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
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KSN's weather first format is a joke but then again so is KSN 99% of the time.
KSN has no direction.
Overall, I think KSN has the best reporting staff in the market. Their biggest problem has been an unsteady direction that always seems to be changing and a finding a vision which could harness the strengths. They aren't the first nor the last 3rd place station plagued by these issues.
If you think they have the best staff in the market, get out of the biz now because you don't have a clue.
Don't make it sound like KSN had nothing on this. The package covered the bases. Point taken on the 'weather first' argument, but mostly these are tired-out complaints. Anyone who wanted a comprehensive look at the news day got it from KSN. Anyone who wanted nauseating excess got that from KWCH.
Do other people think KWCH means nauseating excess? They don't seem to know when enough is enough.I mean, REALLY!
KSN has direction, and it's always downward....
KSN...we have kickers 4 minutes into our show.
This has turned into an absolutely worthless blog.
People from the individual stations simply post to attack the competition and defend their own.
No value whatsoever. It has simply turned into a place for the disgruntled employee and/or those who have nothing better to do than bitch and moan.
These really give the business a bad name. In reality... all stations are good places to work. They all do a decent job covering the news, and as far as business goes, treat the employees well.
Each station has its strengths and weaknesses. Each station can win a day-- and lose a day. It's a decent market for TV.
Obviously the host of the blog is, himself, a disgruntled journalist who couldn't make it in the biz. As a result, he enjoys tearing (and watching others) tear apart the stations and their people.
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 controling 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 know Freeman is off, but where has Leon been?
Does every story KAKE does not have to tie into a fatal motorcycle crash 2 weeks ago. First is was the crash, okay fine. The next day it was an insulting piece about the woman who died that contained revving engines and seemed more about the sport than the woman. Even that, while poorly done was okay. Then in the past few days, they've done a "Raceway reopens" story about the same track and tonight about some bleechers knocked over by last night's downburst at the same place. That's four stories when only one maybe two were legitimate. Sad.
I'd really love to know who these "anonymous" bashers are. I think if they revealed themselves we'd all be laughing at the worthlessness of their identities and opinions.
It's summer, Leon has been on vacation. Nothing more. And now, Freeman will go on vacation. Then someone else will and so on. This happens.
The 5pm at KSN needs some work. It's poorly produced with very little local news. I like the live interview segment with something local. I think that should be in one segment of its own. Talkers are ok, but most seem kicker like and should end the show.
KWCH has posted ratings numbers, in a way. Check it out
http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?S=6812855
I guess when you are number one, you've got nothing to lose by showing everything.
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