Katie, Bar the Door!

I love this video.  I love the Rizzo kid.  I love the speech.  When the youngster talks about the Russian hockey team, I mentally replace that country with the call letters of my opponents--KMBC, WDAF and KCTV.

The February book has only a few more days left.  We put our focus on the evening newscasts and I'm pleased with how it's played out, so far.  I'll miss Vancouver but I think that in almost every instance, our news team put its best effort out there and it will be interesting to see how our local news ratings play out when programming goes back to normal.

The Olympics are over and soon we'll find out what is real and what is a halo from the winter games. 

No matter what happens, we can never, ever give up.

I Heard the News Today, Oh Boy

We have a new General Manager at KSHB and he's somebody I worked with before...a long time ago.

Mike Vrabac has been the GM at KJRH for the past four years...he's managed Tulsa's NBC affiliate for the most successful years at the station in the past twenty years or more. 

And yes, we have some history.

In 1994, I was a first-time ND at KJRH and Mike was the GSM.  I arrived in February, he left in October to go to KOTV (also in Tulsa).  I recall his wry sense of humor and that he talked about "inventory" and "cost per point."  I learned from and liked him. 

Until 1994 I had never attended a TV department head meeting and I struggled to find my way with not one but two consultants, each breathing different messages in my ears.  Add to that, a disfunctional relationship with the GM.  We didn't have a shared vision. Fresh off of four years at WSVN in Miami,  I wanted to make my mark as the Queen of Breaking News, an unlikely goal in our quiet corner of Oklahoma (until the Murrah Building got blown up).  Meanwhile, my boss wanted us to do most stories about the ballet and the library.  We were a terrible match.  Not his fault.  My lack of focus, naiveté and lack of common sense eventually got me fired in 1996.

I have often said that I probably should have been fired sooner.  I made every mistake a new manager makes and some of them more than once.  I lasted two years in Tulsa before taking the bullet.

(Rumor contol.  Mike Vrabac did not fire me from KJRH)

I'm excited about the possibilities!

Long Beautiful Hair....

What is the big deal about hair? 

Genetics made me a blonde.  My six siblings and our mom sport hair that's various shades of yellow, thanks to our German heritage. 

Supposedly, that's a good thing but I've always felt that I had "bad hair."  Being blonde is ok, I guess but I was a permaholic for years, attempting to make my fine strands be more...full of life.  I've always wished for curls or waves or SOMETHING different.  About five years ago, I stopped getting my hair permed every six months and some days, frankly, I can't do much with my limp locks.  So now I do the best I can with a squirt of root boost or not.  I am what I am.

I know this is a big issue for some of my black friends.  Before Chris Rock's movie "Good Hair," my former co-worker Sandra Hamer wrote a book entitled "Glory, The Hair" about her encounters with a hairdresser;  it's a great read about faith, life and hair.  Rene Syler, who I worked with in Reno and was on the CBS morning show for years has documented her struggles with hair on Facebook and her blog.

I've had plenty of African-American female co-anchors talk to me about hair issues over the past thirty years and while I can't exactly understand what they go through, I know the conflict is real.

I admire women who are comfortable with the hair God gave them.  But I also understand the zeal to change it no matter what your heritage.

Seven years ago, our daughter Carly came home from Spain with a couple of dreadlocks.  She got her hair twisted into the locks on the beach and frankly, I didn't give it much thought.

A fews months later, though, she had twisted most of her long blong hair into locks and I couldn't help but complain.

"Our hair doesn't go this way" I told her.  "It's not natural."  I probably had a body wave in my own hair while I was lecturing her.

After awhile I grew used to the ropes of Carly's dreads and the attention she always drew. 

People stopped us and wanted to touch it.  Children were always especially fascinated.  Most older adults didn't like it.

I remember taking her to see "Heart" when we still lived in Memphis and we happened to be seated next to a hairdresser who was so horrified by Carly's apppearance she promised to "fix it," if she was given enough time.  She offered her services for free. 

My motherly protection mode kicked in and I thanked her politely but said I liked Carly's hair just as it was.

And I did!

Fast forward.

When we were in South Dakota at Thanksgiving, Carly announced that she had decided to cut her dreads.  For a short time, we were all going to cut one off and take it home as a souvenier...but cooler heads prevailed!

She talked to some experts and today, my daughter took a big step and combed out, then cut off the dreadlocks she's worn for the past seven years.

Isn't she lovely?

I'm a Believer in Miracles

I've enjoyed, so much, today's retrospectives on the 1980 Olympic hockey team.  Back then I was a much thinner, younger, cuter girl.  Not yet married, I had an apartment in Reno with my pal Cindy Scripps (yes, that Scripps) but being the South Dakota corn pone that I was, I had no idea of her heritage...or that I would eventually work (twice) for the company that bears her name.

We both worked for KTVN, the CBS affiliate, but not in news...we were in the traffic department (not that there's anything wrong with that).  Here's how I remember it--we spent our days entering endless series of numbers into a computer that would eventually spit out a log used by master control so they would know which spots to run and when.  A real fun job.  Real fun.  Now I realize how difficult it really is but back then, I was clueless.

Cindy had a white 13-inch color TV that sat on our coffee table in the living room and that's where I saw the replays of "Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

So three decades later, how FINE is it that the USA-Canada hockey game ended with the Americans winning?

Jack Harry just called me a few minutes ago.  Apparently his email and Twitter accounts are burning up with angry folks...mad as hell because tonight's hockey game was showed on MSNBC in analog rather than on NBC in HD clarity.

Jack wanted to know how to respond...and it's not hard to figure--the shirts at NBC made this decision weeks or months ago, based on the odds...that Team USA would not prevail against the favored Canada skaters.

I told Jack to remind viewers that these decisions are not made in Kansas City.  Because sometimes, boys and girls, network executives make mistakes.

I know, I know.  The men (women?) at the top have incredible resources at their command...research, ratings, history, focus groups...but still, they stumble at times.  Those of us way, way down the food chain suffer the consequences.

And Now Here's Something Really Different!

For a few years, the best thing on TV (for me) was The Gong Show.  I raced to my dorm many afternoons (Jerde Hall) at Northern State College (now University) to dance along with Gene Gene The Dancing Machine.

Enjoy!



I probably need counseling to figure out why Chuck Barris is still so hilarious to me.

Another Take on The Work Circus

Keeping the Plates Spinning
By MICHAEL WINERIP
Published: February 19, 2010
Many baby boomers are having to adjust to the modern workplace, where employees are consumed with calculating how to do more with less.

Pioli in the House!

Jack Harry casually walked into my office Tuesday afternoon and proceeded to MAKE MY DAY with the news that elusive Chiefs General Manager Scott Pioli agreed to a one-on-one interview in our studio Tuesday night.

Wow!

Pioli has preferred to have Coach Todd Haley be the face of the once-proud team as they rebuild from a devasting trifecta of losing seasons.

Nice job Jack!  Part of the interview will be broadcast Tuesday (after the Olympics, natch) and I'm sure that we'll learn a great deal about Pioli's plans for the future.

What's on the Menu?

Staring Down the Challenge of Breaking News

Sometimes you're good.  Sometimes you're lucky.  We had a combination of both Sunday afternoon when a snow squall hit the Metro (not unexpected).  Our weather team had been saying all week that there would be snow on Valentine's Day.

I was already headed to the station when Caroline Rooney called me to say that a multi-car crash on I-70 had shut down the interstate.  Could we fly the helicopter?  Of course I said yes.

My trip to 4720 Oak Street had nothing to do with severe weather.  My intention of mischief will be fodder for another day but as I headed north on I-35 shortly after 1pm, I realized the road was somewhat slick.  By the time I got to the station, Caroline was in full breaking news mode.  She had already sent a reporter/photographer and live truck to the scene.  She had called Captain Gregg Bourdon and was awaiting his decision about the safety of putting the chopper in the air.

My partners-in-crime, Booke Givens and her daughters, worked our magic on a favorite co-worker's office and Caroline worked the assignment desk. 

When I saw the chopper video feed of the chain-reaction crashes on I-70 we decided to do the unthinkable--break into the NBC matinee coverage of the Olympics.

Wanna see the video that both CNN and NBC couldn't wait to get their hands on?  Here it is.

Some background.  I always love being at the helm of breaking news when I know another station really can't break in without a great deal of angst (NCAA basketball, the Oscars, etc).

So here's karma...the angst of breaking news decision-making because it's the Olympics!

With Tom, Phil and Jennifer in the control room and Mark in front of the camera, we jumped in over a Costas studio interview.  We stayed on until we felt we had warned people of the danger and showed the amazing video from Skytracker.  We didn't miss any Olympic events and we got off the air right at 3pm.

The remainder of the afternoon coverage was breaking news alerts, streaming video on the web and crawls over programming.  Larry Seward and Beth Vaughn were live at 5pm from two of the crash scenes.


Only one person called to complain.

Whew.

KMBC broke into their afternoon movie about an hour after we did.  I didn't see anybody else jump into the fray before evening newscasts but maybe I missed something?

This afternoon's exercise was perfect for the delicate dance that is breaking news.  I think we nailed it.

A Salute to the Departed

Newspapers occasionally publish ads congratulating themselves for various achievements. But a most unusual ad appeared last week in The Star Tribune of Minneapolis with a less upbeat message, honoring — and naming — newsroom employees who had left the newspaper in wave after wave of staff cuts.


From the NY Times.

New Faces

About six weeks ago, I blogged about how difficult hiring great people can be.  At the time, we had five positions open.  Since then, one more MMJ job opened up but as of today, FOUR jobs have been filled.

And I have to amend my earlier statement because when you find the right fit, you just know.  On this night, I think I'm one lucky news director because four folks are joining our team and I know they are perfect for our team.  And it's all happened within the past few weeks:

Welcome George Waldenberger, Beth Vaughn, Najahe Sherman and Curtis Jay!

I have one more MMJ to hire...and also, now, someone to sit second chair.  Eric Maze is leaving to head a news team in Florida.  Eric's footprint is a big one.  Can you handle the challenge?  If so, go to the company website and apply!  (Click on "Careers.")

What's Next? Black Lights on Hotel Sheets?

KMBC reporter Lara Moritz presided over a live Taser demo Monday night.

Hats off to Tony's KC for his dissertation on the matter.

Hi and larious!

Sinatra's Killer Song

I've commented before about how much I love the Sunday NYTimes.  Wierdest story in today's paper has to be this one detailing how a song can be deadly in some karaoke bars.

John took me to see Frank Sinatra when he appeared at what was then the MGM Grand in either 1985 or '86.  It was incredible, even though Mr. Sinatra had to use a teleprompter to help himself remember the words.

I was in Chicago when he died and somewhere in a box, I still have the special tribute editions of the Tribune and Sun-Times from then.

Whistling in the Dark

My cheese got moved AGAIN Friday morning when KSHB General Manager Craig Allison announced that he'll take an "early out."  Craig has been with Scripps for thirty years and I'm a bit jealous of his ability to start living the second half of his life exactly the way he wants to.

I will miss him.  He's been a good boss.

Beginning Middle End

Beginning:  The day started normally.  Coffee.  Morning show.  Newspaper.  Drive to work.  Then it went a bit south when Eric Maze, the assistant news director resigned.  He's been tapped to be the news director at WFTX in Fort Myers, Fl.  This wasn't unexpected and I'm happy for him but selfishly, I hate to see him go.  Eric is a solid, smart leader.  He'll be a great news director.

Middle:  Lunch with a strong news manager.  We met at NoRTH in Leawood (119th and Roe).  They have a salad (Tutta La Casa) that is fabulous!  Forty-five minutes of conversation about local news in Kansas City and then I headed back to the office.  Brief meeting with the EP of special projects to tune up a special report for Friday's 6pm news.  Tweaked plan to introduce new anchor Curtis Jay who joins us in mid-February. 

Our afternoon editorial meeting was relatively painless although we didn't have, IMHO, any home run story ideas for the late news.  I hate it when that happens.

In my haste to log-on to my computer so I could print some contracts, I accidentally re-set my password to nonsense which then could not be replicated.  After numerous attempts, I called Mark Bunker (IT) and the reset included signing a Sarbanes-Oxley document!  Grrr. I entered a new password with the help of the benevolent Mr. Bunker but by then I had been off-line for an HOUR!  Spent the next section of the afternoon answering a handful of viewer emails.  We got one today that was a doozy--the fellow had a laundry list of complaints including one about how we spent more time covering hungry puppies in Kansas than a double murder in KC.  Color me confused.

End:  After the post I drove a few blocks to Bluestem (Westport and Madison) to meet another potential new pal.  David Jimenez is the friend of my friend Dwayne Raymond.  What a delightful evening!  We enjoyed some Malbec and told each other stories for three hours.  I can't wait until we get together again.  I've promised to take him to a Royals game.  He's lived in KC for five years and hasn't been yet.  I will try to teach him to love baseball--or at least to enjoy a beer and a hotdog with thousands of others.

I watched the late news on the DVR.  Tomorrow starts 28 Days of February Sweep.  After three decades in TV, I still get nervous about how this will all turn out. 

I'm hopeful.  And tired.  Time to call it a Day.