If you are lucky enough to be working at a station that flies a news helicopter, you probably know how easy it is to take it for granted. At even the slightest hint of breaking news in a location we can't get to faster on the ground, the newsroom assignment desks are generally calling on their chopper pilots to start a new flight.
This happens every day, day in and day out. And I think it is safe to say- very few of us give any extra thought to the sheer power (and danger) we wield by deciding to fly the chopper. It is just another tool in our arsenal that we use to get through each news day in an incredibly competitive environment.
That's why Friday's chopper crash in Phoenix, AZ probably gave most television newsrooms in this country an overdue reality check of just how dangerous it can be up in the sky when multiple helicopters (from multiple stations) are all chasing the same story.
It is worth repeating that helicopters can be dangerous machines to operate. But they are overwhelmingly safe in this country. There are rigorous standards for maintenance and repairs. Plus the pilot is the only person who can decide if it is safe to fly the bird.
I don't think the Phoenix disaster is going to have an impact on any other news organization in the country. All indications so far show this was an accident-- and nothing more. But it is worth remembering that the helicopters we can dispatch with the chirp of a Nextel phone are more than "fancy toys" or "tools" are much more than that.
Phoenix Disaster a First for TV News (Washington Post)
Phoenix TV Market Covers its Own Tragedy
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Breaking News Coverage
When there is breaking news that interrupts regularly scheduled programming, a good portion of the viewing audience will get irritated. Generally we are in the middle of a program that they are engaged with and the disruption is rather annoying. Especially when we interrupt the storyline-centric soap operas or the play-by-play action of sports.
So it was nice to read a TV critic defending the use of breaking news. Granted, sometimes coverage can be over-the-top in the rush to be the first to have presented the news to their audience... but breaking news is never done with malice in mind towards the audience (without an audience, we would not have jobs!).
So it was nice to read a TV critic defending the use of breaking news. Granted, sometimes coverage can be over-the-top in the rush to be the first to have presented the news to their audience... but breaking news is never done with malice in mind towards the audience (without an audience, we would not have jobs!).
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Manhandling the Media
Here is a list of restrictions the media will be expected to follow at a PUBLIC meeting at a PUBLIC location in a local town. Yes, they meeting will have a controversial subject. Yes, there are legitimate concerns about crowd control. Yes, it helps to give the media a designated area to work out of. BUT- c'mon. It is moments like this when I feel like I live in Russia or China rather than the United States of America. Item # 9 is particularly ridiculous and likely illegal. But whatever. This is what we have to put up with more and more often these days.
Read on....
Special Town Meeting
On, Saturday July 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. the town will be conducting a Special Town Meeting at the High School. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the residents' position regarding the recently negotiated casino agreement.
To ensure the event receives proper media coverage and only registered voters are allowed to vote specific control measures will be in effect for all media outlets attending the event.
Press Rules
1. Venue: The town will be conducting a Special Town Meeting for the purpose of deciding the residents' position regarding the recently negotiated casino agreement.
2. The meeting will occur at the High School.
3. The meeting area will be restricted to only town registered voters. Invited guests will be authorized only as specified by the Town Moderator.
4. Media personnel will be authorized access to view the event from a designated media area.
5. Application for Media Parking Passes: Fax all requests for media vehicle parking passes to the Police Department, NOT LATER THAN 3:00 PM on FRIDAY, July 27, 2007.
Space is limited and Media Parking Passes will be limited to two passes per media outlet.
Media Parking Passes will be returned by fax to your media outlet and must be presented to gain access to the designated media area.
6. Media will be required to arrive between 06:00 AM and 07:30 AM on Saturday, July 28, 2007. No new media personnel will be allowed entrance after 7:30 AM on Saturday, July 28.
7. Voting residents will begin arriving at 08:00 AM. Media will be allowed an interview area where they can conduct interviews with voting residents inside the designated media area between 08:00 AM and the start of the meeting. The meeting will begin at 11:00 AM.
8. A MULT box will be available in the designated media area for media use.
9. Media will not be allowed to leave the designated media area until the meeting is adjourned.
Read on....
Special Town Meeting
On, Saturday July 28, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. the town will be conducting a Special Town Meeting at the High School. The purpose of the meeting is to determine the residents' position regarding the recently negotiated casino agreement.
To ensure the event receives proper media coverage and only registered voters are allowed to vote specific control measures will be in effect for all media outlets attending the event.
Press Rules
1. Venue: The town will be conducting a Special Town Meeting for the purpose of deciding the residents' position regarding the recently negotiated casino agreement.
2. The meeting will occur at the High School.
3. The meeting area will be restricted to only town registered voters. Invited guests will be authorized only as specified by the Town Moderator.
4. Media personnel will be authorized access to view the event from a designated media area.
5. Application for Media Parking Passes: Fax all requests for media vehicle parking passes to the Police Department, NOT LATER THAN 3:00 PM on FRIDAY, July 27, 2007.
Space is limited and Media Parking Passes will be limited to two passes per media outlet.
Media Parking Passes will be returned by fax to your media outlet and must be presented to gain access to the designated media area.
6. Media will be required to arrive between 06:00 AM and 07:30 AM on Saturday, July 28, 2007. No new media personnel will be allowed entrance after 7:30 AM on Saturday, July 28.
7. Voting residents will begin arriving at 08:00 AM. Media will be allowed an interview area where they can conduct interviews with voting residents inside the designated media area between 08:00 AM and the start of the meeting. The meeting will begin at 11:00 AM.
8. A MULT box will be available in the designated media area for media use.
9. Media will not be allowed to leave the designated media area until the meeting is adjourned.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Calls During the Shows
So this afternoon, around 5:50pm, we had a PR person from out on the west coast call the newdesk looking to "update their news desk contacts."
Generally, we encourage people to call the news desk any time they think they may have a story to pitch us.
But these routine calls for updated contact info is annoying, if for no other reason than because we end up have to spell out people's names, hand out e-mail addresses and go over phone numbers. As a professional courtesy, we usually go along with these requests for information.
However, don't call during our shows. A lot of the time, life isn't any busier here during a show than in the hour leading up to or following a broadcast. But it can be a tense time in the newsroom: perhaps a satellite window is about to close and needs to be extended; maybe we are on the phone with a police department getting updated information; maybe the news helicopter is trying to talk to us. There is a lot going on -- and having to pause to spell out the last name of an assignment desk contact (or two or three) is not something any of us care to do during an actual news broadcast.
Just a thought :-)
Generally, we encourage people to call the news desk any time they think they may have a story to pitch us.
But these routine calls for updated contact info is annoying, if for no other reason than because we end up have to spell out people's names, hand out e-mail addresses and go over phone numbers. As a professional courtesy, we usually go along with these requests for information.
However, don't call during our shows. A lot of the time, life isn't any busier here during a show than in the hour leading up to or following a broadcast. But it can be a tense time in the newsroom: perhaps a satellite window is about to close and needs to be extended; maybe we are on the phone with a police department getting updated information; maybe the news helicopter is trying to talk to us. There is a lot going on -- and having to pause to spell out the last name of an assignment desk contact (or two or three) is not something any of us care to do during an actual news broadcast.
Just a thought :-)
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Right when the day is ending...
So... if you happen to be a spokesperson and get a call from the Associated Press (or any news organization for that matter) during the course of the day... don't be surprised if the mainstream press starts calling when that story becomes public.
Such an instance occured today-- a story included a quote from a government agency spokesperson. Of course, the AP wire story didn't cross until about 4:45pm. But it was a good enough story that every station in the market wanted to cover it. And it seemed almost like that agency was completely caught off-guard that we would be calling looking for someone to speak on-camera with us.
If the story isn't something you want to proactively tell us about- fine. But in the meantime, go through the motions of lining people up or finding out how late they can stay in case the story breaks. It will save both sides plenty of trouble.
Such an instance occured today-- a story included a quote from a government agency spokesperson. Of course, the AP wire story didn't cross until about 4:45pm. But it was a good enough story that every station in the market wanted to cover it. And it seemed almost like that agency was completely caught off-guard that we would be calling looking for someone to speak on-camera with us.
If the story isn't something you want to proactively tell us about- fine. But in the meantime, go through the motions of lining people up or finding out how late they can stay in case the story breaks. It will save both sides plenty of trouble.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Welcome
Hello!
This blog belongs to an assignment editor at a network affiliate in a top-10 market. The purpose is to recount what life is like as an assignment editor, and tips on how to deal with us effectively. Hopefully this will prove useful to other assignment editors and others who we routinely deal with (public relations, spokespeople, police & fire departments, etc).
Bests!
This blog belongs to an assignment editor at a network affiliate in a top-10 market. The purpose is to recount what life is like as an assignment editor, and tips on how to deal with us effectively. Hopefully this will prove useful to other assignment editors and others who we routinely deal with (public relations, spokespeople, police & fire departments, etc).
Bests!
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