Sunday, March 1, 2009
Once More With Feeling ...
The Video Sharing Controversy
Usually, I post to News McNabb and move on to another subject. The issue of most if not all of Austin’s Television news departments sending one station’s photographer to cover “routine” events and then sharing the video with the other stations has legs. The story will continue into the coming week.
This Wednesday, representatives of all of the participating news departments, including Time-Warner’s News 8, will meet and supposedly finalize the protocol for this dubious endeavor. (OK. So, I “outed” myself by using the adjective “dubious”, but it come as no surprise to folks who know me.)
Journalists, former journalists, and citizens are of one mind when they write to me. There are five comments on the News McNabb blog. They are largely unread, unless people take the time to click on the “comments” tab.
I was curious to see whether there were comments left on the Austin American-Statesman’s site after TV writer Diane Holloway’s story in the Saturday Business section. I was very surprised to see that there are none. So, unless you are into journalism, maybe this is not a big thing.
It IS a big thing. It is happening all around the country in various forms. Robust, free, media is foundational to our way of life, our democracy. Yes, we are constitutionally free to express ourselves through our various media. However, more and more, the media are economically limited. Bureaus are being closed. Reporters are being laid-off or bought out. Pool video, I believe, will inevitably lead to photographer layoffs. There will, therefore be less emphasis on photographic excellence. I posted Associated Press awards this weekend. They still give awards for photographic excellence. I have never seen an award for the “Most Frugal Station”.
Yes, pool video is necessary for certain events. I was part of a panel that laid down the rules for cameras-in-the-courtrooms in Travis County. Pools for large special events, such as funerals for dignitaries, are the least intrusive and most efficient ways of coverage. I have set up several of these. The best way to distribute the video is for other media to take a direct feed from the truck. Another good way is to feed the video via satellite on a “bird” all can see at a certain time.
Something always seems go wrong, however. What follows is the most recent online post to the original blog. This anonymous writer raises several of these same questions. These questions should be points of concern for those who meet this week to discuss the nuts and bolts of this, yes, dubious arrangement.
Anonymous said...
News McNabb!!
As a former Austin shooter, with 10 years in a top 25 market I'd have to question the real world logistics to this kind of agreement. In my last market, all court-room proceedings were handled by pool feeds with 3 different formats being used by the 4 local stations. There were a few basic rules: The first to call the clerk was the pool camera, and in order for the other stations to get a dub of the video you had to be present. In other words, there was no relying on another station to do your work. It kept folks honest and accountable, not to mention if a crew was "re-directed" for breaking news... another crew was there to take over. This arrangement seems to ignore all those issues. What if... a crew assigned to a "story" is late? Dubs are not done in time? Where will the dubs be done and in what format? Which station gets the first copy? What if the pool camera station gets an "exclusive" of some sort? On the surface, this agreement sounds good if you are the GM and you must squeeze blood from your turnips, but for the crews in the field it will be like working in a snake pit smack in the middle of quicksand. Good luck folks, the dumbing down of local news is about to get a lot dumber.
I am afraid that Anonymous is right.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Saturday, February 28, 2009
And The Winner Is ...
KVUE TV Will Pick Up
the Most Plaques
The Texas Associated Press Broadcasters Association announced the award winners for the 2008-2009 this week. KVUE-TV (ABC) will be making multiple trips to the podium when the hardware is handed out in April.
KVUE won nine first place awards and five more second place. KEYE TV and News 8 (Time Warner Cable) tied with five, although one of KEYE’s awards was a second place honor for Nanci Wilson who is now at KXAN. KTBC TV is next with four. KXAN wins three.
Worth noting: KEYE TV won first place for its web site for the second straight year under the guidance of Sousa Williams.
Here’s the breakdown:
2008-2009
AP Broadcast Award Winners
DIVISION 2
Best Newscast
1. WOAI, San Antonio. Lauren Blevins. Aired 6 p.m. 3-20-2008
2. KVUE, Austin. Frank Volpicella. Aired 6 p.m. 12-17-2008
Best Sportscast
1. WOAI, San Antonio. David Chancellor, Mike Klein & Keith VanProoyen. Aired 9-26-2008
2. KXAN, Austin. Roger Wallace, Brian Sanders & Leila Rahimi. Aired 10 p.m. 9-26-2008
Hon Men: KEYE, Austin. Bob Ballou, Chris Pelikan & Anthony Geronimo. Aired 10 p.m. 9-26-2008
Best Weathercast
1. KENS, San Antonio. Bill Taylor. Aired 6 p.m. 12-17-2008
2. News 8 Austin. Maureen McCann. Aired 12-17-2008
Hon Men: KTBC, Austin. Scott Fisher. Aired 9 p.m. 6-24-2008
Best News Anchor/Team
1. KVUE, Austin. Tyler Sieswerda
2. WOAI, San Antonio. Delaine Mathieu
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. Terri Gruca
Best Spot Coverage/Station
1. KVUE, Austin. May Storms
2. KXAN, Austin. Amber Alert for Adrian Jaimes
Hon Men: KXAN, Austin. Governor's Mansion Fire
Best Spot Story/Individual
1. WOAI, San Antonio. Ryan O'Donnell & Michael Botsford. Steve's Tornado Hit
2. KABB, San Antonio. Jonathan Martinez & Hondo Garcia. Waycross Fire
Hon Men: News 8 Austin. Heidi Zhou & Eddie Garcia. Highway Rescue
Best Feature/Serious
1. KVUE, Austin. Christine Haas & Todd Rogenthien. Jessica's Story
2. KENS, San Antonio. Joe Conger & Michael Humphries. Something in the Air
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. Tyler Sieswerda & Jarrod Wise. Race for Cancer
Best Feature/Light
1. KTBC, Austin. Foti Kallergis. Personal Paparazzi
2. KENS, San Antonio. Chris Marrou & Michael Humphries. Green Burials
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. Clara Tuma & Scott McKenney. Haunted Theaters
Best Investigative
1. KVUE, Austin. Christine Haas & Todd Rogenthien. Sex Offender Loophole
2. KEYE, Austin. Nanci Wilson & Joe Moreno. Austin Building Inspectors
Hon Men: KENS, San Antonio. Joe Conger & Larry Burns. Grave Secrets
Best Photojournalism/Station
1. KVUE, Austin2. KENS, San AntonioNo HM.
Best Photojournalism/Individual1. KENS, San Antonio. Michael Humphries
2. KVUE, Austin. Doug Naugle
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. Nathan Cardenas
Best Documentary/TV Magazine or Special
1. KVUE, Austin. Olga Campos & Kathy Hadlock. Home for the Holidays
2. News 8 Austin. Rachel Elsberry, Drew Moses & Chris Rodriguez. ACL Music Festival
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. Quita Culpepper & Kathy Hadlock. Does It Work?
Best Series
1. KEYE, Austin. Jason Wheeler. Hurricane Ike
2. KVUE, Austin. Clara Tuma, Jarrod Wise & Doug Naugle. Survivor's Story
Hon Men: KTBC, Austin. Foti Kallergis. Hair Today
Best Specialty/Beat Reporting
1. KVUE, Austin. Elise Hu. Political Beat
2. KENS, San Antonio. Barry Davis. Eyewitness Wants to Know
Hon Men: News 8 Austin. Victor Diaz. Film Industry
Best Reporter
1. KVUE, Steve Alberts
2. KENS, San Antonio. Barry Davis
Hon Men: KABB, San Antonio. James Keith
Best General Assignment
1. KVUE, Austin. Christine Haas & Todd Rogenthien. Jessica's Story
2. KVUE, Austin. Shelton Green & Robert McMurrey. Last House Standing
Hon Men: KTBC, Austin. Rudy Koski & Sonny Carillo. Caldwell Shootout
Best Continuing Coverage
1. KENS, San Antonio. Recycling Center Fire
2. KEYE, Austin. Jason Wheeler, Joe Moreno & John Salazar. Hurricane Ike
Hon Men: KVUE, Austin. May Storms
Best Website
1. KEYE, Austin
2. KVUE, Austin
Hon Men: News 8 Austin
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Blow-Back
Austin TV Stations to Share Video - The Reaction
Austin television stations’ plans to share video from routine news conferences and photo ops generated the most interest of any News McNabb posts, not to mention national exposure in TV Spy. There were only two posted to the blog site, but I got a ton of email and even comments and a link on Facebook.
Generally, among my readers the consensus is negative, although there were some that “get it” from a management point of view. These are difficult times for media.
The audience for this blog is rather diverse. Most have some media background. Others are media savvy. And, there are some who represent “the audience”, the users/consumers/viewers of traditional television news.
I think that is important to make the distinction of “traditional” television news. It may be a generational thing—Baby-boomers who were the first TV generation. The next generation could the “Cable/Satellite” viewers. Now comes the post-modern viewers who are sampling all media, traditional, digital, and otherwise. Some get their “news” from “The Daily Show” and YouTube. My concern with this rising generation is that they may be leaving local news behind.
Newspapers are failing or, in the case of the Austin American-Statesman and others nationwide, selling. Will they be selling out? Who cares? This rising generation isn’t getting the daily local newspaper in the driveway. They may not be getting it online from newspapers, TV, or other local media. If they are not, how in the world can they make informed decisions at the polls this spring when Austin votes for new city council members? Yes, this generation was mesmerized in the recent Presidential Election, but will local candidates also inherit the online magic? If so, will be news by news release on email, or will it be through a thorough vetting of the candidates through local media?
Back to the blow-back. What follows are reactions to the news that local TV stations plan to cover “routine” news events with one camera, a “pool” camera, and share the video. Where people posted in public on “News McNabb”, I will identify them by name. Otherwise, I will say who they are by description, even those who posted on Facebook, since it is a password-access site. By and large, the reaction was negative:
> “Actually, aside from the financial savings, it makes editorial sense. I don't think viewers will notice the similarities between the various newscasts’ airing of the same dog-and-pony news conference. As you noted in your column, stations will pull different bites and write different voice-overs. -- John“However, more problematic is the likelihood TV stations will eliminate crews rather than pursue more enterprise stories. Then it is really homogenized news.” -- John
> One thing I keep telling myself is that, well... things change. They just do. There may be a re-definition or new definition of what constitutes news and how it's done. It will be some synthesis of the twittering going on with the Morrow school. It's always sad to see what truly was "good" end... but if we're going to have an influence on the future, we have to be a part of the change. –Viewer
> The NBC and CBS stations up here in Portland [Maine] are doing the sharing thing too. The same idea, for ribbon cuttings and things like that. Signe Wilkinson nailed it with her cartoon yesterday with newspaper stands full of press releases instead of newspapers. “Who cares about facts just use the press release for all your information." --Kevin Duckworth, former KXAN TV photojournalist
> “Something good that may come of this is that it will allow reporters and photographers more time to pursue the other angles of the story, rather than be tied up in a news conference that we really only need for background information.” -- Laura Skirde, former KXAN TV Meteorologist and Reporter.
> I think this is a crazy idea and all it's going to do is eliminate jobs. Do football teams share players???? Hell no!!!! – Kenny Kaplan, Former KVUE Chief Photographer now working in New York City.
> Intra-station collusion and pooling is at best creepy. I never once picked up the phone and called a competing Assignment Editor in the market. How is the market/public served if the pool op pops a fuse, has 2 mic cords go in a row, loses a light, has back focus problems, or is summarily re-directed to "more important" spot news? Does the responsible Desk say "My bad" to 4 other stations? –Former Austin Assignments Editor and Photojournalist.
> Another step toward the demise of "TV News" as we know it. I assume this is brought forward as a cost cutting measure, but it forces me to other sources. – Former Austin TV and Radio News Director.
> Hmmmm. I could argue this both ways. It makes sense if newsrooms don't abuse it and use it as an excuse not to do their own legwork. – Former Austin Executive Producer, Producer, and Reporter.
> When you hint at this having thorny issues, I have a bucket load. – Currently in Austin news media.
> Wow!! -- Former Austin Chief Photographer
> Yuk!! -- Former Austin Reporter
So, is this the state of the art now? I have said several times to people today, desperate times call for desperate actions. Am I an anachronism? Am I too much of an idealist for this age? If I am either of these, I take comfort in company.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Austin television stations’ plans to share video from routine news conferences and photo ops generated the most interest of any News McNabb posts, not to mention national exposure in TV Spy. There were only two posted to the blog site, but I got a ton of email and even comments and a link on Facebook.
Generally, among my readers the consensus is negative, although there were some that “get it” from a management point of view. These are difficult times for media.
The audience for this blog is rather diverse. Most have some media background. Others are media savvy. And, there are some who represent “the audience”, the users/consumers/viewers of traditional television news.
I think that is important to make the distinction of “traditional” television news. It may be a generational thing—Baby-boomers who were the first TV generation. The next generation could the “Cable/Satellite” viewers. Now comes the post-modern viewers who are sampling all media, traditional, digital, and otherwise. Some get their “news” from “The Daily Show” and YouTube. My concern with this rising generation is that they may be leaving local news behind.
Newspapers are failing or, in the case of the Austin American-Statesman and others nationwide, selling. Will they be selling out? Who cares? This rising generation isn’t getting the daily local newspaper in the driveway. They may not be getting it online from newspapers, TV, or other local media. If they are not, how in the world can they make informed decisions at the polls this spring when Austin votes for new city council members? Yes, this generation was mesmerized in the recent Presidential Election, but will local candidates also inherit the online magic? If so, will be news by news release on email, or will it be through a thorough vetting of the candidates through local media?
Back to the blow-back. What follows are reactions to the news that local TV stations plan to cover “routine” news events with one camera, a “pool” camera, and share the video. Where people posted in public on “News McNabb”, I will identify them by name. Otherwise, I will say who they are by description, even those who posted on Facebook, since it is a password-access site. By and large, the reaction was negative:
> “Actually, aside from the financial savings, it makes editorial sense. I don't think viewers will notice the similarities between the various newscasts’ airing of the same dog-and-pony news conference. As you noted in your column, stations will pull different bites and write different voice-overs. -- John“However, more problematic is the likelihood TV stations will eliminate crews rather than pursue more enterprise stories. Then it is really homogenized news.” -- John
> One thing I keep telling myself is that, well... things change. They just do. There may be a re-definition or new definition of what constitutes news and how it's done. It will be some synthesis of the twittering going on with the Morrow school. It's always sad to see what truly was "good" end... but if we're going to have an influence on the future, we have to be a part of the change. –Viewer
> The NBC and CBS stations up here in Portland [Maine] are doing the sharing thing too. The same idea, for ribbon cuttings and things like that. Signe Wilkinson nailed it with her cartoon yesterday with newspaper stands full of press releases instead of newspapers. “Who cares about facts just use the press release for all your information." --Kevin Duckworth, former KXAN TV photojournalist
> “Something good that may come of this is that it will allow reporters and photographers more time to pursue the other angles of the story, rather than be tied up in a news conference that we really only need for background information.” -- Laura Skirde, former KXAN TV Meteorologist and Reporter.
> I think this is a crazy idea and all it's going to do is eliminate jobs. Do football teams share players???? Hell no!!!! – Kenny Kaplan, Former KVUE Chief Photographer now working in New York City.
> Intra-station collusion and pooling is at best creepy. I never once picked up the phone and called a competing Assignment Editor in the market. How is the market/public served if the pool op pops a fuse, has 2 mic cords go in a row, loses a light, has back focus problems, or is summarily re-directed to "more important" spot news? Does the responsible Desk say "My bad" to 4 other stations? –Former Austin Assignments Editor and Photojournalist.
> Another step toward the demise of "TV News" as we know it. I assume this is brought forward as a cost cutting measure, but it forces me to other sources. – Former Austin TV and Radio News Director.
> Hmmmm. I could argue this both ways. It makes sense if newsrooms don't abuse it and use it as an excuse not to do their own legwork. – Former Austin Executive Producer, Producer, and Reporter.
> When you hint at this having thorny issues, I have a bucket load. – Currently in Austin news media.
> Wow!! -- Former Austin Chief Photographer
> Yuk!! -- Former Austin Reporter
So, is this the state of the art now? I have said several times to people today, desperate times call for desperate actions. Am I an anachronism? Am I too much of an idealist for this age? If I am either of these, I take comfort in company.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Same News Stories Everywhere?
Most If Not All Austin, Texas Stations Will Share Video
Austin, Texas stations KVUE TV (ABC), KTBC (Fox 7), KEYE (CBS), and KXAN (NBC) are now planning to share news video. Most, if not all of the stations in the nation’s 49th market, would send only one photographer to what might be considered “routine” stories—news conferences, photo ops and the like—and then, they will share the video.
“Yes it is true. This will enable our stations to achieve broader coverage while not wasting time and energy duplicating efforts when covering news conferences and similar events,” says Eric Lassberg, president and general manager of LIN Television, Austin. Lassberg was responding to whether KXAN TV’s news department and KTBC News were planning to share news video.
Representatives from five Austin Television stations met Wednesday, February 25, 2009. The details of the arrangement are yet to be worked out. Not all of the stations’ personnel have been informed, but apparently it is a done deal. Amy Villareal, KEYE TV general manager confirmed, “KEYE is participating.”
“Yes, KVUE will be a part of this video sharing agreement,” said Frank Volpicella, news director at KVUE TV. “All five stations have agreed in principal. We are hashing out the details.” Certainly, the deal will not deter stations from sending full crews if they deem the story of greater importance. Frankly, I hope that happens more often than not.
KTBC TV News Director Pam Vaught deferred comment to Mark Rodman, KTBC general manager. He has not responded yet.
It is said that Univision will also be invited to join in the loose consortium.
If any of the stations in the Austin market were to share video, it makes the most sense for KXAN and KTBC to be partners. Austin TV viewers/news consumers/news users are very fickle; they sample other stations a lot. But, research indicates that KTBC and KXAN share relatively few viewers. So, it is less likely that a viewer of KTBC’s 9 p.m. news will say, “I’ve seen that before” if they were to watch KXAN at 10 p.m. KXAN and KVUE share many viewers, however. Depending on the details, this arrangement, while economically doable, could be damaging to viewers.
It is unclear whether different reporters will also attend the news conferences and, therefore, present a different angle on a story. Also, the stations may choose totally different sound bites.
Critics might call it a homogenizing of news content. That’s a danger. Conspiracy theorists always maintain that the news is all the same dictated by some sinister force—the TV stations, the network, and even the government are all in cahoots. This could be fodder that fuels those flames. But on the day with The Rocky Mountain News announced that tomorrow (Friday, February, 2009) will be the final edition, it says a lot about the economy.
This is the first such partnership with competing stations in the Austin market, but it is not uncommon elsewhere. For instance in the Phoenix market, three stations are sharing one helicopter. "This was done as a response to this economy and for financial reasons," John Misner, president and general manager of 12 News told the Arizona Republic.
This Austin pool coverage agreement is happening at the same time that the only mass-production local newspaper is up for sale. Experienced reporters at the Austin American-Statesman are being offered buy-outs. As a journalist, it’s a scary, sullen time.
In kindergarten they taught us to share. It was a good thing. It was something we were supposed to do all of our lives, in fact. Nowadays, in TV news, it’s becoming a way of doing business. One could put it into the same pigeon-hole called “Doing More with Less”. Or, one might more rightly say, given these economic times as media stocks become penny stocks, it is a smart way of doing business.
Still, there is a danger to local democracy. If all the local media are reporting from the same stuff (“Stuff” is used intentionally.), I believe that the consumer/user/viewer of broadcast journalism may be losing something of great value. Personally, I’d seldom use content from a news conference, considering it “canned”. Instead, I’d pull the sources aside and ask questions others weren’t asking.
As noted above, the details of this apparent agreement are still being worked out. I do have faith in some of the “Big J” journalists in this market who will ensure that the important work of information to the audience is being done. Some, however, may be lazy. Some stations may simply take the rote sound bites of the day to fill the news hole. Geez, I hope not.
There are many philosophical, thorny issues inside of this issue. This could be a field day for politicians and publicists. I hope to explore these with the local news directors and news editors soon.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Austin, Texas stations KVUE TV (ABC), KTBC (Fox 7), KEYE (CBS), and KXAN (NBC) are now planning to share news video. Most, if not all of the stations in the nation’s 49th market, would send only one photographer to what might be considered “routine” stories—news conferences, photo ops and the like—and then, they will share the video.
“Yes it is true. This will enable our stations to achieve broader coverage while not wasting time and energy duplicating efforts when covering news conferences and similar events,” says Eric Lassberg, president and general manager of LIN Television, Austin. Lassberg was responding to whether KXAN TV’s news department and KTBC News were planning to share news video.
Representatives from five Austin Television stations met Wednesday, February 25, 2009. The details of the arrangement are yet to be worked out. Not all of the stations’ personnel have been informed, but apparently it is a done deal. Amy Villareal, KEYE TV general manager confirmed, “KEYE is participating.”
“Yes, KVUE will be a part of this video sharing agreement,” said Frank Volpicella, news director at KVUE TV. “All five stations have agreed in principal. We are hashing out the details.” Certainly, the deal will not deter stations from sending full crews if they deem the story of greater importance. Frankly, I hope that happens more often than not.
KTBC TV News Director Pam Vaught deferred comment to Mark Rodman, KTBC general manager. He has not responded yet.
It is said that Univision will also be invited to join in the loose consortium.
If any of the stations in the Austin market were to share video, it makes the most sense for KXAN and KTBC to be partners. Austin TV viewers/news consumers/news users are very fickle; they sample other stations a lot. But, research indicates that KTBC and KXAN share relatively few viewers. So, it is less likely that a viewer of KTBC’s 9 p.m. news will say, “I’ve seen that before” if they were to watch KXAN at 10 p.m. KXAN and KVUE share many viewers, however. Depending on the details, this arrangement, while economically doable, could be damaging to viewers.
It is unclear whether different reporters will also attend the news conferences and, therefore, present a different angle on a story. Also, the stations may choose totally different sound bites.
Critics might call it a homogenizing of news content. That’s a danger. Conspiracy theorists always maintain that the news is all the same dictated by some sinister force—the TV stations, the network, and even the government are all in cahoots. This could be fodder that fuels those flames. But on the day with The Rocky Mountain News announced that tomorrow (Friday, February, 2009) will be the final edition, it says a lot about the economy.
This is the first such partnership with competing stations in the Austin market, but it is not uncommon elsewhere. For instance in the Phoenix market, three stations are sharing one helicopter. "This was done as a response to this economy and for financial reasons," John Misner, president and general manager of 12 News told the Arizona Republic.
This Austin pool coverage agreement is happening at the same time that the only mass-production local newspaper is up for sale. Experienced reporters at the Austin American-Statesman are being offered buy-outs. As a journalist, it’s a scary, sullen time.
In kindergarten they taught us to share. It was a good thing. It was something we were supposed to do all of our lives, in fact. Nowadays, in TV news, it’s becoming a way of doing business. One could put it into the same pigeon-hole called “Doing More with Less”. Or, one might more rightly say, given these economic times as media stocks become penny stocks, it is a smart way of doing business.
Still, there is a danger to local democracy. If all the local media are reporting from the same stuff (“Stuff” is used intentionally.), I believe that the consumer/user/viewer of broadcast journalism may be losing something of great value. Personally, I’d seldom use content from a news conference, considering it “canned”. Instead, I’d pull the sources aside and ask questions others weren’t asking.
As noted above, the details of this apparent agreement are still being worked out. I do have faith in some of the “Big J” journalists in this market who will ensure that the important work of information to the audience is being done. Some, however, may be lazy. Some stations may simply take the rote sound bites of the day to fill the news hole. Geez, I hope not.
There are many philosophical, thorny issues inside of this issue. This could be a field day for politicians and publicists. I hope to explore these with the local news directors and news editors soon.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Whose Fault Is It?
It’s the Media, of Course.
Finally, someone has pointed the finger of blame for the economic issues facing the nation. It’s a wonder President Obama didn’t mention it last night. Who do you blame? Blame the media, of course.
A Rasmussen poll released today says, “Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters believe the media tries to make the economy seem worse that it is. That’s an increase from 46% in November. “The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 23% believe the nation’s professional reporters and commentators try to present an accurate picture of the economy. Thirteen (13%) believe the media tries to make the economy seem better than it really is.”
This crisis has been going on for months now. Various analysts blamed banks for writing bad loads. Ivy League PhDs never once said the news media is to blame. No one ever barked “bias” until now.
According to “Rasmussen Reports” people professing to be Republican are more likely to think this way, but not by much of a margin. “Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans say the media paints a bleaker picture of the economy than the facts merit. That view is shared by 44% of Democrats and 59% of those not affiliated with either major party.”
What has this to do with us here in “The People’s Republic of Austin”? I recently became aware that there is a watchdog “Media Bias Alert” organization operating on Facebook. It has 102 members who would blow the whistle on suspected media bias. “This is a group that allows you to raise your voice without having to raise your hand regarding the ridiculous Media Bias we have in our Country,” the site says.
The local moderator is a Round Rock man. I accidentally found myself in an unintended discussion with him regarding media. “Well. Pursue truth wherever you find it,” I told him meaning to end the conversation, but he had the last word. “And the truth will set this Country free soon enough... when it wakes up from the love fest.” I left it there.
When I was answering all of the email at KXAN a few years ago, I would have sworn there were more than 102 people in the audience who made the media, TV news in particular, the scourge of all that is democratic in this nation. I was shredded regularly by anonymous writers for having run a “biased” story, when there was every effort to make it balanced instead. The problem, of course, was that the story at issue didn’t say what the viewer thought it should say.
All of this goes back to my assertion that journalism should be considered a profession. Seeking the truth, balancing the story, observing the applicable laws, and making the final product worth reading is something that must be practiced, not much different from practicing law.
After answering hundreds, if not thousands, of these emails, I also came to know this truth again: You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can’t make all of the people happy all of the time. Further, some people aren’t happy people. Even more news viewers/users/consumers choose to have a closed mind.
What can the media do to counteract this assault? Keep standards high, check facts, and continue telling the truth. If ever we need professionalism, it is now.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Finally, someone has pointed the finger of blame for the economic issues facing the nation. It’s a wonder President Obama didn’t mention it last night. Who do you blame? Blame the media, of course.
A Rasmussen poll released today says, “Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters believe the media tries to make the economy seem worse that it is. That’s an increase from 46% in November. “The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that just 23% believe the nation’s professional reporters and commentators try to present an accurate picture of the economy. Thirteen (13%) believe the media tries to make the economy seem better than it really is.”
This crisis has been going on for months now. Various analysts blamed banks for writing bad loads. Ivy League PhDs never once said the news media is to blame. No one ever barked “bias” until now.
According to “Rasmussen Reports” people professing to be Republican are more likely to think this way, but not by much of a margin. “Sixty-five percent (65%) of Republicans say the media paints a bleaker picture of the economy than the facts merit. That view is shared by 44% of Democrats and 59% of those not affiliated with either major party.”
What has this to do with us here in “The People’s Republic of Austin”? I recently became aware that there is a watchdog “Media Bias Alert” organization operating on Facebook. It has 102 members who would blow the whistle on suspected media bias. “This is a group that allows you to raise your voice without having to raise your hand regarding the ridiculous Media Bias we have in our Country,” the site says.
The local moderator is a Round Rock man. I accidentally found myself in an unintended discussion with him regarding media. “Well. Pursue truth wherever you find it,” I told him meaning to end the conversation, but he had the last word. “And the truth will set this Country free soon enough... when it wakes up from the love fest.” I left it there.
When I was answering all of the email at KXAN a few years ago, I would have sworn there were more than 102 people in the audience who made the media, TV news in particular, the scourge of all that is democratic in this nation. I was shredded regularly by anonymous writers for having run a “biased” story, when there was every effort to make it balanced instead. The problem, of course, was that the story at issue didn’t say what the viewer thought it should say.
All of this goes back to my assertion that journalism should be considered a profession. Seeking the truth, balancing the story, observing the applicable laws, and making the final product worth reading is something that must be practiced, not much different from practicing law.
After answering hundreds, if not thousands, of these emails, I also came to know this truth again: You can make some of the people happy some of the time, but you can’t make all of the people happy all of the time. Further, some people aren’t happy people. Even more news viewers/users/consumers choose to have a closed mind.
What can the media do to counteract this assault? Keep standards high, check facts, and continue telling the truth. If ever we need professionalism, it is now.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Didn't Happen in Central Texas
The Dark Side of Digital
Early Wednesday morning after the original February 17th deadline to transition to digital TV, more than 420 TV stations across the nation, including one in Austin, turned off their analogue signal and continued broadcasting their digital signal. All is well for the most part in Central Texas.
Elsewhere, things did not go as well.
TV Shot
A MISSOURI MAN, FRUSTRATED OVER LOSING HIS CABLE TV SERVICE, PEPPERED HIS TV SET WITH GUNFIRE.
POLICE RESPONDED TO THIS HOUSE IN JOPLIN WEDNESDAY AFTER REPORTS OF SHOTS BEING FIRED INSIDE.
TURNS OUT, THE 70-YEAR OLD WAS LIVID OVER LOSING CABLE AND COULDN'T GET HIS DIGITAL TV CONVERTER TO WORK.
AFTER A BRIEF STANDOFF, POLICE TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY AND CHARGED HIM WITH UNLAWFUL USE OF A FIREARM.
IT WAS WALTER HOOVER'S WIFE WHO REPORTED HIM TO POLICE AND SHE ALSO TOLD THEM HE HAD BEEN DRINKING.
(From NBC Universal)
(Editor's note: An earlier post of the above story included another story, but a reader pointed out quite rightly that the story was not DTV related because it happened a year ago. I deleted it. Thank you to "Anonymous" for keeping me straight.)
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Early Wednesday morning after the original February 17th deadline to transition to digital TV, more than 420 TV stations across the nation, including one in Austin, turned off their analogue signal and continued broadcasting their digital signal. All is well for the most part in Central Texas.
Elsewhere, things did not go as well.
TV Shot
A MISSOURI MAN, FRUSTRATED OVER LOSING HIS CABLE TV SERVICE, PEPPERED HIS TV SET WITH GUNFIRE.
POLICE RESPONDED TO THIS HOUSE IN JOPLIN WEDNESDAY AFTER REPORTS OF SHOTS BEING FIRED INSIDE.
TURNS OUT, THE 70-YEAR OLD WAS LIVID OVER LOSING CABLE AND COULDN'T GET HIS DIGITAL TV CONVERTER TO WORK.
AFTER A BRIEF STANDOFF, POLICE TOOK HIM INTO CUSTODY AND CHARGED HIM WITH UNLAWFUL USE OF A FIREARM.
IT WAS WALTER HOOVER'S WIFE WHO REPORTED HIM TO POLICE AND SHE ALSO TOLD THEM HE HAD BEEN DRINKING.
(From NBC Universal)
Folks, DTV isn't that important.
Running around on the Internet I did find this marginally useful piece of information on "How Stuff Works". The question was, "What would happen if I shot my TV?" What would happen other than a knock on the door from the police? Find your scientific answer here: http://science.howstuffworks.com/what-if-shoot-tv.htm(Editor's note: An earlier post of the above story included another story, but a reader pointed out quite rightly that the story was not DTV related because it happened a year ago. I deleted it. Thank you to "Anonymous" for keeping me straight.)
© Jim McNabb, 2009
In the Aftermath ...
The Night TV Was Dark
The DTV dust hasn’t quite settled yet, but KEYE TV (CBS) seems to have weathered a subdued storm after becoming Austin’s first TV station to turn off its analogue transmitter and go 100-percent digital. “We are proud to make history in Austin again. We were the first to go HD and now we’re the first to bring the digital signal to viewers, offering superior pictures and sound,” says Suzanne Black, KEYE news director. KEYE TV joined some 420 other stations across the nation in deciding to stick with the original February 17th date for the digital transition.
As soon has analogue went dark, the calls started coming into KEYE’s 24-hour phone bank. “We fielded about 700 calls in 36 hours, and our phone bank remains open.” Black said. “The most common questions were, ‘How do I hook up my box’ and ‘My box is hooked up, but I can’t see the picture.’” Many viewers had not set their TVs on Channel Three. As soon as they did, BINGO, they’d entered the digital age.
Across the nation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) says the transition is about what they expected. “By and large TV households affected in those markets were ready," said Jonathan Collegio, NAB vice president for the digital television transition. “Of the estimated 12.4 million exclusively over-the-air TV households that were impacted … when 421 stations switched to digital, the FCC reported only 28,000 viewer calls – an incredibly small percentage of those affected. While call volume has generally been low, there were some hotspots that received more calls due to unique market situations,” the NAB news release says.
The Austin market may have been one of the “hotspots” with greater call volume, despite being one of the more cabled markets in the country. “Everyone has been gracious and understanding in why we made the choice to turn off our analog transmitter now, rather than waiting until June,” Black says. Public TV’s KLRU will go all digital next month. KTBC TV plans analogue broadcasts all the way to the new transition date, June 12. KVUE TV AND KXAN TV are assessing readiness on a month-by-month basis. Costs run into the tens of thousands of dollars to continue operating multiple transmitters all of them broadcasting on both bands. LIN TV operates three Central Texas stations, KXAN, KXAM (in the Hill Country), and KNVA (CW).
The remaining Austin TV stations will undoubtedly consider the bottom line as they consider whether to join KEYE in the totally digital world. Another factor affecting the bottom line is ratings. There is no clear picture yet on how the digital transition will be reflected in ratings. The ratings relate directly to revenue, and revenue, like the rest of the economy, is down. Ratings may well be why other stations didn’t go totally digital.
Sweeps months are four times a year, usually starting with February. Because of the planned digital transition, Nielsen pushed winter sweeps to March. Then, the government pushed the DTV deadline to June. Other stations continuing to broadcast in both digital and analogue may hope for a ratings boost. That remains to be seen. At any rate KEYE seems to be treating February is a sweeps month anyway, running an “Investigates” piece about City of Austin employees going bowling among other things during business hours.
The sweeps switch also disrupts station staff personal lives. “It’s unfortunate for families used to taking the week off for Spring break (or for SXSW for that matter),” says Michael Fabac, KXAN news director. “In our newsroom, we are planning special promotable content [for March]. True, the turnaround to May is tight, but we’ve had plenty of time to prepare!” May is the second sweeps month of the year. The other two are July and November.
Taking the long view, it will be interesting to see how this latest change in the Austin/Central Texas market will sort out. KEYE TV indeed is a station of firsts. It is also a station of change, having gone from independent KBVO TV in the 1980s to a Fox affiliate in the late ‘80s to CBS in the mid-1990s when the call letters became KEYE. KEYE is an aggressive competitor luring top talent from other stations. Going all digital with the current economy is a leap of faith.
All the Austin TV stations, once they are all digital [and I wish that were now] will have a different coverage area, a different footprint. With digital signals, either you have reception or you don’t. In one way, the playing field will be level. No longer will KTBC TV, Austin’s only VHF station, have the built-in power advantage. It takes more power to push a UHF signal than a VHF signal. That’s one reason why KTBC dominated the market for decades in the last millennium when the TV station was owned by the Johnson family. Ironically, it was the Johnson family’s creation of Capital Cable, now Time Warner Cable, that allowed other stations greater reach resulting in a shift in ratings. Any future shifts because of DTV, if any, may be minimal given cable penetration in the market at above 70-percent, not to mention subscriptions to satellite and AT&T U-verse. It will be fun watching the stations shuffle over the next few months.
And, oh, get ready for glitz of the March sweeps weeks. They begin February 28th.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
The DTV dust hasn’t quite settled yet, but KEYE TV (CBS) seems to have weathered a subdued storm after becoming Austin’s first TV station to turn off its analogue transmitter and go 100-percent digital. “We are proud to make history in Austin again. We were the first to go HD and now we’re the first to bring the digital signal to viewers, offering superior pictures and sound,” says Suzanne Black, KEYE news director. KEYE TV joined some 420 other stations across the nation in deciding to stick with the original February 17th date for the digital transition.
As soon has analogue went dark, the calls started coming into KEYE’s 24-hour phone bank. “We fielded about 700 calls in 36 hours, and our phone bank remains open.” Black said. “The most common questions were, ‘How do I hook up my box’ and ‘My box is hooked up, but I can’t see the picture.’” Many viewers had not set their TVs on Channel Three. As soon as they did, BINGO, they’d entered the digital age.
Across the nation, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) says the transition is about what they expected. “By and large TV households affected in those markets were ready," said Jonathan Collegio, NAB vice president for the digital television transition. “Of the estimated 12.4 million exclusively over-the-air TV households that were impacted … when 421 stations switched to digital, the FCC reported only 28,000 viewer calls – an incredibly small percentage of those affected. While call volume has generally been low, there were some hotspots that received more calls due to unique market situations,” the NAB news release says.
The Austin market may have been one of the “hotspots” with greater call volume, despite being one of the more cabled markets in the country. “Everyone has been gracious and understanding in why we made the choice to turn off our analog transmitter now, rather than waiting until June,” Black says. Public TV’s KLRU will go all digital next month. KTBC TV plans analogue broadcasts all the way to the new transition date, June 12. KVUE TV AND KXAN TV are assessing readiness on a month-by-month basis. Costs run into the tens of thousands of dollars to continue operating multiple transmitters all of them broadcasting on both bands. LIN TV operates three Central Texas stations, KXAN, KXAM (in the Hill Country), and KNVA (CW).
The remaining Austin TV stations will undoubtedly consider the bottom line as they consider whether to join KEYE in the totally digital world. Another factor affecting the bottom line is ratings. There is no clear picture yet on how the digital transition will be reflected in ratings. The ratings relate directly to revenue, and revenue, like the rest of the economy, is down. Ratings may well be why other stations didn’t go totally digital.
Sweeps months are four times a year, usually starting with February. Because of the planned digital transition, Nielsen pushed winter sweeps to March. Then, the government pushed the DTV deadline to June. Other stations continuing to broadcast in both digital and analogue may hope for a ratings boost. That remains to be seen. At any rate KEYE seems to be treating February is a sweeps month anyway, running an “Investigates” piece about City of Austin employees going bowling among other things during business hours.
The sweeps switch also disrupts station staff personal lives. “It’s unfortunate for families used to taking the week off for Spring break (or for SXSW for that matter),” says Michael Fabac, KXAN news director. “In our newsroom, we are planning special promotable content [for March]. True, the turnaround to May is tight, but we’ve had plenty of time to prepare!” May is the second sweeps month of the year. The other two are July and November.
Taking the long view, it will be interesting to see how this latest change in the Austin/Central Texas market will sort out. KEYE TV indeed is a station of firsts. It is also a station of change, having gone from independent KBVO TV in the 1980s to a Fox affiliate in the late ‘80s to CBS in the mid-1990s when the call letters became KEYE. KEYE is an aggressive competitor luring top talent from other stations. Going all digital with the current economy is a leap of faith.
All the Austin TV stations, once they are all digital [and I wish that were now] will have a different coverage area, a different footprint. With digital signals, either you have reception or you don’t. In one way, the playing field will be level. No longer will KTBC TV, Austin’s only VHF station, have the built-in power advantage. It takes more power to push a UHF signal than a VHF signal. That’s one reason why KTBC dominated the market for decades in the last millennium when the TV station was owned by the Johnson family. Ironically, it was the Johnson family’s creation of Capital Cable, now Time Warner Cable, that allowed other stations greater reach resulting in a shift in ratings. Any future shifts because of DTV, if any, may be minimal given cable penetration in the market at above 70-percent, not to mention subscriptions to satellite and AT&T U-verse. It will be fun watching the stations shuffle over the next few months.
And, oh, get ready for glitz of the March sweeps weeks. They begin February 28th.
© Jim McNabb, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
