 TV News Investigations:
Crime and Violence
Check projects that could help your viewers understand the threats they and their children
are facing. If they are aware of these hazards, they may be able to avoid them.Meth and Youngsters:
A Dangerous Mix
Children are being endangered by the meth manufacturing process. There can be
explosions. Fumes are dangerous. Child protection agencies are removing them
from these dangerous locations.
Protecting
Children, Street Smart Kids
Parents were alerted to specific things they should teach their children so the youngsters
could avoid become victims. In Milwaukee, WISN-TV produced a major project.
Weapons Of
Worry: Missed By Security
Despite the ongoing effort to improve security in the schools and to prevent terrorist
attacks in the public arena, there are weapons that are beyond the current controls.
There are many weapons that can be slipped past security and can be used to kill.
Here are the details of a project that alerted parents and public to the dangers of
concealable weapons.
The Great
Blackout: Lessons From The Frontlines
An estimated 50 million people lost electricity in the massive August 2003
blackout. In spite of incredibly difficult conditions, broadcasters jury-rigged equipment
and devised creative solutions to stay on the air and serve their communities.
The
Homeless On The Front Lines
As time passed and the number of homeless grew, they became a greater problem. Two
San Francisco stations ran investigations. One reporting team rode with the
police and documented the law enforcement problems. Another unit went undercover to
show what it was like when a mentally ill, potentially violent, individual tried to get
help.
TV
News Investigations:
Help Your Viewers Save Their Money
Scam artists from cheating mechanics to greedy market managers were exposed ripping off
the public.
Neighborhoods
Under Siege:
Undercover With Drugs, Cash and Machine Guns
In some neighborhoods, the drug trafficking had gotten so bad people were hiding to avoid
being hit by gunfire while inside their own homes! Several station executives committed
weeks to undercover surveillance to show how these thugs operated and how widespread the
problem had become.
Use Polling To Focus Special Projects And
Provide Exclusive Hard Information
A good survey yields your own insights into major problems facing your viewers. You
don't have to rely on the opinions and guestimates of the people and experts involved.
Here are several major projects where newspeople targeted and surveyed
select groups, including teachers, parents, medical patients, doctors, high crime
neighborhood residents, and more.
TV News Investigation:
Child Molesters Getting Probation In Houston
In 1998, investigators for KHOU-TV, Houston analyzed the records for their local felony
courts and found that in a three and a half year period, 35 percent of those who sexually
abused a child got probation and returned to the community.
With all the publicity about the Megan's Law and other community notification laws around
the country, many people had thought these deviants were being dealt with comparatively
harshly and that at least they are removed from the streets for several years while they
serve their sentences.
Great
Shredder Event Draws Thousands to Malls
Viewers could avoid identity theft by taking their documents to the mall to be shredded
for free in a project created by WCAU-TV, Philadelphia.
Create An Awards Submission System:
How to Prepare a Winning Entry TV
Awards
Links to competitions and articles of how the awards were won.
Managing Live Coverage:
Win the Big Stories
When the big story hits, and you're working
it live for long stretches of time, there may be moments when it is very hard to maintain
the strict editorial control you normally have.
During the past two decades, many television news executives have shared their experiences
with The Rundown, explaining the specifics of sensitive, sometimes dangerous, situations.
Here are some of these case histories
available at your online story database.
Air Travel Today:
Plan To Survive
Here are several projects done in recent years looking at basic problems most travelers
have to contend with.
Police: Man
Shot Nine People
Station: There's No Evidence
Most of the time --- hopefully --- the police and the prosecution get the right criminal.
Much of the time, reporters can accept the official version of what has happened. When
there is reason to doubt the establishment, it is a sensitive situation.
An investigation by WXYZ-TV, Detroit, contributed to charges being dropped against a man
who apparently was being framed. It had been a major story. Nine people were shot when a
man fired into the crowd during an fireworks display.
An arrest was announced quickly.
The news team followed up, interviewing victims and witnesses to the shooting. The
reporters quickly developed a different view than that announced by the police and the
mayor.
"Five of the nine people who were shot said that it definitely was not him!"
says Andrea Parquet-Taylor, News Director.
It appeared police were misrepresenting what they had.
Here's how Parquet-Taylor and her
team put it together.
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Television News 2005
Table of Contents
1. Stop The Slow
Leak, You Must Innovate To Survive
Magid says viewers are willing to watch large amounts of local news --- if they don't
think that you're wasting their time. Differe ntiation is increasingly vital.
2. Create A
Different And Better News Service
Your news strategy must be designed specifically for the attitudes and forces of your
market today according to the consultants at AR&D.
3. Produce and
Promote Content No One Else Offers
Advice from The Broadcast Image Group. Producers and reporters must identify the station
specific angle that will drive viewing to your show.
4. Killer
Chlorine Gas Leak Tests Emergency Responders, Media
News crews respected the danger during the worst U.S. train accident involving hazardous
material in nearly 30 years. Nine people died when a train slammed into rail cars in a
South Carolina milltown, puncturing a tanker of chlorine gas.
5. Criminal
Secrets Revealed, Prisoners Offer Their Advice
Inmates were identified by the crimes they had committed and debriefed about how they
operated. Viewers were offered suggestions on how to avoid becoming victims in these
reports at WFOR-TV, Miami.
6. Following The
Lost Jobs: Maytag Moves To Mexico
The impact of a major employer closing was reported by WQAD-TV, Moline.
7. Spending
Other People's Money: Excesses and Perks Abound
Local officials have been living high on the hog on taxpayer dollars. State pension fund
managers spending tens of thousands of dollars on perks was revealed by KMGH-TV, Denver. A
state trooper detail assigned to the governor --- a group big enough to guard an emperor
--- was exposed by WLS-TV, Chicago. Spare no expense on official vehicles was the
philosophy in the Motor City. Personal excess on the part of the mayor was reported by
WXYZ-TV, Detroit.
8. Tax Dodgers
Exposed, Confronted On Camera
In Indianapolis, WTHR-TV identified people who weren't paying their fair share of taxes,
and instead were living tax-free. One half billion dollars in unpaid taxes were owed by
more than 11,000 individuals and thousands of businesses.
9 & 10.
February Wrap-up: Sweeps Special Reports
Violent girl gangs. Unregistered sex offenders. Sex offenders getting off lightly. Broken
fire hydrants. Excessive firefighter overtime. Daycare transportation.
11. Hiring A
Mover? Beware
When you hand over everything you own to strangers, they have tremendous power over you.
Unscrupulous movers were exposed by the investigative team at WTTG-TV, Washington.
12. Taxpayers
Support Illegals and Crime Corners
Government-backed loans were revealed to be going to help illegal aliens buy homes and to
support businesses that may contribute to crime in urban neighborhoods. These were
produced by KMGH-TV, Denver and KPIX-TV, San Francisco.
13. Get the Most
From Your Research Questionnaire
You must know as much as you can about your loyal viewers and your potential audience.
Dolan Media Management had advice on fine-tuning your research questionnaires and
maximizing your research dollars.
14. Georgia's
Forgotten Children: Station Focuses On Foster Care
In Atlanta, WSB-TV created a yearlong campaign to help children lost in the state's foster
care system.
15. Breaking The
Big Story 28 Years After The Murder
In Chicago, WLS-TV investigators revealed the story behind the disappearance of an heiress
three decades earlier.
16. RTNDA Web
Winners: Unique Content Sets Them Apart
Here are successful strategies from new media managers.
17. RTNDA Best
Web Sites Part Two
Treat it as a important asset. Win breaking news online. Convergence is king. Offer a
personal connection to a story. Station's past highlights available online.
18. Guardrails
Improperly Installed, And Could Fail
Road crews were caught taking dangerous short cuts that could negate the safety features
of the highway railings.
19. Officers
Raiding Meth Labs: Many Ill From Exposure
Many former Utah narcotics officers, who raided illegal meth labs a decade or two earlier
are now dead, dying or battling unusual illnesses. The full story was done by KSL-TV, Salt
Lake City.
20. Reporter,
Photographer Held At Gunpoint, Searched By Police While On Story
Injured by police, WJLA-TV reporter Andrea McCarren needed physical therapy after her
shoulder was wrenched by an out-of-control officer.
21. Sexual
Predators In Apartment Complexes, Nursing Homes, School Zones
The passage of laws requiring the registration of convicted sex offenders may have given
the public a false sense of security.
22 & 23.
Healthcare Woes: Imposters, Hidden Fees, Greedy Insurers
Nurse imposters. Unexpected medical bills. Greedy insurers. Universal healthcare.  |
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24. Reporter Attacked On Video Hassled
By Mayor, Bodyguards
The mayor of Detroit and his bodyguards erupted against an investigative reporter from
WXYZ-TV. 25.
Crooked Car Dealers, Auto Theft Hot Spots
Dealers adding costly extras without the buyers' knowledge was revealed by KUSA-TV,
Denver. The patterns of auto thieves were revealed in a database created at KHOU-TV,
Houston.
26. Keep Up With
Your Viewers, Develop A Portfolio Strategy
Consultants at SmithGeiger discuss plans to distributing content with on air, online,
wireless, mobile, digital and desktop products.
27. Overall
Excellence Winners: How They Do It
Murrow award winners discussed their techniques and goals.
28. Manure and
Mercury: Rural Environment Deteriorates
Two potential environmental threats --- and the impact on human health and lifestyles ---
were investigated at WISC-TV, Madison.
29. Broken
Promises: Tutors Not Doing the Job
The No Child Left Behind Act provides an extra assist to help youngsters reach their full
potential. They are entitled to private tutors. In Milwaukee, WITI-TV revealed many
tutoring sessions are not what they should be.
30. Summer
Investigations: Beaches, Theme Parks, Vendors
Fecal filth pours into lakes and rivers. Theme park safety: are there thorough
inspections? Ice cream vendors with criminal records.
31.
Investigations into Nursing: Addicts and Felons Hold Licenses
Some experts have estimated about 10 percent of nurses are dependent on drugs or alcohol.
Because there is a shortage of qualified nurses, some candidates who might otherwise be
out of work --- including criminals have slipped through.
32. Theme Weeks
Done Right Attract Viewers To Their Sets
In Miami, WFOR-TV had success with producing special reports on week-long themes during
the July book.
33. Reports
Highlight Hot Areas For Tickets, Home Prices, Cancer Rates
Zipcodes are hyper-local. Here is how several stations looked at interesting topics with
breakdowns for specific locations.
34. Online
Polling Provides Cost-Effective Local Content
KGO-TV, San Francisco, is a pioneer in online polling and regularly uses it to produce
important and unique hard news.
35. Hurricane
Katrina Drives Online Usage To New Plateaus
With help from their groups and partners, the station Web sites provided the latest
coverage and emergency information.
36. Picking Up
The Pieces: Reporting Katrina's Aftermath
Flexibility, innovation and stamina were the keys.
37. Covering
Katrina: How They Lived Through It And Kept Serving Their Public
An anchor survived by clinging in a tree with her husband. The ceiling collapsed in the
newsroom. A ham radio operator got word that a missing reporter was alive. The staff
members of WLOX-TV, Biloxi, were at Ground Zero.
38. It's Not:
What's Working?
It's: What's Working Here?
The key ingredients: local, new, and investigative. Advice from the consultants at
Crawford, Johnson and Northcott.
39. Hurricane
Rita Evacuation Holds Lessons For Other Crises
In Houston, KHOU-TV was fully prepared when Rita followed Katrina and two million Texans
moved in a sometimes chaotic evacuation.
40. Training
Staff Members, Trying New Things
"Business as usual" is not going to solve the problem of declining audiences.
41. Integrate
New Media Into The Newsroom
The push to extend the brand onto many platforms is in full swing in newsrooms.
42. Toledo Riot
Coverage: Some Neighbors React To Neo-Nazis
News managers tried to avoid promoting the group and its message, but at the same time
were ready for a disturbance.
43 & 44.
Producing Special Content That Is Truly Special
Investigation subjects ranged from Europeans adopting African American children to
suburban moms addicted to meth.
45. Undercover
With Hate Groups: Exposing A Growing Movement
A WDIV-TV undercover operation, complete with disguises, revealed the inside activities of
neo-Nazi and Klan organizations.
46. Help Viewers
Reduce The Fire Risk At Home, School
Off-campus housing dangers were investigated by WBNS-TV, Columbus. Low ignition cigarettes
were examined by WCNC-TV, Charlotte and WTTG-TV, Washington.
47. Beyond The
Latest Stabbings: Project Expands Crime Coverage
A 30-day project focused on a surge in violent crime in Nashville.
48. Public
Servants Exposed Abusing Taxpayers' Trust
Several stations did investigations recently into how public servants are discharging
their duties and spending the people's money.
49. Defective,
Unsafe Buses Roll on the Roads
Passengers and drivers are at risk in Boston. WHDH-TV revealed there are hundreds of
defective buses on the streets of the city.
50. Talent
Database Streamlines The Hiring Process
Michaels Media, known for local news programming and campaigns, is launching a new venture
to simplify talent searches.
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