Television
News 2004
Table of Contents
1. Stop The Slow Leak, You Must
Innovate To Survive
2004 - 1
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. However, it
must be done in ways viewers perceive as more valuable.
2. Raise The Bar, Your Brand Is
Your Promise
2004 - 9
AR&D says execute your brand in every block. Your branding theory must be actionable
by your staffers. Avoid viewer "antici-pointment."
3. Evolve and Execute
Strategies To Meet The Challenge
2004 - 17
Consultant Larry Rickel recommends evolving into producing "NOW" casts, not
"WAS" newscasts. People are bringing a "right now" expectation to
their viewing.
4. Build Systems That Produce
Consistent Newscasts
2004 - 25
Consultant Tom Dolan says you need systems more than ever. Improv e your morning meeting
as a key event that sets the goals of the day. Avoid slogan overkill.
5. Only the Interesting Can
Compete
2004 - 33
The NuFuture.TV consultants say news directors rise and fall on content. Every newscast
must be interesting and perceived as personally beneficial.
6. Promotion Techniques To Win:
Make In-Show Marketing A Priority
2004 - 41
Consultant Graeme Newell offered advice on improving promotion and teases. Make your news
content and teases seamless. Don't give viewers cues to tune out.
7. Amber Alert, Murder Draw
Huge Viewer Interest, Sympathy
2004 - 49
A surveillance tape recorded a girl being kidnapped. Tampa stations provided extensive
coverage. Viewers were shown how to get involved and help law enforcement.
8. Security Hazards: Unguarded
Airports
2004 - 57
Security was almost nonexistent at the small airfields around New York City.
9 & 10. TV News
Investigations: How Safe Are Your Kids?
2004 - 65
Online predators were caught on camera responding to a sting. Even though children have
been warned about dangers, left home alone they will still open the door for strangers.
When a criminal background check is run it's worthless if the database is incomplete and
offenses have not been entered.
11. TV News Investigations:
Health and Safety
2004 - 79
Using popular nasal cold remedies could cost you your sense of smell. The person drawing
your blood may be untrained. The athletic trainer may be unqualified.
12. Your Stories Grows: Yields
Good Leads, Helps Individuals
2004 - 87
The franchise developed at WIXT-TV, Syracuse, produces many valuable tips.
13. TV News Investigations:
Waste and Fraud Abound
2004 - 95
NASA is missing millions. Prisoners are filing frivolous, expensive lawsuits. A university
president is living in a "palace."
14. Growing Weekend News:
Sunday 10 pm News Expanded
2004 - 103
Weekends are seen as a growth opportunity at a Milwaukee station. The managers at WISN-TV
sought ways to maximize their coverage on Saturdays and Sundays.
15. When An Abduction Is
Actually A Hoax
2004 - 111
When police requested help with a missing student case, Madison stations cooperated. When
police revealed an alleged prior attack on the young woman, the story moved to a higher
level. Next, the national satellite trucks arrived.
16. New Voting Technologies May
Have Major Flaws
2004 - 119
An investigation suggested some of the new machines could be tampered with by a hacker or
an insider. Tallies could be altered.
17. Airlines Are Delaying,
Outsourcing Maintenance
2004 - 127
Financially strapped airlines are delaying repairs and outsourcing work to companies that
are not fully supervised. Inside sources spoke with WFOR-TV, Miami.
18. & 19. Teen Driving
Project Draws Very Well At 11
2004 - 135
Teenagers' basic driving problems, including drinking, were detailed by WFSB-TV, Hartford.
Interviews ranged from a young woman who barely survived an accident to an instructor who
helped young people learning to drive.
20. Racial Profiling Data Is
Often Unreliable
2004 - 149
Officers were misjudging or mis-reporting race in San Antonio. Thousands of traffic stop
tickets were reviewed by investigators at WOAI-TV.
21. The Bully Project: Seeking
Solutions
2004 - 157
More than 13,000 students and 600 teachers and counselors participated in surveys
establishing the extent of bullying and official responses. This was second phase of a
major effort by WITI-TV, Milwaukee.
22. Taken For A Ride Options
Boost Car Cost
2004 - 165
Car salesmen were running up the bills of unsuspecting buyers. They were "payment
packing" --- adding options without telling the customer they were being charged for
extras. This practice was detailed by KNBC-TV, Los Angeles.
23. Veterans Benefiting Little
From Donations
2004 - 173
Military veterans actually receive just a small portion of the donors' generous
contributions to two charities in Chicago. With so many service men and women on active
duty, this was particularly sensitive when WLS-TV broke the story.
24. Football Recruiting:
Alcohol, Strippers and Sex
2004 - 181
Some college football programs have been allowing players and wouldbe players to be
involved in controversial alcohol use and sexual activity. Similiar practices were
investigated by KUSA-TV, Denver, and KHOU-TV, Houston.
25. Targeting the Competition's
"Switchables" Pays Off
2004 - 189
Don't expend energy and resources going after the competition's hard core viewers. Advice
from SmithGeiger: Convert viewers who are inclined --- but not committed --- to watch the
competition.
26. The Great Shredder Event
Draws Thousands To Malls
2004 - 197
Viewers could avoid identity theft by taking their documents to be shredded for free in a
project produced by WCAU-TV, Philadelphia.
27. Weapons of Worry: Missed By
Security
2004 - 205
Some weapons are invisible to the scanning equipment. In Miami, WFOR-TV revealed there are
knives and stun guns that are beyond the current controls.
28. News Investigations: Three
Local Outrages
2004 - 213
Here are the specifics of three diverse, but very interesting, expanded projects.
29. Know Your Rights: Consumer
Advocate Explains Basic Rules
2004 - 221
Many people do not know what their rights are in various common situations. At KGTV-TV,
San Diego, consumer reporter Marti Emerald examined these issues.
30. Murrow Awards: Insights
From The Winners
2004 - 229
Several national winners discussed how they produced their award-winning material.
31. Covering the Convention:
Security, Logistics in Boston
2004 - 237
A terrorist incident was always a worry. There might be violent elements among the
protesters. News managers made extensive plans of how their teams would respond to many
different potential challenges.
32. Covering the Candidates and
the Bank Robbers
2004 - 245
Three banks were robbed as the president and Senator Kerry both appeared in Davenport
about the same time. There was a lot going on on a day when newsgathering resources were
overloaded to begin with.
33. Terrorist or Tourist?
Security Fears Hit Home
2004 - 253
A Pakistani citizen was found videotaping banks and other key locations in the South. News
managers directed full coverage, making sure it didn't panic viewers.
34. Winning November Sweeps
Strategy: Be Boldly In Character
2004 - 261
Sweeps is no time to have a sudden personality change that will jar your viewers. This was
advice from Crawford, Johnson and Northcutt.
35. TV Ahead of Weather Service
Predicting Charley's Path
2004 - 269
At the last moment, the hurricane took an unexpected turn and intensified. The experienced
television forecasters had excellent technology and could see areas were threatened that
had not be fully alerted by the weather service.
36. Potential Terrorists Are
Crossing The Border With Mexico
2004 - 277
The flood of illegals was documented by KVOA-TV, Tucson.
37. Check Every Teacher's
Credentials
2004 - 285
The resumes of every educator in greater San Antonio were checked by the investigative
team at WOAI-TV. Some had diploma mill degrees.
38. Hurricanes Bring Big
Audiences With Big Information Expectations
2004 - 293
The coverage was mapped out early. The initial outlines were created far in advance, and
fine-tuned. Providing specific information for the whole viewing area was a prime goal.
39. The Pedometer Challenge:
Walk Off The Weight
2004 - 301
Small steps can make a difference. Anchors at WGN-TV, Chicago wore pedometers and showed
this is an effective strategy.
40. Mount St. Helens, Live From
The Volcano
2004 - 309
The mountain was poised for its largest eruption since 57 people were killed in 1980. News
managers at KGW-TV, Portland, were ready to provide quality pictures at any time that
something happened.
41. Fake Voters Registered ---
And Exposed
2004 - 317
With the presidential campaign close, investigators at KUSA-TV, Denver, and KMOV-TV, St.
Louis, uncovered big problems with many new voter registrations. Phoney entries were
generated by people hired to increase the voter rolls.
42. Police: Man Shot Nine
People ; Station: There's No Evidence
2004 - 325
An investigation by WXYZ-TV, Detroit, contributed to charges being dropped against a man
who apparently was framed.
43. National Controversy Fueled
By Embedded News Crew's Video
2004 - 333
Video shot by an embedded Minnesota television crew might reveal when hundreds of tons of
explosives disappeared from Iraq.
44. November Investigations
2004 - 341
A sexual deviant was caught on tape by WDIV-TV, Detroit. A powerful politician who was
giving out special deputy badges was exposed by WPXI-TV, Pittsburgh. WTAE-TV revealed new
details of a terrorist plot with a Pittsburgh connection.
45. Propane Thefts Discovered
By TV Investigator
2004 - 349
One tank is powerful enough to take down a small building. KMGH-T V discovered that more
than 100 propane gas cylinders have been stolen in Denver.
46. & 47. Investigative
Teams Probe Safety, Health and Security
2004 - 357
Sweeps reports were wide-ranging, covering every thing from crack pipe sales to near
misses and aborted landings.
48. Reality TV Approach Used In
Heart Health Project
2004 - 371
People were recruited at a mall and taken for sophisticated medical testing. Risk factors
were explained and a life saved during the Cardiac Arrest project of WDIV-TV, Detroit.
49. Drunk Driving Outrages: A
Partnership Produces Strength
2004 - 379
There are many more repeat drunk drivers than most people realize. Three Tennessee
stations worked together to profile the worst of the worst and their victims.
50. Bob Ryan's Weather Almanac:
Twenty-Five Extraordinary Years
2004 - 387
In Washington, WRC-TV produces its annual weather reference work for viewers. The
station's chief meteorologist explains how he has done it.
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