Friday Discussion: Weather

Until I started thinking about the local weather casts the past few days, I really didn't realize how different the main weather guys are, but on the other hand I think there is at least one weather caster at the three stations in Wichita to meet most people's preferences. My preferences for a weather guy will be different than other people. Weather is probably one of those hot button topics that everyone has an opinion of what they want to see in a weather guy. My idea of the perfect weather person, doesn't exist in Wichita. I like a weather person to be serious when they need to be, but still have that zaniness scientist quality that makes the weather world sort of wacky. The person that meets these specs closest to me would be KSN morning meteorologist Mark Bogner. He seems as just a guy that has the passion for weather, but at the same town won't talk down to viewers and seems like a guy I would want to talk weather with over a round of beers. I was going to rank the 3 channels' weather, but I think it is too hard to do, because they are pretty close when you get down to it. Many may disagree with the last statement, but once you get past your own preferences in a weather caster I think you'll see they are pretty even. I'll break down the station's weather coverage listed in numerical order by channel number.



KSN 3 - With the 3 degree guarantee, and the "Dave said it would," KSN News is probably branded more on the name of Dave Freeman than any other personality or phrase KSN has. With that said, I think they lead off with their best on camera meteorologist early in the morning with Mark Bogner. As I have said before he comes across real genuine and like a real nice guy. National consultants may take a look at all the talent at KSN and say Mark wouldn't be their choice, but I think they'd be missing what Kansans want.
At Noon, Leon Smitherman does a good job. As much as I think he has a delivery and style that are top notch, it may not be as favorable for Kansas. I like his style and think he shows a big market flare, but with the passion of weather Kansans have I think they would prefer to hear it more from a guy like Bogner. With that said, Smitherman I think in the future should be a key player at KSN. One commenter said he should be moved to main news anchor. I disagree with that, but I think Leon is too good to leave him at Noon. The station uses him in other ways, doing Wednesday's Child and he shows his versatility in that. Like I dubbed him earlier he is a Swiss Army Knife, able to do weather, news stories, and even do a far better job anchoring the 5PM show than the current anchor. Honestly, I think Leon is overqualified to be just doing Noon, but where to place him is a difficult question.

KSN's back-up back-up meteorologist Andrew Kozak I think needs to be careful. At times he reminds me of a junior Dave Freeman. He can get too serious much of the time and sometimes appear as if he talks down to the viewers. Part of his problem might be he looks young. I know that is a sad reason, but that may be it.

Friends, as for Dave, he certainly is the most passionate weatherman in the market. Many may think he cries wolf. I think those saying that may be too critical of him. I think his delivery and style make it appear that way far often than it may actually happen. Going into this Dave wouldn't rank too high in my book, but as I think about it more, I am of the belief you really cant fault a guy for being very passionate for a subject like weather, which can in fact kill at times.

Upsides: Dave's passion, Mark Bogner, Leon's "Swiss Army Knife" flexibility, and 3 degree guarantee for charity.

Downside: Lack of in the field trained, experienced spotters during actual storms. I know the information is critical from radars and everything, but I think KSN could stand to give Dave a chance to catch his breath for a few seconds and go to trained experienced spotters in the field. I am not talking about reporters thrown out in the field and have no idea what you are referring to when you say cumulonimbus or up-draft. Exceptions at KSN would be reporters Anne Meyer and Chanda Brown who if given the opportunity to do it more and get into the right positions could be very good on-air spotters. Maybe like other stations do, KSN needs to send a back-up out in the field, like Andrew Kozak. He has the weather mind and could probably offer good analysis from out in the field to really supplement Dave's coverage from the studio. Read KWCH's excerpt down below for an example of good use of spotters. Also KSN could stand to have a live camera in a mobile unit through a cell phone or some other means. Read KAKE's excerpt for an example of this part. Even if that's not possible taking a picture off of a cell phone I think at times might add something to the coverage besides a radar image.



KAKE 10: Jay Prater can sometimes come off as a little too friendly and cheesy. He certainly has a big market feel and edge to him, but it is still tolerable. It is interesting that I think weather at KAKE is delivered in a totally different manner than the normal in-your face style of a KAKE newscast. Actually KSN's weather with Dave may match the KAKE style better. Jay has a calming way about him, even as he goes into severe weather coverage. He doesn't get overly panicked, but you can still tell he means business when a storm does become severe. Jay also does a nice job of explaining weather and why things are happening as they are. When dealing with science it can be hard to explain something complicated, but at the same time one has to be careful not to appear as if they are talking down to an audience. I think Jay does a nice job of this and that is probably his best quality, over on camera presence or anything else he is doing.
It is very odd when watching their weather. Outside of the logo, it is like you are watching a different channel, because most of the on-air weather talent is laid back.

Outside of a few months ago, I thought weekend meteorologist Matt Makens was just another kid in the market doing weather. After watching him a little more closer, I must say I like his style. As he moves onto a bigger market, it will be interesting to see how he develops as a weatherman.

Of course before Jay Prater came to Kansas, Ben Pringle was chief meteorologist. When the change first happened I wasn't too happy with the change. Now I must say I really don't notice a big difference. If there is a difference, I would say it most likely would be in Pringle's delivery which comes across as a little more genuine and from the Midwest. With that said there isn't really a big difference in styles between Pringle and Prater.

Upsides: Prater's ability to explain weather in a conversational friendly way, and overall consistent quality among their 3 (before Makens leaves). I don't count Tanner Swift in this, because I have seen him only a few times. My first opinion would be that he needs to spend some time polishing his act in a smaller market.
The weather cam in a vehicle brings pictures of storms, often time live tornadoes to the air. Although the video doesn't appear as the same quality as normal video shown, it was still live pictures from the field. Of the three stations, if a tornado was in the area, KAKE usually has the pictures of it from the field as it happens. Another strength of Prater's is his ability to interact with the spotters all while balancing the radars and other information in severe weather mode.
Downsides: Graphics of the weather segment. I think the graphics are difficult to read especially with lists of precipitation totals or record highs and other figures.

KWCH 12: Merril Teller matches the persona that KWCH shows throughout their newscast and with their staffs. As I have mentioned before (although it is showing signs of change) KWCH runs a pretty conservative safe operation as a ratings leader would do. Merrill isn't overall friendly on camera, that's not to say he is mean or offensive. Its safe to say if you watch KWCH, you are going to get the weather and that's about it. For many viewers this is a great thing. For example you wont get any cheesy one liner replies from Merril after weather segments in interacting with Cindy and Roger. To me I really do not mind this. As for their supporting cast, no one really stands out to me. And once again, not a bad thing. For one, that means there isn't really anything about them that would make me suddenly want to turn.

Mark Larson: He pretty much follows the KWCH formula being pretty safe in his on air personality. He interacts pretty well with the morning cast and serves a good purpose as someone you don't mind waking up to in the morning.

Lindsey Butor: As the only female meteorologist in the market, she offers more than just being that. She adds a little young spunk when she does weather. One downside is that at times she can get overly happy and has problems, it appears, stop smiling. She also comes across, at times as being a little young, but I think her future is bright and once her contract does come up, she'll probably moving up similar to Matt Makens move.

Ross Janssen: Definitely comes across as a local Kansas kid. Once again very safe with his on air delivery and there really isn't anything offensive with his style. I'll speak more on this below, but it is a smart move to send him out to spot in the field during severe weather. Although he is nothing overly spectacular in that role, he does offer good information and gives the idea, along with KAKE they are watching the situation not only from the radars, but also from the field.

Downsides: As much as I say their talent fits the overall feel of the newscasts, I think all, except Lindsey, could use a little pep at times when delivering their forecasts. Could use mobile cameras similar to KAKE. If they have them, they could stand to use them more.

Upside: Bringing meteorologist from the studio out into the field. As I have said before, it not only gives the meteorologist in the studio a break, but also the viewers a break from the meteorologists' barrage of radars from the studio. Also they have decent spotters who they go to when severe weather breaks out, people who have done it awhile and you can hear it with the way they describe the scenes.

I will wrap this up by summing up the positives of each station's weather. KSN has the passion, KAKE has the mobile cameras and KWCH has overall consistency. Now some may have noticed I didn't get into accuracy of forecasts. Frankly I have no idea and that probably is an important thing, but with TV weather I wonder if viewers really have a bond with the weather person, does it even matter if they are wrong from time to time?
I am sure people may disagree with my weather opinions so I would love for you to respond and start a lively debate on this topic. What else are you going to do, since Dave, Jay and Merril all said its going to rain most of the weekend. -Hal

Friday Topic Votes Counted and Other Stuff

The voting has stopped on Friday's in-depth topic. Of the 3 choices: Sports, Weather, and Photography and Editing, the winner is Weather. So on Friday, I'll dissect the weather operations from the three stations and tell you what I think.
On another topic, a commenter asked me toward the end of comments from the last post what my feelings of Fox anchor/KWCH reporter Rebecca Gannon were. The commenter also thought Kim Wilhelm should of had that job and what were my feelings. In other posts, people (Producers for the KSAS newscast) wanted my feelings of the Fox newscast. I guess they made some nice gains in the May ratings (once again if you have any hard nosed numbers and also why my analysis on why KWCH is #1 in a previous post is wrong, please let me know. I have been waiting.) I'll reiterate my feelings from the previous comments.
I am not a fan of Rebecca Gannon. She is in many ways why I really cannot watch the show on a regular basis. I probably watch the weekend version just as much if not more. I just don't like the way Gannon holds herself on camera as an anchor, nor as a reporter. She comes across as very cocky and not very genuine. In one way she comes across as honest: she makes it clear I think through her delivery she is here to do her time and no longer and then move up to the next market. That's not necessarily a bad thing and is and has been an often used purpose for this market. With that said, Rebecca just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Although I wouldn't mind Kim Wilhelm in that spot, I think Michael Schwanke would have been good for that role, but if they insisted on a woman, I would have preferred Wilhelm over Gannon. Now hold it KWCH employees or Fox producers, I saw the post that your ratings in May were good. To me, I just say pat your own selves on the back for a job well done, and think of it being less of a validation for having a good anchor on the 9PM news.
Also people had heard that KAKE meteorologist Matt Makens was leaving. He is headed to Orlando. I haven't commented on him or weather yet, but I always thought there was one real important thing about him. He is unoffensive on the air and has a friendly style, that wouldn't push too many buttons. It was sometimes refreshing to me. But that's the general opinion I get from the weekend guys and gal here on 2 of the 3 stations. I guess that's a preview to my Friday blog. Here's the article from the Orlando Sentinel. They actually have a media critic there. WOW, what a concept. -Hal
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2007/06/wftv_announces_.html

Sunday Potpourri

I critique the newscasts often. I find stuff I like and often times stuff I don't like, but I must say on a weekly basis my most favorite segment is Roger Cornish's Answer Back 12 report. Note KWCH employees, I am praising something from your station, so I am sure I wont get any e-mails of disapproval. Tonight's segment was golden. After Roger took questions on Bob Barker and whether he was still around, despite taping the last show and who would replace him, they took a question from an apparent WWE fan. She was wondering why the station didn't cover a bit on the Monday wrestling show where the wrestling owner Vince McMahon's car is shown blowing up with him supposedly inside. In classic Roger form he assures the caller that he thinks Vince is OK and that it probably didn't happen for real. Great stuff.

After the last blog, someone commented that the ratings were out and my interpretation of why KWCH is #1 is wrong. I am curious to hear if there were any big ratings moves (I didn't know they were out) and why my interpretation is flawed. Let me know in the comments section.

Also another possible comment to respond to. On the Sunday 10PM newscasts, KWCH and KAKE led with stories centered around the violent weekend in Wichita. Not necessarily a play-by-play of the events, the two stories had focuses to then spin off of into the incidents of this weekend. Meanwhile KSN leads with a Gay Pride parade and a protester arrested apparently for getting in the way of the march. I am curious, especially if you saw the newscasts, what your feelings are? Since there was a number of incidents this weekend do you lead with the crime angle or do you admit there is crime and it will happen in a town of Wichita's size and lead with a totally different topic like a Gay Pride Parade? I am interested in your responses.

Also if you haven't already, please vote for the topic you want me to take up this upcoming Friday. Do that by scrolling past this entry and the following entry and go to the one titled, "Vote on Next Week's Topic." Simply click on "comments" and please respond by posting a comment anonymously with which one of the 3 choices you want me to comment on next week. On Tuesday, I'll tally the votes and comment on the winner Friday. -Hal

Friday Discussion: Why KWCH Is and Has Been #1

(Note: This is part 1 of something I hope to do each week, take a topic suggested by the readers and devote a whole blog to it.)

I must say I was set to do another topic, but a commenter ("Jon") asked the question as to why KWCH is #1 and what are my feelings. He gave his own list as to why. Here is a link to that.



https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4395444419053505268&postID=8268257677103783186



If you are an avid reader to this blog and the comments following the postings, you have heard many of these opinions expressed by me before.



The main reason they are #1 is their main anchors. I'll agree with "Jon" on this one. Lets be honest Roger, Cindy, Merril, and Bruce are what keeps this station number 1 and no matter what the KWCH employees and readers of this blog say, you cannot convince me otherwise. As I have mentioned many times in comments, outside of Schwanke, Wilhelm, and Grawe their reporting talent drops to probably #3 in the market. Looking at Roger and Cindy, they have a very straight forward and sincere delivery. They do not try to be overly cutesy or have terrible one liners. KWCH's main anchors for the most part appear serious on air, but Roger can get off a classic one liner from time to time and show why this is Wichita's best anchor team. They will remain untouched because for whatever reason the other stations are going for something completely different and something I don't think most conservative Kansas viewers want. (When I refer to "conservative," I'm talking less about politics and more about a Kansas way of life.)



At KAKE, Susan Peters can appear too pushy at times on the air and a little too dominant.On uplifting type Hatteberg's People stories, she can get overly gushy when returning from them. Jeff Herndon does what he can with Susan. Second only to Roger, I think he reads pretty well and can steer conversations with reporters well when needed. One negative is that at times he can turn his voice and be a little too schmucky big anchor type. It's a tough thing to avoid, and I think Roger does a good job at this. I think this is merely a pit stop on a way to a bigger market for Herndon. As much as I might praise Jeff, there still is an old school part of me that likes the tried and tested Larry Hatteberg. To Susan's defense, I'd be curious how she would come across if you could put her on the KWCH set, add their more conservative style scripts and format, and see if she would come across differently. I think she would. Don't get me wrong, I don't think she is Cindy, but it could be interesting.



"Jon" mentioned that the philosophy and talent is constantly changing at KSN. I think it needs to change again and except for Jim Kobbe, clean off the whole anchor desk. I just want to see the news. I don't want an act of what someone thinks a big time anchor should look like and that is what I get with Paul Petite and to some degree Dave Freeman on weather. Anita has been sitting in that anchor chair for a long time and I don't think the ratings have really turned in either direction for a long period of time to show she has promise. That isn't to say Anita hasn't had some crazy times, dealing with getting rid of a co-anchor and going solo only than to add a bad co-anchor as well as cutting sports awhile back only to add that back as well. She can read well, but I think she would be better just being serious on-air similar to that of Cindy. If she had a strong male anchor, she might work if she took a step back and let him control the show. If she did that now, the show would be a total train wreck.



As for other reasons for KWCH's dominance. I don't know if they exist, but I'd like to see the ratings for only the Wichita area viewers and than compare them to the statewide numbers of all their stations. Also I'd be curious to know what the age demographics are for the various stations. I'd think KWCH's average age demo would be older, KAKE's younger, and I have no clue where KSN would fall. Ten years ago, one could say the younger demo would be a good thing, but with the arrival of the internet I don't know if there are as many young viewers out there that still believe in watching local TV news. I'll have to assume "Jon" is correct on the coverage area advantage for KWCH. I do know in other parts of the state it is tough to get KAKE and KSN at times, but I generally have never had a problem with this and KWCH. I'll end at where I began with the main anchor desk. At times one can say like Jon did, that KAKE is trendy and I agree. I think they could, at times give KWCH a run for their money, if it weren't for Roger, Cindy, Merril and Bruce sitting at the desk. I'll be interested to see what you all have to say on this topic. Have a good weekend. What should I deal with next week, Sports, weather, photography/editing? Let me know. I'll create a separate posting that says, "Vote on next week's topic." Then just reply anonymously or whatever and write your choice in. On Monday or Tuesday I'll tally and see which one I'll do next Friday. -Hal

Vote on Next Week's Topic

Please respond by posting a comment anonymously with what you want me to comment on next week. Your choices are.

Sports
Weather
Photography and editing

Just type one of those 3 topics in the post by Tuesday and I'll tally the responses and write one for next Friday's discussion. It might take awhile for you to actually see your vote posted, because it sometimes takes me some time before I see it and get it sent through, so be paitient.-Hal

While the World Turns, KSN Leads with Speed Limits to Goddard

Its easy to spot a slow news day when three stations lead with three different stories at 10PM, but for some stations it may be slower than others. For KSN, their lead story was basically the changing of speed limit signs on the way to Goddard. Reporter Josh Witsman did what he could with a terrible subject for a lead story, and for that matter it wasnt even worth doing a long form story. They also had a similar treatment at 6PM on this. Maybe I do wish Sweeps stories were still around in June. Meanwhile KAKE led with a decent story from Cayle Thompson on a plot by Tracallen Streeter, who was convicted of wounding a Hutch police officer and shooting at two Deputies, to escape from custody. Since it was a slow news day, not a bad way to lead the newscast. I think the others had the information, but with graphics and the anchors reading the information. Meanwhile KWCH chose to lead with the increase numbers of child abuse cases in the area. Not a bad story, but one I think others have had throughout the week. Once again, for a slow night, an OK time to take a closer look at the problem. If anything it prevents a station from leading with changing speed limit signs. -Hal

Review: TV Online sites Part II - The Future

Part 2 of of my review of the local TV stations' websites looks at what they are not doing and what they need to do in the future. As many TV insiders have said and written, the future for TV and media in general is the internet. The question is how TV stations can incorporate what they currently are doing and still get ad revenue at the same time.
Currently the three stations' sites are regurgitations of their newscasts in a printed form with video available for some stories. As I said before, some of the stations do the video and updating better then others. There is little material that takes advantage of having a platform like a web page to display the information. That leads to me to a question as to whether each station has a person dedicated solely to the internet and not only posting material which already ran on the air, but unique web-only material. And I am not talking extra tips for planting flowers, a list of recalled toys, or other such things that are known as web extras in Today's environment. I see KWCH has a web producer, based on reading his blog on the site (more on the blogs later). I am not sure if the other two have people doing strictly web material and not filling other roles. I'd be curious if this occurs.
As for web extras, it doesn't have to be really all that hard. For being a TV station, they have an advantage in that they have access to video that can easily be turned into pictures for all sorts of stories. One easy "web exclusive" the stations could stand to do is list or even stream old stories related to the news of the day. For instance if some legendary Wichita resident dies, show me old stories the station did a few years ago or if they have it available decades ago. When the tornado hit Greensburg, web streaming of the coverage was good on some of the sites. In the future, though after an event like that, I am sure there will be more web exclusive content like interactive maps of the town with quotes from survivors and showing their locations. By clicking on pictures on a map you would see and hear their perspectives. This is just a lame attempt on my part of trying to envision what will happen one day with the websites. And they need to get going on it and start allocating the resources to it.
One extra I wanted to touch on was from KWCH's site. They have blogs from a weekend anchor, a backup-backup meteorologist, web master, and camera guy. (If the other stations have them, I couldn't find them very easily, that means they need to put them in a spot easier to find.) The blog from Michael Schwanke is consistently good and provides interesting perspective. One interesting note from a recent blog is the staff recently attended a 6 hour seminar on the future of the web at KWCH. Hopefully they may get the ball rolling in developing more interactive web content for the area. As for the other blogs, (KWCH staffers, don't send me hate mail as you have in past postings, when I criticize your product) I think the blog from the camera guy is a great idea, but he needs to lay off some of the back-and-forth inside baseball conversations with the webmaster/producer, whatever the real term is now. The camera guy's blog is a perfect example of something that could be a great web extra, besides the interactive component. It provides some good tips and pointers and comes across in a real understandable Kansas way. Many people have home video cameras and lets face it, who better to go to questions on how to shoot or problems that develop, then people who take pictures professionally on a daily basis. A TV station should have a few people around who can answer these questions and give tips. This is an example of a spot on the web that could easily be sponsored by a camera shop or something. I also think the blogs as a whole should be placed a little higher up and easily found on the KWCH site. I think it could be an example of a successful component to a good TV web site in using what you have and tailoring those to niches of the audience, that you normally couldn't do or didn't have the time to do on the air. -Hal