Kudos for the most part to the posts from Wednesday. Sure there were a few bad apples, but there were some good thought provoking pieces. Recently some have written that this blog has become nothing more than a forum for people to rip other stations and then employees from those stations to respond in an even angrier tone. In some cases it has become that and that's not exactly what I intended the blog to be. Many think the cure would be not allowing anonymous comments to the blog. Many blogs run things that way. However, to get a user name to post comments you basically can assume any identity you want and make up a user name, so in someways it is just like being anonymous with that extra step. I'd like for those who do post thought provoking things to not have to go through that extra step of registering. However, I will give that some thought.
In the first post over a year ago I wrote about the blog, "I hope in the days to come we can get an interesting conversation started about Wichita TV news." 165 posts later that conversation has at times been marred by some pointed attacks at people and stations. Believe it or not, I probably delete 2 out of every 10 comments. Some say that's not enough, others may say its too many. Anon 3:02 from the last post wrote:
If the host of this blog truly cared about journalism and an educated discussion, he would lead it that way by his posts, and more importantly, by controlling responses... and not allowing the haters and bitter people to turn this into a gripe-fest.Too bad. The concept is good. The execution is poor.
I agree to a point, but the term "controlling responses" is a tough thing to battle, because at times, I, myself have been criticized for being too pointed at a station or a personality in my own blog entries. And as I have written before, like it or not, these reporters are in the public eye. They may not be elected to an office, but they still chose to be in front of a camera or work in a very public industry so they must be able to take some criticism, however I will agree it cannot be personal or downright rude and cruel. So in conclusion I will give this topic more thought and see if there is a solution to finding a balance of giving my opinions and still allowing you all a forum to agree and disagree with mine or raise new concerns in the comment section. -Hal
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Downburst: Coverage Notes
It wasn't a tornado and nobody was killed, but the "downburst" which hit near Park City Tuesday did plenty of damage, plus it gives me a topic at a time in which I needed something to post about.
The "downburst," as it was called, led off on all the stations. One of the stations had a good presentation, while another made it look like it was just slammed together.
KWCH had Michael Schwanke at the scene with probably the best live report location. You could actually see things in the background which was helpful and added to the report. Following his story Jim Grawe was at another location showing the hail which was still on the shoulder of the roads. Following that, Merill and Ross Janssen explained what exactly is a "down burst" and showed it on radar. Although the video was interesting in Grawe's report, we could have probably done without him since it was just a "downburst." I say "just a down burst," but I still like the way KWCH treated it and probably did the best overall.
KAKE provided detailed coverage with a live report from the scene and Deb Farris. The story covered the basics, but nothing exceptional, but still gave me all the details, plus Jay Prater briefly gave the weather spin on things.
KSN was the station who looked like they threw something together to just throw it on the air. For a station who leads every 10PM newscast with weather (and they did on Tuesday with the forecast), I thought they blew it by not having Dave explain what exactly a downburst is. For once he had weather to talk about and lead with him, but didn't!!! After the "First Forecast," they led off with a story by Aileen Simborio which gave the basics, but nothing more than that.
If it was hail or a more common thing, I would say KWCH's coverage was overboard, but since it was something less common, like a downburst, I thought the explanation KWCH gave and KAKE to a smaller degree was interesting and deserved. The little "downburst" did shut down the north/south Interstate and turned over a couple of semis and knocked windshields out. And how many times in the winter have all the TV stations led off and spent several minutes with an overturned truck blocking an interstate during a snow storm? I am sure we will get to see some of those in about 5 months or so. -Hal
The "downburst," as it was called, led off on all the stations. One of the stations had a good presentation, while another made it look like it was just slammed together.
KWCH had Michael Schwanke at the scene with probably the best live report location. You could actually see things in the background which was helpful and added to the report. Following his story Jim Grawe was at another location showing the hail which was still on the shoulder of the roads. Following that, Merill and Ross Janssen explained what exactly is a "down burst" and showed it on radar. Although the video was interesting in Grawe's report, we could have probably done without him since it was just a "downburst." I say "just a down burst," but I still like the way KWCH treated it and probably did the best overall.
KAKE provided detailed coverage with a live report from the scene and Deb Farris. The story covered the basics, but nothing exceptional, but still gave me all the details, plus Jay Prater briefly gave the weather spin on things.
KSN was the station who looked like they threw something together to just throw it on the air. For a station who leads every 10PM newscast with weather (and they did on Tuesday with the forecast), I thought they blew it by not having Dave explain what exactly a downburst is. For once he had weather to talk about and lead with him, but didn't!!! After the "First Forecast," they led off with a story by Aileen Simborio which gave the basics, but nothing more than that.
If it was hail or a more common thing, I would say KWCH's coverage was overboard, but since it was something less common, like a downburst, I thought the explanation KWCH gave and KAKE to a smaller degree was interesting and deserved. The little "downburst" did shut down the north/south Interstate and turned over a couple of semis and knocked windshields out. And how many times in the winter have all the TV stations led off and spent several minutes with an overturned truck blocking an interstate during a snow storm? I am sure we will get to see some of those in about 5 months or so. -Hal
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Fox news At 9: The New "Heidi"
For you young ones, this will require a bit of an explanation. Stay with me on this one.
In 1968 the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets were playing for the AFL Championship. Jets were up 32-29 with 65 seconds left to go in the game, when NBC stopped that broadcast to air the already scheduled made-for-TV movie "Heidi." What followed, the Raiders would score two touchdowns in less than a minute and end up winning the game in what went down as one of the greatest endings of any sport ever. Fast forward nearly 40 years later and in a much smaller example.
The All-Star game is tied at 3 and in fabled Yankee Stadium. My total recollection may be a tad foggy, because I was close to being asleep with the game on in the background. The American League had just gotten a double in the bottom of the 12th inning, when Fox 4/KWCH's All-Star Rebecca Gannon's voice pops up and the 9 O'Clock (now past 11:30) news starts. After what seemed like a few minutes just as quickly as it started, the newscast is switched back over to baseball. Fortunately for the local Fox station, no runs were scored and the classic would continue for 3 more innings. The newscast was definitely on tape. Sure its an All Star game, not football, but what an unfortunate glitch by the folks at the local Fox station. When I realized what happened I had to wonder how many Wichita area TVs were sacrificed by fans disgruntled about the missing game and at a time when it was tied and a runner on 2nd in extra innings. I was expecting an All-Star cast of Derek Jeter, J.D. Drew, or Mariano Rivera, not Rebecca Gannon (she's definitely not an All-Star of Wichita Media). -Hal
In 1968 the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets were playing for the AFL Championship. Jets were up 32-29 with 65 seconds left to go in the game, when NBC stopped that broadcast to air the already scheduled made-for-TV movie "Heidi." What followed, the Raiders would score two touchdowns in less than a minute and end up winning the game in what went down as one of the greatest endings of any sport ever. Fast forward nearly 40 years later and in a much smaller example.
The All-Star game is tied at 3 and in fabled Yankee Stadium. My total recollection may be a tad foggy, because I was close to being asleep with the game on in the background. The American League had just gotten a double in the bottom of the 12th inning, when Fox 4/KWCH's All-Star Rebecca Gannon's voice pops up and the 9 O'Clock (now past 11:30) news starts. After what seemed like a few minutes just as quickly as it started, the newscast is switched back over to baseball. Fortunately for the local Fox station, no runs were scored and the classic would continue for 3 more innings. The newscast was definitely on tape. Sure its an All Star game, not football, but what an unfortunate glitch by the folks at the local Fox station. When I realized what happened I had to wonder how many Wichita area TVs were sacrificed by fans disgruntled about the missing game and at a time when it was tied and a runner on 2nd in extra innings. I was expecting an All-Star cast of Derek Jeter, J.D. Drew, or Mariano Rivera, not Rebecca Gannon (she's definitely not an All-Star of Wichita Media). -Hal
Monday, July 14, 2008
KSN News Director Resigns; Headed to Tulsa
Well, make it 3 days in a row. OK maybe 2 days in a row (KAKE's GM Day 1 and then KWCH's news director and assignment editor Day 2), then a 12 day break and now Day 3: KSN news director Todd Spessard resigns. The Eagle reports he is headed to Tulsa after spending over 5 years in Wichita. I think this marks a unique time in which 2 of the 3 TV stations are looking for news directors after the announcement that KWCH's News Director, Michele Gors and the Assignment Editor all resigned back on July 1. That added to the news a day before KWCH's announcement that KAKE's General Manager was gone. What do you make of this sudden movement of management? Nothing. It just proves a business that has always been a little unsteady, definitely faces an uncertain future. With this change coming soon for the stations, where do I see them?
KWCH - Still #1, although I never have seen the actual ratings. I depend on all of your comments to hear what is happening. According to comments about the last ratings, KWCH was down, but still held a solid lead over the other 2. Between KWCH and KSN, I think the KWCH job would be more attractive, especially as long as Roger and Cindy remain in the anchor chairs. I think they remain #1, maybe not as solid of a lead, but they still will dominate. It is important they don't get too cocky resting on that top perch, especially if KSN gets more competitive under a new news director and challenges KAKE. The two basement dwellers could get very competitive amongst each other and together may take away some KWCH viewers, but that is only a, "MAY."
KSN -I must agree with what anon 10 said on the previous post:
If only Dave And Anita would follow, then there would be a real development.
Whoever takes over the news department can make all the changes they want, but as long as Dave and Anita stay in their chairs, things will remain the same. I don't know how long they have been in their spots together, at least 5 years. Five plus years is a lot of patience at trying to see if they can improve ratings. I don't think that's worked out too well.
KAKE - They went through a news director shake up over a year ago and now a GM change. I cuss KAKE out more than the other 2, because I think they are over-the-top much of the time, however part of me likes that. They definitely show an aggressiveness and they aren't afraid to promote that on the air. They were for the most part able to quietly move a younger Jeff Herndon into Larry Hatteberg's main anchor spot. At the time it happened, I thought there would have been far more negative fall out. As I said earlier, I don't think they will be able to compete for the top spot as long as Roger and Cindy remain in their chairs. As for looking at KSN, behind them, I think it all depends on just how serious KSN is about changing things. If upper management exercises too much control on a new news director and leaves things the same at KSN, KAKE will have no worries of KSN catching up to them. -Hal
KWCH - Still #1, although I never have seen the actual ratings. I depend on all of your comments to hear what is happening. According to comments about the last ratings, KWCH was down, but still held a solid lead over the other 2. Between KWCH and KSN, I think the KWCH job would be more attractive, especially as long as Roger and Cindy remain in the anchor chairs. I think they remain #1, maybe not as solid of a lead, but they still will dominate. It is important they don't get too cocky resting on that top perch, especially if KSN gets more competitive under a new news director and challenges KAKE. The two basement dwellers could get very competitive amongst each other and together may take away some KWCH viewers, but that is only a, "MAY."
KSN -I must agree with what anon 10 said on the previous post:
If only Dave And Anita would follow, then there would be a real development.
Whoever takes over the news department can make all the changes they want, but as long as Dave and Anita stay in their chairs, things will remain the same. I don't know how long they have been in their spots together, at least 5 years. Five plus years is a lot of patience at trying to see if they can improve ratings. I don't think that's worked out too well.
KAKE - They went through a news director shake up over a year ago and now a GM change. I cuss KAKE out more than the other 2, because I think they are over-the-top much of the time, however part of me likes that. They definitely show an aggressiveness and they aren't afraid to promote that on the air. They were for the most part able to quietly move a younger Jeff Herndon into Larry Hatteberg's main anchor spot. At the time it happened, I thought there would have been far more negative fall out. As I said earlier, I don't think they will be able to compete for the top spot as long as Roger and Cindy remain in their chairs. As for looking at KSN, behind them, I think it all depends on just how serious KSN is about changing things. If upper management exercises too much control on a new news director and leaves things the same at KSN, KAKE will have no worries of KSN catching up to them. -Hal
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Officer Involved Shooting Coverage
I was watching the early morning shows, first on KAKE and then on KWCH and learned of an officer involved shooting on Friday night. KAKE had a full story from Natasha Trelfa who I think in a short period of time has become one of KAKE's best reporters. Not to take anything away from Trelfa, but she is one of the best at a station with probably the weakest staff in the market. KWCH had a full story from normal weekday morning anchor Matt Mauro. Stories from both of the stations provided good information the morning after, at a time when it was hard to find information online. The argument is often made that the internet is the future of the business, however the online offerings for this story were slow in coming. By this morning all 3 TV stations had mentions online of the event. However, it was nearly 12 hours after the incident, before the Eagle had the story on their website. Even then their information came from the AP and said the condition of the suspect was unknown, while the TV stations were all saying the suspect had died around 2AM. -Hal
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
News Management Shake-up Scorecard
KWCH - 2
KAKE - 1
KSN- 0
As the temperatures get close to the century mark outside for the first time this year, things have been heating up in the management circles of at least 2 of the stations in Wichita. First KAKE's GM resigns Monday apparently to take a job in Florida and now word from the Eagle Today that KWCH's news director and assignment editor have resigned. Does KSN make it 3 days in a row? Probably not, but they could stand to ruffle things up a bit. -Hal
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Eagle: KAKE GM Resigns
Thanks to the reader who forwarded me the link from the Eagle website that reports KAKE's GM has resigned. The whole link did not come through in the comments section from the previous post so here it is. To read the article you need a user name since the Eagle has moved to such desperate measures. (Yes the user name is free and all, but it still is a hassle). -Hal
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