Choose Your News:The Ultimate Interactivity
A new franchise is taking interactive news to a whole new level.
News Director Randy Dixon explained how viewers are choosing their news and participating in an innovative
newsgathering experiment at KATV-TV, Little Rock.
Help
people survive in hard times
Viewers were urged to help tackle hunger in a campaign created by WFMJ-TV, Youngstown. The
details were explained by News Director Mona Alexander and General Manager John Grdic.
Newscast
expanded
at 10 p.m.
KOAT-TV, Albuquerque, expanded the 10 p.m. weekday newscasts to an hour, and quickly saw
audience growth. The plan was explained by Mary Lynn Roper, President and General Manager.
Officers
raiding meth labs: Many are ill from exposure
Former Utah narcotics officers, who put their lives on the line when they raided illegal
meth labs a decade or two earlier, have died or are battling unusual illnesses.
The chemicals used to make the meth are deadly.
The story was investigated by the team at KSL-TV, Salt Lake City. Reporter Debbie
Dujanovic found 58 police officers who had investigated meth labs in the previous two
decades.
News Director Con Psarras explained how they put the project together, and told us,
"We only found a few officers who didn't have a serious health problem. When compared
to the average rates of illness and cancer among that age group, the statistics were
indicative of a pretty big problem."
Of the 58 officers, 40 were sick or dead.
High
on meth, speeding, killing --- and still driving
A log truck driver kept on rolling, in spite of overloading his truck and causing a fatal
accident. The driver was off the road for only about one week after the accident.
KING-TV's Chris Ingalls found there was no penalty, no suspension of his license, nothing
---he just went right back to driving. There should have been three strikes against him.
He was speeding. His truck was overloaded. He tested positive for meth.
Changing the culture: A 24-Hour web
channel
Web sales more than doubled in one year at WIBW-TV, Topeka. General Manager Jim Ogle
shared with us the strategy that is working for his team.
Web
Video Journalist Hired
A photographer has become talent and is producing stories for the Web site of WPRI-TV,
Providence. He shoots, writes, and narrates the pieces. News Director Joe Abouzeid and his
team explain how it works.
When
Help Doesn't Arrive In Time
Have a serious heart attack on the streets of Cleveland and the chances of being
successfully recuscitate are slim. WJW-TV's Tom Merriman broke this.
Meanwhile, they don't have enough ambulances in Cincinnati. WCPO-TV's Hagit Limor
reported that story.
Financial
Fitness
Boot Camp
A major project combining financial information and advice aired on WCNC-TV, Charlotte.
News Director Mary Alvarez and reporter Anna Crowley explained how it was executed.
Broken
School Buses
Kept Rolling
Safety violations in the Indianapolis school bus fleet were so severe that the state
police began an immediate investigation after they were contacted by WTHR-TV. News
Director Carolyn Williams and investigative reporter Bob Segall explained how they
executed their project.
Rare
Interviews, SWAT Team Tapes Give Depth to School Shooting Anniversary Special
A deranged, armed drifter entered a Colorado high school. He took seven students hostage.
A special on the hostage drama was produced by KMGH-TV, Denver.
It featured interviews with people who had never talked about it publicly.
"If we were going to do something, we wanted to do something significant and
impactful, and that meant we needed to get a lot of players involved," said News
Director Byron Grandy.
Columbine:
Viewer Sensitivities Were Key
The live images were monitored carefully when two young men killed 12 other students, a
teacher and themselves at Columbine.
Patti Dennis, KUSA-TV's News Director, told us, "We had pictures coming in from
hospitals that I told them absolutely, positively, I did not want to see on our air. I
forbid it!"
Some violent criminals
get a break because of loopholes
Because of plea bargains and bureaucratic mistakes, sex offenders are not being classified
in the most serious categories and notification is not required --- even for some of the
most dangerous offenders. And in Maryland, judges have the power to modify an offender's
sentence at any time. WEWS-TV, Cleveland. WBFF-TV, Baltimore.
Make Your Station's Web Site
A Powerful Asset
Your station's reputation and brand do not automatically move from the broadcast to the
broadband media. Here is advice on how to compete from top consultants and award-winning
Web managers.
Protecting Crews and Gear From Unruly
Crowds
Jubilant fans of the Los Angeles Lakers set fire to two police cars and damaged news vans
during an unruly celebration after the team's championship victory. It didn't
particularly appear there was going to be vandalism and violence. But it grew.
At one point, a photographer told his reporter, "Run for your life!"
Kmart Crashes, Executives Fly High
As hundreds of Kmart stores closed and thousands of workers lost their jobs, an
investigation by WXYZ-TV, Detroit, raised serious questions about how the company's
managers were spending its money in 2002. While clerks earning $10.35 an hour were
being asked to make sacrifices to save the company, executives were flying in a fleet of
private jets, driving luxury cars and living in palatial homes.
The station's General Manager, Grace Gilchrist, told us, "These compensation packages
seemed to be so out of tune with the ethics the company was built on that it struck a
chord with us. This behavior was also very puzzling to the shareholders and to the
employees."
Exposing
Outrageous Perks: Workers Take Cuts, Execs Fly High
Auto industry executives were flying high in company jets on personal business, while jobs
were slashed and workers were being asked to take cuts in salary and benefits. It was
examined in 2006 by WXYZ-TV, Investigative reporter Steve Wilson documented the use of
corporate jets by executives --- and often their families ---for purely personal trips.
Trip after trip after trip, the camera rolled as the executives climbed aboard to travel
to their second homes or on vacations.
Tornadoes
Drive Record Web Traffic For Live Blogging, Viewers' Photos
Live weather blogging proved so popular that response far surpassed the initial
expectations.
Valuable local information flowed in from people as they simultaneously received the
specific details of the storm and connected with an authoritative source. The general
manager at WIBW-TV, Topeka, Jim Ogle, told us, "As they interacted with us as the
storm approached their area, they would write things like, 'You don't know how much it
means to me to be able to hear this from you first person."
Dog
bite zones: Hot spots were identified
Anchor Artie Ojeda of KNSD-TV, San Diego, created a franchise of "zones" pieces,
in which he built stories around public statistics, sorted the data and posted the numbers
online by zip code or neighborhood.
Official
cars: Should the mayor be riding in a gas guzzler?
The cars the politicians were driving on the public's dollar were investigated by reporter
Bill Sheil of WJW-TV, Cleveland.
Dirty
and dangerous swimming pools exposed
Half of the swimming pools county flunked their first inspection of the summer. In
Charlotte, WCNC-TV reporter Stuart Watson revealed that problems ranged from medical
issues to safety hazards.
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Station Wins Court Fight
For Mayor's E-Mails, Calendar
The business of how New Orleans is being run --- and how billions of federal dollars are being spent --- is a major issue in the post-Katrina era.
 The news team of WWL-TV went to court to get the records that would show what the mayor has been doing. The answer from the city: Oooooops! Much of it has been erased and lost.
At one point, the mayor threatened to meet Executive News Director Chris Slaughter in the parking lot behind the station.
Slaughter tells The Rundown what has been happening.
Repetition Is The Top
Reason
Viewers Watch Less Local News
Eliminating repetition must be a priority as stations re-invent
themselves this year.
"What we have learned from our viewers is that repetition is our
biggest enemy right now. Local viewers are not engaged in our product
when stories or information is repeated," says Deborah Collura, Vice
President News, Post-Newsweek Stations.
The problem of repetition is more than just running the same
package twice or a package in one show and a VO/SOT in another.
Larry Rickel, President and CEO of
The Broadcast Image Group, believes that you are competing against all other possible sources of
information. If a person thinks they know it already, they're gone.
 One station that has an aggressive anti-repetition approach is
WJXT-TV in Jacksonville. An independent, its staff produces eight hours of news a day. Vice
President/News Director Maureen Ruddy-Baker explained to us how they do it.
Subscribers: You can print the pdf of the full 10-
page article from our archives. Thank you.
Challenge Your Staff To Be
Active Participants In Change
Every station is at a different stage when it comes to re-engineering its news operation.
Most agree that those who will come out of the downturn the strongest are doing more than just cutting costs. They are developing a long-term strategy
for success.
Here is how news managers in several markets are working on the transition
with their staffs.
In this edition, we hear from:
--- Adrienne Roark, News Director, WFOR-TV, Miami.
--- Mike Goldrick, News Director, WHEC-TV, Rochester.
--- Pat Livingston, Corporate News Director, Barrington Broadcasting Group
Two Years Into Newsroom
Of Future:
How They've Done It
Re-engineering local news operations will be one of the biggest challenges facing news
executives in 2009. Here is the first in an occasional series on how station executives
and their staffs are coping with the pressures that are forcing dramatic
changes.
Gannett made early start, and began the change two years ago.
New procedures were introduced, old models abandoned.
Their changes began in March of 2007 --- well before
the economic turmoil hit.
"At first, the staff looked at me like I had two heads. But I had
'been to the mountain,' and bought into the fact that this was exactly
where we needed to be. This was before there was advertising pressure
and the economic decline that has escalated the transition to warp
speed," says Patti Dennis, VP News at KUSA-TV, Denver.
In this week's issue, this top news executive explains
how they have changed newsroom procedures and technology.
Take Charge
Thursday
Help Viewers Take Control
| In response to job losses and the down economy, news managers at WNDU-TV,
South Bend, have developed a regular franchise to help viewers take charge of their
personal finances. |
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Take Charge Thursday with detailed information on a specific
financial topic is available every Thursday during the news block from 5 to 6:30 p.m. |
"We began looking for what we could do to lift spirits and talk about
positive things. "We wanted something that would empower people and would be tied
into a specific day of the week," says News Director C.J. Beutein.
Subscribers, for the full explanation
of how they produce this franchise, please print your issue from our archives. Thank you. |
Help Viewers Get
Jobs
 People need advice on where to find openings and
how they should prepare so they can stand out when they apply. TV news teams have provided help.
The Place to Be:
Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of
Television
Roger Mudd |
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One of television's top political reporters --- perhaps the top
political reporter --- shared the inside experiences of covering many
major stories. Roger Mudd was a lead correspondent on campaigns and Capitol Hill during
the 60s and 70s. He was also the prime substitute anchor for the
network.
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His memoir, based on his own notes and extensive interviews, tells of
his 20 years in the CBS News Washington bureau.
His story provides many, many important insights for anyone interested
in a career in television news. There are the details of
newsgathering and bringing stories to air. There are specifics about
getting along with management and competing with rivals.
Reporting on President Kennedy's murder
Television news team members had to keep functioning despite their shock and grief, they had to find out what
happened, confirm, and avoid rumors and making mistakes. Here are
the recollections of three journalists who covered the tragedy.
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Group
Aims To Be Viewer Choice
For Economic Information
A yearlong viewer economic survival project has been launched by Hearst-Argyle.
Project Economy will appear throughout 2009 on air and online.
 "The emphasis will be
on localism, and our objective is to serve as the local source in our markets for economic
news and information," says Brian Bracco, Senior V. P. News for Hearst-Argyle.
Subscribers please print out the
article in our archives. Thank you.
Or if you prefer to have it e-mailed to you, as many
subscribers do, please let us know.
Help
Viewers With the Basics:
The Real Deals, Coupon Secrets
Investigating a viewer-submitted topic, and then giving people the scoop on what
"The Real Deal" is, has turned into a gold mine of stories for WSYR-TV,
Syracuse.
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| Consumer specialist Jennifer Lewke constantly receives tips, suggestions and questions
that result in daily stories that run in all day parts. |
"We have focused it on ripoffs, scams and things to watch out for.
There are many desperate people who are looking for instant solutions to their financial
troubles, and it has opened up more opportunities for the bad guys to go after them,"
says News Director Jim Tortora.
Also in this issue:
- Saving $400-$600 a month on grocery spending.
- Market encourages customers to graze and sample its food.
- A dramatic demonstration showing the fire hazard of I-beams made of composite wood.
- Cell phone video used for special
- Government pensions and payments revealed.
Subscribers: Please print out
your entire issue here. Thank you.
Consultants Recommend Major Changes In Newsrooms In 2009
As they have for many years, some of the nation's top television consultants have
shared with The Rundown their insights and advice about what news executives must do
immediately in the down economy.
Analysis from Frank N. Magid Associates
Survive Economically, Re-Invent
The Business
Seize every opportunity, they say. In a down market, you may be able to grow your market
share because your competitors have pulled in. Re-engineer your newsroom. Align your
resources with the things where your advertisers see value and your viewers feel they are
well- served.
Magid's full recommendations are
online in our archives.
Analysis from AR&D
Re-Engineering Is The Business
Imperative: Change is the New Normal
The veteran strategists at Audience Research & Development suggest that in 2009 you
must make fundamental changes NOW. This is more than laying off five percent of the staff
and converting to one-man bands. They say this is not time for a "ride it out"
approach. Your primary objective should be to create much more content.
See an in-depth report on AR&D's
views online.
Analysis from The Broadcast Image Group
Understand the Evolving
Anytime, Anywhere Customer
You must be anywhere the viewers want news when they want it. Produce content with unique
elements across all platforms. The Rickel team is also recommending newscasts need soul.
Involve your customers in a conversation.
Many more Broadcast Image Group
suggestions that you can use to improve your operation are available in our archives.
| Book is a valuable tool for
staff development Don't
Get Distracted:
Stay Focused on Your Core Product |
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An updated edition of a valuable newsroom resource has just been published.
Delivering viewer- centered information is the focus of The Producing Strategy, Version
2.0, by veteran consultant Larry Rickel and longtime successful anchor Ed Sardella. |
| Their premise: everyone in the newsroom is a producer. We must all
be involved in strong storytelling and making the newscast a special experience for the
viewer. Don't abandon your power base while upgrading your new media, says Rickel.
As broadcasters move onto new platforms, it is more important than ever to stay
focused on the role the TV newscast plays in your four-screen strategy.
Rickel and Sardella explain their theories, and the value of their book. |
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Advancing
The Story:
Broadcast Journalism In A Multimedia World |
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Broadcast journalism is a good starting point for multimedia
storytelling. Two broadcast veterans explain how a person with television skills can
expand their abilities an excel in the new media. Debora Halpern Wenger and Deborah Potter
offer specific techniques and strategies for maximizing the advantages of each platform. |
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AR&D's new book, Re-Engineering Local TV, by the Senior
Strategists at AR&D, will be available shortly on Amazon.com.
Or you can order it through their website, http://www.ar-d.comFor more information please contact:
Audience Research & Development, LLC
info@ar-d.com |
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Newslab training workshops
NewsLab is an online resource center for television and radio newsrooms, focused on
improving journalism. This organization
offers workshops for newsrooms and journalism groups around the world.
| Museum Broadcast
Communications |
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The MBC is a not-for-profit organization that has offered opportunities
for public learning to a diverse population since 1987 in Chicago. |
| Its mission is to collect, preserve, and present historic
and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform, and entertain
through our archives, public programs, screenings, exhibits, publications and online
access. |
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Copyright 2009, Standish Publishing Company. This material is for
your personal use as a subscriber, and may not be reproduced or transmitted to other
parties of any kind.
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Free
45-page Report
Hostage
Crises:
Do You Let Gunmen Control Your Air?
When an upset, armed individual is threatening to kill
someone, the police commanders supervising the emergency response and the news executives
in charge of covering the confrontation have many sensitive decisions.
Here's how broadcast executives have dealt with these dangerous emergencies.
Terrorism
Threat: Manhole Covers Left Unlocked
Underground cables carrying electricity and computer data --- the lifelines for America's
cities --- are exposed. WABC-TV's Jim Hoffer discovered that Con Ed has not locked its
manhole covers --- despite Homeland Security recommendations.
Attack
On America
At first it appeared to be a terrible aviation accident at the World Trade Center.
It turned out to be much more. Here is how it was covered by the news teams on the
scene.
Security
gaps are many
Long before, and then after, the terrorist attacks of September, 2001, several television
stations conducted investigations into lax security at airports and other major public
facilities. Most of these reports were prepared after the 2001 attacks. In some cases, the
broadcasters were credited with helping to make positive changes.
Sign
Up Today!
The Rundown has reported weekly on local
television news, programming, and community service projects since 1981. This material now
fills a massive hard copy archive of 7,000 pages --- easily the largest record of hometown
television's activities. Key articles are available in our online archives.
A
Young Kennedy Dies
When John Kennedy, Jr. and his wife vanished off Massachusetts, hometown TV stations
provided long hours of coverage, serving viewers anxious for any news of the president's
son.
The
Crash of Flight 191:
Tragedy at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
The news crews had close access to the scene. They were searching for accurate
information, but had to be very careful about what they showed.
Winter
Weather Hampers Rescue at Denver Crash
A Continental jet flipped and broke apart on a snowy runway at Stapleton Airport. The
blizzard-like conditions which may have contributed to the accident made coverage
particularly difficult.
Media
In Montoursville:
Trying To Be Very Sensitive
When TWA Flight 800 exploded in 1996, more than 20 victims were from one small town in
Pennsylvania. Newspeople tried to be sensitive to the grieving relatives, friends
and townspeople. At the same time, the reporters and photographers were dealing with
their own feelings of sadness and shock.
The
White Bronco Chase
Accused of murder, O.J. Simpson travelled along the highways of Los Angeles, and one
of the largest television audiences ever watched it live.
Murders at School:
San Diego Shootings
Accurate information was difficult to obtain. Students were interviewed with care.
Oklahoma
City Explosion: Covering the Terror
That this could happen in America's heartland was unthinkable. Even more astounding
was the news that Americans had unleashed this violence on fellow Americans, murdering
more than 150 innocent men, women and children.
Two reporters, four stories, one big
award
The judges awarded a Peabody to the investigative unit of WFAA-TV, Dallas, for the overall
quality of its work. The station won for four separate stories submitted by investigative
reporters Brett Shipp and Byron Harris.
The Peabodys do not recognize categories, nor are there a set number of awards given each
year. Although the entries were submitted separately, Executive News Director Michael
Valentine said it was the caliber of the work by the unit as a whole that made it a
winner.
Students drinking contaminated water
Youngsters are being exposed to lead every day in Los Angeles. The surprising source ---
the drinking fountains at their schools -- - was revealed by KNBC-TV's Joel Grover.
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