Viewers Interact
With
Reporter All Day Long
She takes ideas and responds at her desk, driving to the story and on her cellphone. This
experiment is explained by Randy Dixon, News Director of KATV-TV, Little Rock.
When A
Flooding Disaster Strikes: Who's in Charge?
In Sacramento, KCRA-TV news documented serious weaknesses in the emergency response
system in the state. Here's how they executed this major project.
 Following
the Lost Jobs: Maytag Moves to Mexico
An in-depth look at where the jobs went when a major employer closed a plant was produced
by WQAD-TV, Moline. "We decided to go to Mexico and follow those jobs to see what
happens to them --- why the company moved there and how much money they are saving,"
explained News Director C.J. Beutien.
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.
TV Reporting:
Covering Police and Crime
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.
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.
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TV
Jobs
Links and Resources
Online talent service opens
to non-represented talent
Collective Talent,
the online talent resource by Michaels Media, has opened its service to non-represented
talent.
When the service was first unveiled, it was designed to be supported primarily by talent
agents.
That approach made sense because the majority of talent in larger markets are represented
by agents. The biggest agencies can represent several hundred people.
Here are links to resources useful for planning potential career moves.
Find the job you're looking for
Here are current job opportunities for television professionals --- executives, on-air
talent, photographers, producers, promotion writers and more.
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 top 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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| 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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| Aim For The
Heart |
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This is a guide for TV reporters, producers and photojournalists who want to learn how
to tell clearer and stronger stories. This is practical material, real world techniques.
Al Tompkins is currently at the Poynter Institute. He spent 25 years as a reporter,
producer, photojournalist and news director.
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Copyright 2008, 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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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.
Resources
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
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.
Al's Morning
Meeting at Poynter Institute
Former News Director Al Tompkins updates current stories and coverage issues.
Advancing the
Story:
Broadcast Journalism in a Multimedia World
Information and advice about excelling in a rapidly changing media world.
The Producer
Book
Many producers have shared their opinions and ancedotes. This resource features practical
techniques and dealing with the real world problems of getting along newsroom staffers and
managers. All this has been compiled by the original author, former WLS-TV Executive
Producer Alice Main, and Ohio University Journalism professor Robert Stewart. The site is
maintained at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.
Public
Safety Workers Face On The Job Hazards
Many people who keep the public safe have been injured or sickened because of workplace
accidents or exposure to harmful substances.
Prisoners:
Escaping and Not Pursued, Inmates Housed at Secret Locations
Two investigations showed how important it is keep track of how corrections officials are
--- or are not --- doing their jobs.
Intelligence
Report Breaks News Every Day
WLS-TV, Chicago showcases investigative stories on a daily basis. Many news executives
have been working to get their investigative units on air more frequently.
Into
Child Porn? No Problem, Have A Nice Day
Most men who are arrested in Wisconsin for Internet sex crimes do not go to prison. Three
years of cases were analyzed by WITI-TV, Milwaukee.
Airport
Restaurants: What's on the Plate?
For your airport meal: Spoiled food and big rats. There was a lot to reveal when
restaurants were visited by investigators from WAGA-TV, Atlanta.
Duke
Rape Scandal: Aggressive, Yet Measured Reporting
Allegations of rape and the subsequent stories led to days of protest, tensions and
lawyers maneuvering for any possible advantage.
It's
Hard To File A Complaint Against Police In South Florida
Only 3 of 38 departments had complaint forms available when undercover checks were run by
investigators at WFOR-TV, Miami.
Don't
Count On A Siren To Warn You Of A Tornado
Serious problems with tornado warning sirens were revealed by investigators at WTHR-TV,
Indianapolis.
Teachers
With Records Are In The Classroom
The backgrounds of more than 50,000 school employees were checked by news investigators at
WOAI-TV, San Antonio.
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.
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