August 9th, 2009 
joel As you encounter content that you watch or read throughout your day, you may find questions arise about the angle the reporter took or inherent bias that you perceive. Don’t just ask those questions to yourself…share it in this open forum along with your news items, creative ideas, and unfortunate frustrations.
Private messages can be sent via e-mail to joel@nataliemedia.com or tweet @pressandtower.
Embrace the chaos!
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OK…three days in a row last week (Aug. 2-3-4) a display ad appears on the editorial spread of the Times-News. I ask about it in an e-mail on the 3rd and write a post on it on the 5th. The ads haven’t appeared since.
Just concidence, or did my little inquiry cause a reversal of the policy change?
My puny ego won’t allow to consider the latter…
When is WSEE going to restore their weekend newscasts? Especially the 11pm? I have noticed lately that Lilly Broadcasting has launched a 24-hour Caribbean weather channel:
http://www.OneCaribbeanWeather.com
Lilly Broadcasting is spending money to launch a 24/7 Channel for weather down south. It doesn’t make any sense to not have weekend news (or just the 11pm?) on an affiliate of the Top Ranked (CBS) network.
I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been out of local TV too long and don’t understand the economics anymore? I would think adding a newscast and selling spots (even in this economy) would be preferrable than running a public affairs show?
I am still waiting to see the WICU/WSEE “synergy” in action. There is so much potential for this merger – maybe it will occur in September when most newscast revamps happen?
Lilly would have to care about Erie!
I was watching Jet TV news this past weekend and saw what I hope is not another lazy trend in the making.
The story was a one car crash and the video for the entire read was the emergency sign at St. Vincents. For nearly 25 seconds…now, I don’t know about you but that doesn’t do much to tell the story. Perhaps a map of the axy location or an over the shoulder graphic would help. Then, the very next story’s first video is the same exact ER sign! Lou, let’s not get too complacent. I realize there isn’t much competition in town these days but don’t go soft on us.
Also, Amelia does a fine job but I caught her losing her smile before the fade to black in the first weather tease. There is nothing worse than an insincere on air weathercaster. Don’t turn off the charm too early or viewers will label you as “fake”. I’m sure that is not the case, but perception can become reality in TV news.
That’s the Action News format. Video, any video is good. That’s what the wonderful consultants will tell you.
In almost 30 years in TV, my call is – perception in 90% of the time indeed reality.
Ahh…Action News. If it bleeds it leads! And it is that way in every market Action News graces.
WPVI TV Action News 6 in Philadelphia is particularly good with that news format. In fact WPVI TV is famous for pioneering the ACTION NEWS format. It premiered on Channel 6 on April 6, 1970 while the station was still WFIL-TV. Ever since then Action News has helped Channel 6 remain at the top of the ratings. How’s that for a useless bit of trivia for ya?
The same happened when WJET adopted the Action News format. They were getting close to WICU but then Channel 24 switched to Action News and overtook WICU.
Just amazing isn’t it. Flash and trash and people buy it. The other formats now are just the same. Most of these A-D-D riddled 30-something news directors wouldn’t know a true news story if it bit them. And they’re petrified to defy a consultant.
Most News Directors these days get their story ideas from reading the Morning newspapers.
I do agree that most ND’s are terrified to defy a consultant.
At one time I wanted to be a consultant. But then I realized I would suck at it since I have common sense and a brain…so that was the end of that pipe dream.
I read a while ago that Lilly has a gold mine in the Caribbean. It’s called Joey Stevens. They love him down there. Why? I’ll never understand. As long as Joey brings in ad money from down there Lilly will play their music…regardless of how bad he screws the Erie viewers.
WICU ran a promo for their 5:00 news…at 10:45 this evening. Another “Whoops” moment brought to you by Lilly Broadcasting
It was the mid-80s and I was working as a cub reporter at WJET. I was sent by the N,.D. to a shooting oin the east side but when we arrived they had already taken the victim away. Before racing to the E.RS. for video I was told by my boss…”just get some shots of blood in the snow if you can”.
Again…video, any video, is enough. I remember that story R.I.P., thanks for a nice chuckle in the morning.
EJ was great for having the overnight guy get locator shots, even if the action was over nad everyone long gone.
Sort of like the live shot from the location where an event took place 10 hours ago in the daylight. But now it’s night and you can’t see anything. I love those.
I always like to see video of street signs. Nothing like hearing about an accident that happened at 22nd & State and seeing the street sign that actually says 22nd & State.
Wonder if a consultant thought that up?
Tim, it’s even better when the chyron also says 22nd & State – just in case the viewer didn’t get it!