Recently a management team called to talk about how frustrated they were searching for some key positions in their newsroom. They were fresh out of ideas to look and wanted to brainstorm ideas. You might be surprised what positions we discussed: Satellite truck operators, directors and editors. A week or so later, another news manager lamented about the difficulty in finding a great assignment editor. These are the unsung heroes of newsrooms. The goal of this article is to remind us all, that when you have great, hardworking and passionate people, in these newsroom roles, spoil them any way you can and often. I know a satellite truck operator who is [...]
The People Who Should Be Treated Like Kings In A Newsroom, But Often Aren’t
Political Hotbed, Smart Alliances
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Mar 062014
Feb 132014
It’s a fact of life, in news, that your work will be criticized a lot. It can be hard to take, but you must if you want to succeed in the business. However, there is one criticism you never want to be told: That you blame others for your mistakes. If you do, you will quickly be labeled a complainer, trouble maker and bad at your job. You cannot afford to have this label. So what do you do to get around? For starters check out our recent “Take Ownership” article. Next, do not complain, about how the newsroom runs, to other staff members. I recognize this is a tough one, because [...]
How To Time A Newscast
Producing
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Jan 292014
If you want to win, you have to time newscasts properly. This is a key concept for everyone in the newsroom to understand. Meters make or break you. If the newscast is not timed correctly, you will blow the meters. So let’s look at some common timing mistakes producers make and how to limit them. Timing Tricks Time each block Hide pad throughout Cheat the cheaters Know anchors read speed The biggest timing mistake producers make, is not trying to make time each block. When quizzed about timing, a lot of producers say things like: “Well my block always runs two minutes long.” or “I wait until the last block to [...]
Jan 222014
One of the toughest learning curves for young reporters can be hitting your deadlines. You know how it goes—you knock out a noon live shot and as soon as you’re done, the EP or Assignment Desk is calling, to say you’re now on a completely different story for 5pm… and you’re live in another town… and don’t miss slot! So how can you do good work and at the same time keep management off your back so you’re not “the problem child” on the reporting staff? Well, it starts, and ends, with 3 keys—think of this as your own personal EOC (Emergency Operations Center … for reporters). Efficiency The old [...]
