The Saturday 10 p.m. newscast was the first show I produced and it was AWESOME! My first instict was to go CrAzY with all of our new toys, however our director pointed something out to me: everything is new... even our 2-shots because EVERYTHING is new.
The biggest changes I made when the show aired was doing solo teases at the monitors. It was a little different, but we finally had a great place to do those. I had a couple of other places where the anchors were going to move around, but breaking news caused me to move the stories in each block around, and while I didn't get to use the "new stuff", my a-block was more newsy... excellent story flow with Hwy 63 accidents.
I can't wait to continue working on this set -- particularly in the morning. There are so many options for some cool news setups. I'm thinking live shots in monitors behind the reporters, wx chat at our new wx peanut... the possibilities are endless! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't wait for my morning shows in the summer. Megan and Lauren are going to get a workout. I'm going to have them move everywhere. Hopefully our directors won't want to kill me.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
The New Set: Part 1
Tuesday was an interesting day because it was the first day we really worked with the new set. Holly and I created a rundown (a hybrid of 5 and 6) to do a few rehearsals with the new equipment to get the anchors and production comfortable punching and working with our new toys. The set is such a great addition to our news station. The look and feel of it reminds me of top markets -- very reminiscent of FOX 2's set in Detroit (WJBK).
Working with all of the technical aspects really makes me think forward -- and how can we use this set to better show our newscast. I want these tools to be utilized properly and I really want to make sure reporters understand the importance of reading a rundown. It frustrates me that they still don't know how to read dummy lines and the cameras, talent, etc.
It is important, even more now than ever, to really understand the build of a show. There is a disconnect from B2 and shadowing to B2 reporting shifts to B3 reporting shifts. Even Advanced Reporters still don't know how to read it... and it's so frustrating to me. I even try and explain, and they just don't think like that. It's a matter of really getting it explained and even making them pass a scripting quiz.
With this new set, dummy lines and more intricate scripting will be necessary, and thus more imperative the reporters know what they are doing.
Working with all of the technical aspects really makes me think forward -- and how can we use this set to better show our newscast. I want these tools to be utilized properly and I really want to make sure reporters understand the importance of reading a rundown. It frustrates me that they still don't know how to read dummy lines and the cameras, talent, etc.
It is important, even more now than ever, to really understand the build of a show. There is a disconnect from B2 and shadowing to B2 reporting shifts to B3 reporting shifts. Even Advanced Reporters still don't know how to read it... and it's so frustrating to me. I even try and explain, and they just don't think like that. It's a matter of really getting it explained and even making them pass a scripting quiz.
With this new set, dummy lines and more intricate scripting will be necessary, and thus more imperative the reporters know what they are doing.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Where's the Motivation?
I'm beginning to see the downfalls of having 60ish free (or very low paid) workers at the dispense of a News Director or news manager. It's not enough for students to be at the station one day a week, because the skills they learn, they forget within a week. It's unacceptable for reporters to be "seasoned" and still not understand the correct way to script -- especially after they've been told and shown.
These are the times where journalists need to know EVERYTHING. They can't be picky anymore with location, salary or title. It has to be about the craft and the purpose it serves in society as a watchman for those that govern. It can't be about getting on T.V. No longer is it about going LIVE to have the experience, but telling stories that change the status quo and make a difference.
It's frustrating to me to see that week after week reporters still not knowing how to script a live shot, or how to script period! Granted, I think they need to be taught from the beginning to read a rundown, to understand the purpose of dummy lines and know 2/2 MEANS camera 2 on a 2 shot and that using the macros on the number keypad are going to give you the same result.
Seeing the breakdown (for lack of a better word) has made me want to modify my way of managing. This summer when I will produce at least 3 shows a week, makes me want to make sure my reporters understand the importance of their responsibility at the station. And those are not limited to importing, writing, and editing. Producing involves story flow, and construction, and most importantly the elements that go along with the story like animation or OTS's or Mapflys. When reporters understand those elements, their story looks better and flows better and the show that they are apart of is better.
These are the times where journalists need to know EVERYTHING. They can't be picky anymore with location, salary or title. It has to be about the craft and the purpose it serves in society as a watchman for those that govern. It can't be about getting on T.V. No longer is it about going LIVE to have the experience, but telling stories that change the status quo and make a difference.
It's frustrating to me to see that week after week reporters still not knowing how to script a live shot, or how to script period! Granted, I think they need to be taught from the beginning to read a rundown, to understand the purpose of dummy lines and know 2/2 MEANS camera 2 on a 2 shot and that using the macros on the number keypad are going to give you the same result.
Seeing the breakdown (for lack of a better word) has made me want to modify my way of managing. This summer when I will produce at least 3 shows a week, makes me want to make sure my reporters understand the importance of their responsibility at the station. And those are not limited to importing, writing, and editing. Producing involves story flow, and construction, and most importantly the elements that go along with the story like animation or OTS's or Mapflys. When reporters understand those elements, their story looks better and flows better and the show that they are apart of is better.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Producing -- Going Backwards
Broadcast 3 is the culmination of my reporting experience at KOMU -- and thank goodness it is done with. I've been struggling with my shift every week because as much as I love journalism, the stress of reporting is not the same for me as the stress of producing. I hate the lack of control that I feel when I report. I don't like being dependent on other people to get my story done. With producing, the control I have over the show makes everything much easier to have a backup plan.
With switching to producing, I apprentice the 5 p.m. newscast on Tuesdays with Alex Carbello. It's an intersting dynamic because on Sunday's I'm his supervising producer, and then on Tuesday the role is switched. It's helping teach me control and restraint because it's not my show. In fact, one of the things I love about shadowing is being able to see how differently he produces from me. His tease writing is better, and that is definitely one of my weaknesses -- so just another learning oppourtunity. Plus, how we stack shows is different.
It's just a different learning experience. Something I know will make me a better news manager and news producer.
With switching to producing, I apprentice the 5 p.m. newscast on Tuesdays with Alex Carbello. It's an intersting dynamic because on Sunday's I'm his supervising producer, and then on Tuesday the role is switched. It's helping teach me control and restraint because it's not my show. In fact, one of the things I love about shadowing is being able to see how differently he produces from me. His tease writing is better, and that is definitely one of my weaknesses -- so just another learning oppourtunity. Plus, how we stack shows is different.
It's just a different learning experience. Something I know will make me a better news manager and news producer.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Columbia Tomorrow... Today.
My project involves creating maps on a program called uMapper, which is a very rudimentary program to create embeddable flash maps to put into websites. In this case it is Columbia Tomorrow. It is a program I would highly recommend every reporter learn because it is so easy to use (at least once you figure it out -- which does take awhile).
Like I said, it does take awhile to figure out, and they are not to scale or accurate at all. Well, take that back they are as accurate as I can re-create from existing maps from the city developers. And to me that is frustrating -- particularly to the type-A, perfectionists personality of mine.
This project is very different than the one I signed up for... The vision I had for the maps was very different than the one Matt had. And in all honesty, it makes sense because Columbia is a huge area, small annexations are not easy to illustrate on large scale map. That being said, I still think it would be interesting to show population growth with colors and how the city has grown and spread in the past couple of years. Even in the past year, the city has grown tremendously, and I think that is the story, not the little developments or roads that might be torn up. I mean that is a story, but I think you need the history as well.
Like I said, it does take awhile to figure out, and they are not to scale or accurate at all. Well, take that back they are as accurate as I can re-create from existing maps from the city developers. And to me that is frustrating -- particularly to the type-A, perfectionists personality of mine.
This project is very different than the one I signed up for... The vision I had for the maps was very different than the one Matt had. And in all honesty, it makes sense because Columbia is a huge area, small annexations are not easy to illustrate on large scale map. That being said, I still think it would be interesting to show population growth with colors and how the city has grown and spread in the past couple of years. Even in the past year, the city has grown tremendously, and I think that is the story, not the little developments or roads that might be torn up. I mean that is a story, but I think you need the history as well.
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