Post-Olympics Hangover? Nope!

An interesting seven days.

We survived our first week off the Olympics teat and I'll be happy if our performance is indicative of the future.  We remained competitive in the early evening and late newscasts (number one last night at 10pm!).  We have work to do in the morning but I know once the team is complete on both sides of the camera, we will be on our way.

Friday was Craig Allison's last day.  I can truthfully say he is one of the most thoughtful General Managers I've ever worked with and I will miss him greatly.  I'm excited, though, for the future because our new boss is definitely engaged in the battle at hand.

KCTV is advertising for a "sportscaster."  What an old-fashioned term!  Remember when the former sports director for KCTV was on the cover of "The Communicator" in a story about how sportscasts didn't drive viewers etc etc?

From where I sit, the other stations in Kansas City have ceded sports to us.  We were the only broadcast outlet to send a crew to Surprise, AZ for Royals spring training.  That shocked me, given the performance of Zach Greinke and Billy Butler.

It's ok if they try to catch up.

From My Google Reader

From time to time, I'll share items of interest from my RSS feeds...

This Week in Review: Surveying the online news scene, web-first mags, and Facebook patents its feed

Posted using ShareThis

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.

KMBC, WDAF, KCTV Roeder "Coverage?"

From: Phillip, Peggy
Sent: Fri Jan 29 19:37:18 2010
Subject: Great job!
I just want to take a moment to commend the hard-working Wichita crew of Tim, Dale, Lindsay and Matt.
Covering news far from the home base is never easy. Whatever can go wrong, will. Stuff breaks. Things change. Or they don't.
Here's one thing that's a given: The brainiac managers back at the station (well, me) always have crazy ideas for just how much can and should be done (I did and I was wrong).
Our team got up early every day, gave up a big chunk of their weekends and worked very long hours ... (Live every weekday at 6am and every night at 6pm with more sprinkled in between).
They tweeted, they posted, they edited, they fed. They never missed a live hit, they were up and in front of the camera in time with mic checks and roll cues submitted.
Our Wichita coverage was simply stellar from start to finish. I can't think of a thing I'd change.

That's a piece of a memo I sent to our team Friday evening.
 
There were only two local news departments that chose to cover the Scott Roeder trial completely.  The one at the newspaper and KSHB.  The other stations generally took a live feed from the courtroom and relied on others to do the work.
 
And now that the verdict is two days old, I'm still trying to figure out why our competitors didn't cover it gavel-to-gavel with a crew in Wichita.

Was it because the crime happened three-and-a-half hours away?  A perception that Scott Roeder wasn't really a local?  Abortion isn't a hot topic anymore?  There was too much going on here in KC?  Preparing for the February sweeps?  Too costly?

My guess is a combination of the last two. 

I think we made the right decision.  Yes, we spent some money on hotel rooms, satellite time and overtime. 

The story is too big to ignore or do a half-assed job of coverage.

Just sayin' is all...

Is This a Story?

Absolutely not.

I saw this on "Out of Bounds" -- the writer didn't know where the video originated because "there are a number of Fox 29 station in the US." 

There's only one that has a weathercaster named John Bolaris and that's WTXF in Philly.



Feh.  This is poor, even for a Fox station.  And I am sick to death of Craigslist as a source for stories.

Once More, With Feeling

I promise not to turn this blog into an emotionally silly and endless tribute to our dog.  We've been so grateful for the kindness of co-workers, friends and family who understand the connection we had with Dottie and why we miss her so.

John's cousin sent us a bit of prose that I hadn't seen before -- and it, combined with the cards, telephone calls and other messages, truly helped us both:

Hello Peggy ,Jon & fam, Colleen and I read your e-mail and were reduced to tears.We never got the pleasure of seeing Dottie just smiled through the years of stories told We could only imagine what a great companion and loyal friend of the family she was. Dogs are a gift to us in our lives, they give all for so little .The only comfort is we give them the love they depend on so much. I often wonder about the fate of finding a dog who found who ?.......... Michael . Colleen and Riley

The Rainbow Bridge

(inspired by a Norse legend)

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,

Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.

Where the friends of man and woman do run,

When their time on earth is over and done.

For here, between this world and the next,

Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.

On this golden land, they wait and they play,

Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.

No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,

For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.

Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,

Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.

They romp through the grass, without even a care,

Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.

All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,

Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.

For just at that instant, their eyes have met;

Together again, both person and pet.

So they run to each other, these friends from long past,

The time of their parting is over at last.

The sadness they felt while they were apart,

Has turned into joy once more in each heart.

They embrace with a love that will last forever,

And then, side-by-side, they cross over… together.

Walk a Mile in Their Shoes

Today, I left the office and accompanied Chris Hernandez on his day as a "one man band reporter."  Our story changed as the day progressed.  Later, we met up with Tim Hellhake and the two of them reported live during the 5pm and 6pm newscasts.

Actually, this video only shows what happened in the afternoon.  The morning included an interview with the new CEO of the fire department. 

I learned a great deal today about the MMJ workflow.

I need to go on more "ride-alongs."

Farewell, Good and Faithful Friend.

Dogs' lives are too short. Their only fault, really.

Agnes Sligh Turnbull

Dogs are the most amazing creatures;
they give unconditional love.

For me they are the role model for being alive.
Gilda Radner

No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.

Christopher Morley

You can say any foolish thing to do to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
"My God, you're right! I never would've thought of that!"
Dave Berry

If you have a dog, you will most likely outlive it;
to get a dog is to open yourself to profound joy and,
prospectively, to equally profound sadness.
Marjorie Garber

Profound sadness is an understatement. Overwhelming, nearly debiliatating grief is what we feel now that our dog is gone.  We miss our sweet Dottie.  Her pure love for our family was such an incredible gift.

Hating Kiffin

Although I no longer live in Tennessee, I still pay thousands of dollars in tuition to its state university so I've been watching Lane Kiffin's internet presence with a certain bemusement.

• He wrecked our Lexus.
• His sex life is "unnatural."
• He is the inspiraton behind a rap song:

• And my favorite--Somebody in Knoxville wants to name the sewer after him!

Hell hath no fury like a Vol football fan spurned...

Goodbye Kate McGarrigle. Travel easy.

As reported by the BBC, Kate McGarrigle died.  I loved her music in the 70s and Clyde was a big fan too.

Dear NBC: Seriously, Who is Making These Decisions?

The late-night unraveling continues between Leno and Conan and after last night's Ten at Ten between Leno and Kimmel, I am more confounded than ever. I'm not a giant Leno fan, I've always been more attuned to Letterman's humor but after his shenanigans with the young co-workers, I don't even watch Dave all that much.

This segment Thursday night, however, may be the worst smackdown I've ever seen:
http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/15/jay-leno-jimmy-kimmel-tonight-show-video/

Why, NBC, why would you allow the late night guy from a rival network to use a potato peeler to skin Jay Leno alive in front of...hundreds of Kansas City viewers? OK, maybe a couple thousand. The last quarter hour of Leno got a 3.9 rating, 5.6 share.

In other final-quarter-hour-before-the-late-news news, KMBC with Private Practice enjoyed a 19 share. The Mentalist on KCTV, a 17 share. And news on WDAF received an 8.4 share.

KCTV gets New News Director

Heads Up KCTV gets new news director; GM halts Hummer production - KansasCity.com

Welcome to Kansas City, Blaise!

(From photographer to news director isn't all that uncommon. I hefted a TK-76 and turned the manual white balance thumb screws on a Sony 1610 in the early 80's at KTVN in Reno.)

No More Tepid Lead-ins; Now I've Got to Improve Those Late News Numbers

Scott Jones of FTV (sorry  for the short-hand Scott, but my mom reads this blog) had the world exclusive on this one last week and today is like Christmas and my birthday with a little 4th of July thrown in for good measure.  Here's the email:

(Attention Affiliate Board, General Managers, Corporate Execs, News Directors, Program Directors and General Sales Managers)

NBC, in remarks made just minutes ago this morning by Jeff Gaspin, has announced that as of February 12, 2010, The Jay Leno Show will no longer air at 10pm ET/9pm CT.

We will send more information when it becomes available regarding prime time programming plans after the Olympics.

Below is a brief transcript of Jeff's remarks:

"I can confirm what many of you have been reporting -- starting February 12, we will no longer air The Tonight Show at 10:00. While it was performing at acceptable levels for the network, it did not meet the needs of our affiliates -- and we realized we had to make a change.

My goal is to keep Jay, Conan and Jimmy as part of our late night line-up. I've spoken to all three of them and proposed that "The Jay Leno Show" move to 11:35, "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" move to 12:05 and "Late night with Jimmy Fallon" at 1:05.

The talks are ongoing."

November 2009 was tough; we lost significant numbers of sellable demos due to poor performance on our late news.  No more excuses.  Now the real work begins.  Bring it!

"Hello, I'm a Reporter. Sorry For Your Loss. Can I Have a Picture of Your Loved One?"

The quote doesn't belong to me--some former KSHB journalist said it years ago and it came up while we talked about how aggressive reporters should be when covering murdered children.  (Thursday afternoon, this teenager was stabbed to death about 45 minutes south of Kansas City in a rural area that doesn't see much violence.)

After reading the Plog's admonition to KC reporters regarding postings on the 14-year-old girl's Facebook memorial, I thought about two reporters I worked with in other markets.  One in Miami and one in Memphis -- each had their own tactics for dealing with the relatives of the recently murdered.

The WSVN reporter's actions were the worst and a manager brought her scheme quickly to an end.  Background:  Miami in the early 90s was easily one of the most violent cities in the country.  At WSVN where I worked on the assignment desk, we ignored many, many homicides.  But some, based on unspoken criteria, broke through.  Tourists, the famous, children, the wealthy, anything tainted with Santeria; those killings were covered zealously for 24-48 hours.  After that, even the murdered children mostly were forgotten.

I recall the WSVN reporter's remarkable ability to get a grieving family to talk on camera about a recently slain loved one and even to provide photos.  Finally, I asked her about it.  She was very proud of her discovery--if she promised the family the TV station would promote a memorial bank account (shilling for donations), they would almost always agree to an interview.  And then, she'd tell them that it would really only work if her interview remained "exclusive."

I don't think she is still working as a journalist anymore, thank God.

The Memphis reporter has moved to a larger market and his methods aren't nearly as despicable.  He would, when a family member agreed to talk, start the interview and then, if the person he was talking to began to weep, he would say "Where are those tears coming from?"  Which would often mean even more tears and wailing as the person interviewed recalled happier days and times.

After more than thirty years in local news, covering murdered children should be rote by now but it's not.  Each murder is different.  None of the decisions about coverage are easy.

"What do I know?  What do I need to know?"  Those two questions always come to my mind (thanks Al Tompkins) when I'm dealing with ethical decision-making...like covering the murder of a beloved daughter, sister, student, friend.  Here's the list Bob Steele put together for high school journalism students.  It's the same one we "pros" should use.

By the way.  Russ Ptacek handled his request for information exactly the right way.  Honestly.  Above-board.  Without pandering.  That's the way it should be done. 

Back to the list.  Did you need to know that before she was killed, Katie Rios, an honor student, was in the band?  Did you need to know her friends called her "Smiley?"  Did you need to know her principal remembers her as a mentor when she was class president?

You did.

Otherwise, you cannot properly mourn our world's loss of Katie Rios.

Why Elizabeth is a Remarkable Co-Worker

Remembering a Remarkable Viewer who Became a Friend

I really love this story.  I think customer service is so important and the hardest thing is to turn an angry viewer into a loyal customer.  Plus Elizabeth gained a friend.

Buh-bye Leno Lead-in?

The NYTimes reports that Leno will soon be moved to after the late news -- a story that is the best yet of 2010!

Kansas City's Fifth Winter Storm

I generally enjoy the musings of John Landsberg and he did not disappoint in his analysis of Kansas City TV stations' weather coverage.

Some context and facts about our Wednesday coverage and decisions:

• NBC Action News did cover news other than the snow on Wednesday.  In fact, we were the only TV station to have a reporter (Cynthia Newsome) assigned to the strange investigation at New Covenant Church in Independence when a second raid took place.  (The Star had a reporter there, also).  Also, Chris Hernandez conducted a great interview with KC's interim city manager.
• Gary Lezak does weather reports twice a day, every weekday on the big sports-talk radio station in Kansas City.  He also blogs regularly.  Neither are unusual for him.
• We were on the air at 4am Wednesday morning, just like the other "TV folks."
• Our brand is "Breaking News Leader" not "the weather station."
• If there had been something of significance to report at 4pm, we would have been on the air, too.

And finally about the term "snowgasm..."

Never mind.

Reno 911

I spent the final week of 2009 in Reno, Nevada--nearly a week in the Biggest Little City that is both bigger and smaller than I remembered from when we left in 1990. 

You may know that I moved there in 1978 to seek fame and fortune.  I met and married two husbands.  Carly's dad and I divorced before she was a year old.  A couple of years later, I met John.  Two years after that we got married. 

Both Carly and Charlie were born at St. Mary's Hospital and although I didn't expect to darken those doors ever again, I found myself there last Tuesday afternoon.

John and the kids went skiing Tuesday morning.  By the time they got to Northstar (Tahoe), John was feeling poorly.  Combine the flu with altitude sickness and you get delirious and shortness of breath.  And some other stuff too but we won't go there.

John ended up in the St. Mary's ER where they administered some miracle drugs via IV and by the next day, he was almost as good as new.

I am not good with hospitals...or sick loved ones because I am not good at feeling powerless.  I know this is hard to believe but I prefer to be in control at all times.  Thank goodness it was not serious.

We did do some gambling and even though I know that slots are folly, I do love the nickle machines!  It's fun to win a little, which we did.

One night, our friends Mark and Debi Best cooked us a delicious dinner and we enjoyed getting to know their now-adult daughter Amber who was the first girl Charlie kissed (when he was two).  They hadn't seen each other since 1989 but are now Facebook friends...

We also enjoyed a meal with my cousins Doug, Kemble and Trenton Yates who were visiting from Washington, Oregon and Alaska, respectively.  If you get to Reno, we recommend Silver Peak Brewery!

I watched some local news and saw Bill Brown, Mike Alger, Terri Russell and Erin Breen, all of whom were either co-workers or competitors when I was haunting the Truckee Meadows, back in the day.  Better yet was the lunch organized by my pal Denise Clodjeaux that included Carly, Sharon Spangler and her daughter Audrey.  Audrey is a civil engineering student at the University of Nevada/Reno.  Go Wolfpack! 

The last time I saw Audrey, she was smearing smashed banana on the window that separated the assignment desk from the studio at KTVN while her mom anchored the morning cut-ins on the desk just a few feet away.  Good times!    These are some powerful women, y'all.

A big thrill for me was visiting the Sparks Marina.  When I was a much younger, thinner, cuter person I reported news from the "Sparks Bureau" for KTVN.  On air!  (Seriously!)  One of the on-going issues was the dispensation of a gigantic hole in the ground just east of the city center, alongside I-80.  The Helms Pit, as it was called then was more than a hundred feet deep.  A yawning maw in the earth.  Contaminated by run-off from a nearby tank farm.  Ugly.  Useless.  Or so it seemed.

From a city website: "Originally, consultants for the City of Sparks Public Works Department estimated it could take up to three years to fill the quarry and turn it into a lake. The New Year's Day Flood of 1997 made the lake a reality in a matter of hours. One billion gallons of water from the Truckee River and its tributaries filled the quarry as a result of the highest recorded flood event in Truckee Meadows history."

Now, it's rimmed with condos, a ubiquitous Legends shopping complex and even a beach.  Who da thunk it! 

I remain amazed.


Oh and Happy New Year, y'all.

Hope YOU got to kiss somebody...

Rummage

I guess it depends on where you grew up.  When I was a kid, we went to "rummage" sales (not garage sales or tag sales, as John calls them).  This entry will be a rummage--a jumble of topics I've been meaning to address over the past few days.  There won't be one central theme and...you might not find anything you like here. 

First...my folks.  They celebrated their 54th wedding anniversary on December 18.  The next day, my mom mis-judged some stair steps and fell forward, bumping her head, spraining her wrist but most unfortunately, breaking her hip.

Charlie and I drove to Sioux Falls  last Sunday morningwhere she had emergency surgery.  We were there when she was wheeled out of recovery and into her room.  Seeing her reach over the bed rail to grasp my dad's hand was sweet and priceless.  She will spend some time in the rehab wing at the Good Samaritan Center in Wagner and then be back on the farm.  My mom is tough!  She also is a good patient.  If she's told to do certain exercises, she'll do 'em.  I am confident she'll dance again with dad at the weddings of my nieces Emily and Cheray coming up in 2010.

Also of note.  Blizzard 2009.  On Wednesday, I reinstated previously preempted newscasts for Christmas Day.  At 3:25am Friday, Beth Benson, the sole producer on the two-hour show called to say that the director, anchor, second meteorologist and EP were stuck.  My best advice was to have someone pick them up.  At that point, I still thought I could get in but was not able to get our wimpy Expedition up the hill in our Olathe neighborhood. 

Imagine what a popular news director I am, after people who had had the day off, now had to work.  But me?  Not so much.  I felt terrible Christmas morning.

And finally, we are flying out to Reno tomorrow.  My husband is somewhat freaked out by the purported terror attempt in Detroit and the impact on our travel.  Our flight leaves from KCI at 4pm.  We will leave for the airport at 1pm.  Sunday night, a belated Christmas with Carly and her friend Denis followed by a week in the Biggest Little City.  I hope to reconnect with some friends, do some shopping, a little gambling and get my daughter's car running again.

I'm looking forward to 2010.  Happy New Year, y'all!

Another From the Wayback Machine

I'm not sure how I feel now about this grumpy blog post, originally written on December 23, 2003:

I have a question, Virginia. How does Santa belong on the news? Last week, one of the local stations set up their web reporter next to a man dressed as Santa and invited children to email their questions to the "jolly old elf."
I've seen teases on local TV newscasts in Memphis (all of them, mine included) that refer to postal workers, Fedex and UPS deliverers as "Santa's elves." And the two networks that WMC pays for news material are currently offering live shots from the North Pole and opportunities to "track Santa" via high tech radar from the Air Force.

I know, I know, don't fight the day.

Don't get me wrong, this didn't start out to be the blog of a Scroogy news director. I love Christmas! I love the shopping in crowded malls, I love the food, I love the parties, I love seeing the faces of my friends and family when they open a thoughtful gift. Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hannukah... are celebrations with religious or cultural roots, deserving of news coverage.

Our job is to provide timely and urgent information, investigative reports and tell our viewers what's happening now. It just seems wierd to me as I read and hear so much about the Orange Terror Alerts, with soldiers and civilians dying in Iraq, the flu, the economy, etc etc etc that a serious TV news department might confuse its customers.
A faux "Santa Tracker" via radar just seems sorta frivolous to me, right now.

OK, my bah humbug moment is over.

Happy Holidays y'all.

----------------
Back to 2009.  Isn't it amazing that the top issues of 2003 are still valid six years later?

Ten Years in Seven Minutes (Thanks Newsweek)

A Love Letter

December 17, 1955

Dear Paul Wiechmann and Pearl Yates,

Tomorrow, you will be married.  You are in your mid-twenties.  You are both probably nervous, wondering what the future will bring.  Is he the One?  Is she the One?  These questions are normal, for all young couples on the eve of such an important day.

Paul, you've been a mechanic in the Air Force.  You're stationed in Spokane, Washington, far away from your native South Dakota. 

Pearl, you've got a job in Spokane, a family nearby that you love and plenty of friends.  You both come from large families that love you.  Tomorrow you will embark on a journey that will span at least five decades.

It won't always be easy.  In fact, there will be many lean times.  You will return to South Dakota so Paul can work with his brother on the family farm.  Pearl will be homesick.  Paul will work hard, very hard.  Pearl, you will stay home with the kids for awhile but you will eventually "work outside the home" and you will become a comfort for many.

After a short stint of living in Wagner, South Dakota (population 1600) you will move to the farm six miles north and that's where you will stay.

There will be children.  Seven of them.  Six will come in a bunch.  In fact, two will be born in 1957.  Peggy and Pam.  Those two girls will be followed by another daughter, Paula and your first son, Pat.  By the end of 1964, two more daughters will be part of the clan, Penny and Piper.

The farm house is big but will always seem a bit crowded.

The children will grow throughout the 60's and mid-70s and just before the oldest is ready to leave home, you will be surprised (and the rest of your family amazed) by the birth of a seventh child, Perry.

Your children will resemble you (and each other) on the outside but they will be seven very different personalities, with strengths and weaknesses.  Sometimes they will frustrate you.  Many times, actually.  No family is perfect but your children will amaze you and you will love each of them, unconditionally.

Most of your children will go to college and all of them who graduate will do so from South Dakota State University.  Two of your daughters will marry SDSU alums, planting a fever for the Jackrabbits that is difficult to match in any family.

In the 80's grandchildren will be born.  One, then another, then another and another.  Some of your children will leave the family farm and even the state of South Dakota but four will remain relatively close nearby and the others will visit the home base as often as possible.

The reunions will be joyful gatherings, filled with laughter, telling stories and remembering.  In the 90's, you will begin remodeling the house, a project that will seem like it never ends.  That's the way it is with houses that were built in the early 1900s.

The turn of the century will bring graduations of the older grandchildren and then they, too will begin to marry.  Great-grandchildren will be born.

You will travel.  You will go on cruises and drive to the far corners of the United States including Alaska.

In 2005 you will celebrate FIFTY years of marriage with a wonderful party.  Your children will celebrate your love and commitment to each other.  Each of them will view the event with a pride and admiration.

In 2009, you will still be well and happy and strong.  You will still live in the house where Paul grew to be a man.  It's not the same house, but it is definitely a Home.

Your family, the one born 54 years ago on December 18, 1955, will remain solid.  This is just a little piece:

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!  I love you and want everyone to know!

/p

Spinning Plates

My friend Jill Geisler writes a column for Poynter that I never miss.  It always begins with "What Great Bosses Know..." and her latest advice included two hi-and-larious videos to illustrate how today's news managers often feel.  If you fancy yourself a manager and you aren't geting Jill's columns, sign up today!

I'm a Boomer and I've experienced that plate-spinning feeling many times but ever since the economy went south and NBC slipped to last place I feel more like a mole-wacker.  Thanks, Jay Leno.

It's not that I've crossed generations.  It just seems like managing a newsroom today is so much more reactive.  The plate-spinners had a little bit of a plan.  They knew which plates might need a little attention.  The moles are completely unpredictable and you never know when or where one will pop up.

In the past few weeks, I've accepted three resignations.  Only one resignation was not a surprise.  A weekend meteorologist, a morning anchor and a weekend morning anchor/MMJ.  The ones departed/departing are taking challenging jobs that will be better for their respective families and maybe improve the financial situation.  Money does talk.  In each case, I understand completely and support the decision made by my former co-workers.

I'm still relatively new to this job...going on my eighth month here in Kansas City.  I talked to a comrade last night who made some negative references to my frequent address/job changes over the past four years.  Fair enough.

Tomorrow I'll be back in the office, ready to whack or spin whatever comes my way.

My Favorite MMJ Story From Last Week

I'm not sure Al Miller loves the idea of one-man-band reporting but he did a great job on this story Thursday.

Al keeps inviting me to ride along with him on a shift.  I hope he means it because it's going to happen soon!

MMJ Serendipity and a Little From the Wayback Machine

Newsblues posted this today, so a tip of the hat to Mike James.  And a tip of the hat to Lori Jane Gliha.  I don't know her but I'm proud she is a Scripps co-worker.  Lori Jane sang this song at a station gathering recently:



Her song struck a chord.  I blogged about our new reality six years ago when I was a news director in another market:

==============================================
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Tonight something happened that got me thinking. Let me set the stage. Our service technician (consultant) has been in for the past three days. That's Always stressful even if you like the person (and I think I do). So tonight, I left work early (6:25pm) and was settled into my couch about thirty minutes later. I learned from another station's cut-in that a robbery and shooting had occured at a grocery store. MY grocery store. Less than two miles from my house.

I immediately started putting my shoes back on and told John he should drive me there. Good plan until I realized the camcorder was dead. No battery. Dead freaking camera. Somehow it got left on when we were shooting video of our fantastic holiday light display.

A big story happening in my neighborhood and No battery.

For a moment, I was apoplectic. Seriously irritated.

But then I remembered that I work with professionals and although they could not get to the scene as quickly as I could, they would get there and do a good job.  And they did. I watched the late news and save for an audio buzz in the lead live shot, our coverage was fine. More than fine. I'm proud of my team. (Thanks y'all)

But dammit, I really wanted to be involved...shoot some video. Twice in my tenure here, I've shot stories that made it onto the NBC regional feed.  I gotta tell ya, that's serious thrill.

Probably the photojournalists who work at Action News 5 have a "no-big-deal" attitude about shooting stories that are good enough to be sent via satellite to the rest of the world because they do it all the time but I haven't had a camera on my shoulder for a living since the 70's. Nixon was president, for godsakes!

Where I'm going here is that Forward Thinkers say that at some point, all local TV news employees will carry cameras and all will report stories.

I can't wait./pp
============================================
Here's the deal.  The Newsroom of the Future is HERE.  On NBC Action News Thursday evening, we presented our viewers with four stories that were shot, written, edited and presented by MMJ's.  It is the new way.  And we will do it every day.

Since that night in December, 2003, I've never been without a video camera (complete with fully charged battery).  These days I carry a Flip with me and I hope to upgrade to a Flip HD.

I intend to make the network feed again.  Hopefully soon.

Snow Day!

I don't agree with Ben-the-Producer but I understand his frustration.  Winter weather hype is not just a problem in Chicago.

However, vigilance is an expectation with today's television audience.

I grew up in South Dakota and learned early that snow can disrupt life.  If it blows around at 30-plus MPH when it's zero degrees, it can kill.  I respect snow.

I also spent one delightful winter in Syracuse.  Imagine living in a snow globe and God shakes it about every other day or so.  125-inches of snow per year.  My friends at WSTM would snort at the storm that's got us all so crazy right now.

What's the old song?  It's not the meat, it's the motion.  With snow, it's not how much falls, it's what happens after it does.  Will it melt?  Re-freeze, causing treacherous roads?  Blow around?  Do nothing?  We don't know so we have to plan for the worst case scenario.  The trick is not tranferring that plan to the newscast in a "sky is falling" presentation.  It's a delicate dance.

So as I watch the Ravens and Packers try to set a record for pass-interference calls, there's a little voice in my head telling me to go to bed because at 4:30am, the alarm will blare so I can get to work at 6am.

The challenge is to tell a weather story that hasn't been told a thousand times already.

We can do this.

Weeth Reekings Avorian Tar

I finally added the local constant-Christmas-music station to my car radio.  Mostly I listen to sports-talk and KC has a couple of great choices although I'm partial to The Border Patrol.  Steven St. John and Nate Bukaty make me laugh on my drive to work more often than not.

Friday morning I was flipping around and heard the word "Memphis" so I stopped flipping and listened.  Turns out, a "Memphis suburban mayor" posted a controversial comment on his Facebook wall, blaming President Obama's Tuesday speech about the troop surge for disrupting his family's annual Charlie Brown Christmas viewing.  Russell Wiseman is the mayor of Arlington, a community east of Memphis along I-40.

The city of Memphis is an oasis of Democrats surrounded by conservative Republicans so I'm no longer surprised by outrageous political stories and comments.  The conflict makes Memphis one of the greatest news markets in the country. 

But seriously?  President Obama planned his speech on purpose to preempt Charlie Brown?  Seriously.

When I was a little kid, my limited vocabulary made me the Queen of Misheard Lyrics.  I remember being so excited when (and I think it was during the summer between second and third grade) I found the Christmas-themed songs in the United Methodist Hymnal.  No more listening to the sermon, each Sunday I instead read and re-read the words to songs I'd heard all my short life, finally learning the truth about what was being sung.

King forever, seasoned leather...

So Russell Wiseman, ye with the name that is a holiday classic, it's time for you to admit you were wrong.  Our president is not a Muslim.  Facebook is a public forum.  You messed up.  Apologize and move on.

KCTV Makes a Change

Flitting around the KC blogosphere is a story that the somewhat-notorious Tracy Brogden-Miller (read the story I found via Google or watch the video from 2008) is out as ND at KCTV.



I can't help but be struck by the parallels to my death spiral in Memphis:

• She welcomed a new General Manager at the end of the summer.  Lee Meredith joined WMC in September 2006.
• KCTV had been contending for ratings but slipped by 20% in some news time periods in July.  WMC slipped to second place in the late news in February 2006.
• Despite strong lead-ins, KCTV slipped again in November.  WMC lost the late news race by 2/10 of a point in November 2006.
• After three months of working for the new GM, she's out.  I was sacked at the end of the November book in 2006.

I wish her the best.  Getting fired sucks.  Not cool.

Advice to the Famous Having Sex With Women Who Are Not Their Wife

RTDNA - Radio Television Digital News Association Communicator Chairman's Blog: A Memo to Tiger Woods

Truly a Class Act. Godspeed MB

I've worked with lots of anchors over the years in bigger markets than Baltimore and smaller ones too. Mary Beth is truly among the best ever.   Watch the video and you will see why she's so beloved.  Genuine, warm, engaged and just a little self-deprecating.  I really miss Mary Beth.

Mary Beth Marsden Says Goodbye - Baltimore News, Weather, Breaking News | WMAR-TV

Help Wanted...but Jeez, be Smart About Applying!

After more than three decades in the news business I am still AMAZED how how sloppy some wannabes are about job seeking.

Eric Maze is the Deuce at KSHB.  For the past few weeks, we've spent some hilarious moments watching resume reels (DVDs) and reading clever (and some, not so much) cover letters. 

History moment.  My first resume tape was on three-quarter...(sigh)

Right now, we've got five positions open:  Weekend Meteorologist, Weekend Anchor, Morning Anchor, Multi-media Journalist, Photographer.  Interested?  Apply online (click on "careers").

But before you do, a few words of advice.  All of our jobs require the ability to shoot, write and edit.  If you can't do those things, don't bother.  You have to understand and be competent with the difference between broadcast writing and online writing.  If you send a resume and cover letter, spell my damn name right.  (It's not Rick Ilar.  The former ND's last name is spelled Iler.  Seriously I opened one addressed that way today.  And it came from an agent!)

Here are some other tips that I penned for another blog, some time ago:

Cover letters: Note to cover-letter-senders. Write this down. Have somebody look over your letter before you send it so you don't make hideous mistakes like using "of" instead of "have." As in..."I was happy to of seen the posting for a postion at your station." Spellcheck won't catch that but a friend might. Also, don't start your letter with "I'm the next (fill in the blank) at (fill in the blank). If you want to get my attention and that's VERY HARD TO DO, tell me something about yourself that you know will mean something to me. You have to do some research to find out what that is...Be curious, not pushy and you can get the info you need.
Experience: If the posting says two years experience required and you HAVE NONE, go ahead and send me a tape. I look at every one (eventually) but first I read the cover letter and resume and if you don't have ANY experience, that does affect my attitude about you. If you have between one and two years, definitely send a tape. I'll look closer at it than those who don't have any time other than internships in a newsroom. If you have more than ten years under your belt, I'll look at your tape FIRST and wonder how I got so lucky. And...If you have more than ten years experience in two-year increments in triple digit markets....maybe you're in the wrong business.
Phone calls: Call me once if you want, I answer my own phone and maybe you'll get lucky. Be ready for me to be busy because many meetings take place in my office. If you catch me, I might talk to you. I'll tell you about the hours and what I'm looking for as far as live shot experience, etc. Most of the time, I counsel the recently-graduated to look at the smaller markets around Kansas City--Springfield, Columbia, St. Joseph, Topeka. If you don't catch me, leave a message. I check voice mail regularly and if I have something to say, I'll call you back. Most of the time I won't, because I don't have anything to say. You can call more than once but know that there's a thin line between tenacity and stalking. Be careful not to push, especially if you don't have the goods.

It's all about the reseach.  Look at our website, view some of the videos.  Do you like what you see?  Are we doing the kind of news you aspire to do?  How is our writing?  Are we creative?  If you're not impressed, we might not be the shop for you.  Life's too short folks.  Find the right gig and you'll be happy a long time!  Good luck on your search.