. Sangamon Street, Chicago, Il. 60607. No phone calls, please.
ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR (WCAU)
You'll be second-in-command
of a large and diverse newsroom in the USA's #4 market. You'll be responsible
for guiding reporters, producers and other managers. Important administrative
responsibilities, but you should be a news person first and foremost. The
ability to handle the pressure of an extremely competitive market, creative
approaches to the myriad challenges in a big newsroom and a sense of humor
are all required. Five-plus years as a manager in a major market and a
strong producing and/or reporting background essential. EOE. Resume only
(no phone calls) to: Manager of Human Resources WCAU City Avenue and Monument
Road Philadelphia, PA 19131 ATTN: (Job Title)
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR (WCAU)
You know what makes news AND
what makes great television. You have a keen sense of story development
and the leadership qualities to make stories happen. You won't take "no"
for an answer, and have natural instincts which guide your news decision-making
process. Knowledge of the Philadelphia market is critical. Minimum 5 years
major market assignment desk experience. EOE. Resume only (no phone calls)
to: Manager of Human Resources WCAU City Avenue and Monument Road Philadelphia,
PA 19131 ATTN: (Job Title)
WEATHER ANCHOR/COMPUTER REPORTER
(WREG)
I need a meteorologist/reporter
who loves and understands computers -- and not just weather computers.
I have a dream job for the right person. I'm looking for someone who can
anchor weekend weather here at WREG in Memphis, and assist us with computer
reporting three days per week. Join The New York Times Company Broadcast
Group here in Memphis by wowing me with a tape & resume. No calls,
but you can e mail me. Craig Jahelka, VP/ND, WREG, 803 Channel 3 Drive,
Memphis, TN 38103 or <jahelkc@nytimes.com>
NIGHTSIDE ASSIGNMENT EDITOR (WBTV)
Charlotte is looking for a nightside
assignment editor. We have all the toys and are looking for someone who
can use them aggressively. If you love news and want to win send your resume
to... Jim Newman - WBTV News, 1 Julian Price Place, Charlotte, NC 28208
NEWS REPORTER (KXLY)
Live and work in one of the
most beautiful communities in America, Coeur d'Alene, ID. Looking for someone
who can dig up the kind of stories that make a difference to our viewers,
and run our growing Idaho News Center. Environment, minding, timber, agriculture,
recreation and politics are among issues you'll be covering. If you really
want to work in Spokane, do not apply for this job. We're serious about
covering Idaho and want a person committed to the job. Two years experience
as a TV News Reporter and a four year journalism, communications or related
degree are minimum requirements. Send resume and non-returnable tape with
your last five stories to EEO Coordinator, KXLY-TV, 500 West Boone Ave,
Spokane WA 99201 by September 15, 1997. NO PHONE CALLS. EOE.
REPORTER/ANCHOR (WBNS)
10TV is looking for a reporter/anchor.
You will produce, report, write and anchor newscasts, stories and segments,
both taped and live. Anchor segments and newscasts on a fill-in or regular
basis. Develop contacts and generate news stories. Other duties as assigned.
College degree and a minimum of 3 years experience as an on-air TV news
anchor/reporter. Computer skills helpful. Must be willing to work overnights,
nights and weekends. Qualified candidates should send resumes to: WBNS-TV,
Human Resources Job #69-200, 700 Twin Rivers Drive, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Qualified minorities and woman are encouraged to apply. EEO. We are a smoke
and drug free workplace.
REPORTER (WMTW)
The ABC affiliate serving the
Portland, Maine market, needs a full- time reporter to fill an immediate
opening. We're looking for a reporter who generates his or her own story
ideas every day. The right candidate will be a great storyteller with strong
writing skills and excellent live shot ability. Minimum two years' experience
required; bachelor's degree preferred. Must be available nights, weekends
and early mornings. We've got a satellite truck and a chopper. This fast-
paced shop was recently named "Station of the Year" by the Associated Press
and is rapidly growing. Interested? Send resume and tape to News Director
Dave Baer at WMTW-TV, P.O. Box 8, 99 Danville Road, Auburn, ME 04210. EOE.
NEWS DIRECTOR (WEEK)
Granite Broadcasting's WEEK-TV
(NBC) has a rare opening for News Director for Central Illinois' dominant
news station. The winning candidate will oversee all news related operations
and must know all aspects of news, have good people skills, be motivated
with the ability to motivate, and have the ability to lead this creative,
award-winning and successful news operation. Prior news management experience
and college education required. Send resume with references to Mark DeSantis,
General Manager WEEK-TV 2907 Springfield Rd., East Peoria, Illinois 61611.
WEEK is an equal opportunity employer.
WHO'S WHERE and TO BE
ASSIGNED are reprinted
from "ShopTalk" by
permission of Don
Fitzpatrick & Associates
(shoptalk@tvspy.com)
The Desk is published by Thunder & Lightning News Service. It circulates free of charge by email.
To subscribe to The Desk, send email to TheDesk@newstrench.com. The subject line of the email must read: SUBSCRIBE. To stop your free subscription to The Desk, send email to TheDesk@newstrench.com. The subject line must read UNSUBSCRIBE.
To submit a letter, article,
information or otherwise communicate with The Desk, send email to Skolnick@newstrench.com.
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