Sunday, June 28, 2009
My First Assignment
Meeting the team
"A Change Would Do You Good"
You know, I always say I'm going to make writing in my blog a more regular activity, but it just hasn't happened for me yet. I hope to seriously change that with my move and new career. I'm a Missourian no longer, as I officially switched my driver's license and address to Fort Myers, FL. Let me tell you, the last two weeks have brought a whirlwind of change. I couldn't be more excited to have landed a job where I did. I'll be working at Waterman Broadcasting (NBC-2, ABC-7), a company that still values investigative reporting during a time when that type of reporting has been slashed. A company with management that cares and a team-oriented focus.
I'll be working as a video journalist, but the position didn't exactly fall into my lap. Let me start from the beginning. I was applying and applying and applying for broadcast positions. It seemed as if I was getting nowhere, so I launched a new game plan. I went through my list of places I had applied and started e-mailing news directors, assistant news directors, reporters, photographers…basically anyone who I could find an e-mail address for. One person got back to me. That man was the assistant news director at WBBH. He gave me an assignment: “My name is Greg Turchetta. You have 48 hours to find out as much as you can about me. Go!” I spent the next two days calling Turchetta’s wife, his wife's friends, his high school friends, ex coworkers, family members etc. Then I used the databases/search engines I learned in investigative reporting courses in college to find his driver’s license number, voter registration info and marriage/divorce licenses. I could have stopped there, but I was on a mission. I called as many state departments as I could to request open records for information on Turchetta. In the end, I compiled a 7-page report about Turchetta and e-mailed it to him. He called me within 10 minutes of receiving it….shocked by how much information I had found. Then, he gave me another mission: “You look a little uncomfortable in your live shots. Send me another DVD with your best live shot material.” I knew I had already given Turchetta my best material on my resume tape, so I called KOMU-8's managing editor, Randy Reeves, and scheduled to do a live shot at 5/6 the next day. Things went well, thanks to my wonderful producers (Akiko Oda, Kacey Breda, Mallory Perryman and Andrew Mckibbin) and my great live truck operator (J.P. Regan) I sent in the live shot DVD and didn’t hear back from Turchetta for a week. Then he e-mailed with bad news: the VJ position was frozen. He asked if I was interested in a producer/photographer position in the meantime until a VJ position became available. I said yes. He got back to me a short time later with more bad news: all positions were frozen. He said he was sorry and that he would keep me on his list. I was bummed, but then around 7pm I received a call from Turchetta saying they had a budget meeting and found the funds to hire me and one other VJ . He asked if I could get there before the end of June. So…here I am. I moved into my condo on Wednesday (June 24, 2009) and I start at Waterman on Monday (June 29). In the past few days, I have changed my car (my run down Mitsubishi could have never made the trip down), changed my address, changed my auto insurance, changed my driver's license, changed my hair (it's now more brown than blonde) and changed my community. I'm excited to be joining the people of Southwest Florida, and I look forward to delivering news they can count on. I'm honored to join the Waterman team. I'll keep all you readers posted on my adventures in the Sunshine state.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
H1-N1 and Soundslides
This week I also developed a powerpoint presentation pertaining to how we will keep Columbia Tomorrow's website sustainable in the future. I have spent all semester building the site (producing multimedia content, blogging on the site, speaking with growth and development stakeholders, and attending/participating in town hall launch meetings). This week, I made decisions for how KOMU can keep the site popular among Columbia residents and encourage its growth and expansion. I will be making a soundslide presentation early next week and will be sure to share it on here with all of you. Check back soon!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thanks Andrew
Ain't No Hollenbeck Girl
'One day in the near future, there will be no such thing as a lead story, because viewers will already know all about anything worthy of being the lead.'
Sarah was in Holts Summit all day to cover the deadly house fire. I was producing so I didn't have to be at the station until 12:30. But when I woke up at 10, I arbitrarily checked my Twitter and saw that Sarah had tweeted 3 times already about the fire. From there, I went to our website to see information there as well. Kent has said in class that we should have reporters calling the station by 11 a.m. to get preliminary info about their stories on the web. Sarah obviously had been doing this all morning.
Perhaps it's just because our in-class discussions are so fresh in my mind, but this really stood out to me as a great attempt on Sarah's part to practice this new-fangled 'multi-platform' journalism everyone seems to be talking about. And it didn't take away from her story. She did excellent reporting and had an excellent lead story at 5 and 6, but she still took the time to update on the web, too.
At the end of the day, Sarah (presumably) checked her Twitter for the first time in several hours. I heard her say from across the room saying how cool it was to see that people around mid-Missouri had been retweeting her tweets all day. That comment really proved to me the potential worth of Twitter if we use it correctly. I must say that I doubted its effectiveness at first because I didn't really understand what we were supposed to use it for. I thought it was just another way to redirect people to our website. That may be true, too, but I was impressed to see how quickly we could get out the biggest news of the day by far via Twitter.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Jen Reeve's Encourages "Google-ability"
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Editing, Anchoring & Geocaching
This week I also shot a story for KOMU news about geocaching. This is a type of "treasure hunting" for adults. Hunters use GPS systems to locate Tupperware containers called "letterboxes". Inside they find a card which they stamp to show they found the box. They then re-hide the letterbox for the next hunter. I found a man who actually drove to Columbia from Saint Louis to take part in the hunt. The man said he's participated in more than 1,800 hunts within the last two years. You can watch that story by clicking here.
Yesterday (Saturday) I anchored the 6pm newscast with Brandon Lewis. This was the first newscast we have done together since MUTV freshman year in college. The newscast went really well, but there was some awkward silence at the end where we should have chatted. I guess we'll have to work on that for next week.
Additionally, I sent out my first three resume tapes this week. I find it tough to have enough time to apply to the stations I am interested in, but perhaps I'll find a bit of time to send out more resumes/DVDs/cover letters this week. Wish me luck, blog followers!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Long Awaited Update
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The "M" Week: MODOT & Motorcycles
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Creating An Interactive Flash Graphic For KOMU.com
Monday, March 2, 2009
Memphis visit
Monday, February 23, 2009
Dear Ms. Hollenbeck:
I read the posting on your TV station's website regarding the bill being sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Davis. I find this incredibly hard to believe that a representative of a state congress actually believes that only mothers can be nurturers and should not be included in this bill. It boggles my mind that this is really happening in this day and age. Fathers can absolutely be just as nurturing as a mother, this is completely insulting. ALL at home parents should be included in a bill like this, no one should be excluded because of gender.
As a full time stay at home father of nearly 12 years, the organizer of a large at home dads group in Washington DC and the secretary of a non-profit for at home fathers, I am quite sure that fathers can be just as good of nurturers as mothers. There are only two biological differences that fathers can't do and only mothers can, that's it! There are hundreds of thousands of full time at home dads, and even more primary care dads that are the full time caregivers for their children. I cannot imagine anyone actually believing that a father could not nurture their children and therefore be excluded from a bill designed to help at home parents. I would truly like to see you do a follow up piece on this story about the stay at home fathers being left out of this bill. The voices of the at home fathers should be heard on this subject, more than just the two comments in the story.
Please consider doing a follow up to this story and do more in depth reporting from the stay at home father's side.
Regards,
Mike Stilwell, Secretary
Daddyshome, Inc.
Fleetsuper@msn.com
http://www.dcmetrodads.com
Stay-At-Home dads react to my story
Date: 2/23/2009 10:29:37 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: fredclemensjr@ yahoo.com
I can't believe what I just read! I am a stay at home dad, with twin girls and I HAD to quit my job to stay home with my daughters because of the shape of the economy and the cost of day care. I am outraged to think that someone could be so narrow minded to not be able to look at the BIG picture. My outlook on stay at home parents has done a 180, since I became a SAHD, and now I wouldn't change it. It is not an easy job taking care of 2 children, house keeping, and etc. In our changing society we all have to come together and realize that this is not the 50's-60's any more and men and women should be treated as equal in both the home and work force. Woman have been fighting for equal rights for a long time, and they are finally getting their voices heard. Do Stay at Home Dads need to start doing the same? GEE, I HOPE NOT! LETS GET THIS ISSUE STRAIGHTENED OUT, AND FAST. Thank You
---------------------------
From: angela.rust@gmail.com
Reply To:
To: Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov
Rep. Davis,
While I applaud your bill to pay stay-at-home moms $600 per year in
scholarships for each year for each year they care for their children,
I am appalled at your notion that only mothers can nurture their
children. I believe that your argument is outdated and only furthers
the "uninvolved father" stereotype. Just as women have proven capable
of success in the workplace, men are certainly capable in the home.
My husband George has been a stay-at-home dad for 6 years. From day
one he has cared for our sons, making breakfast, lunch and dinner,
convincing them at 3am that monsters don't exist, kissing their
boo-boos, drying tears, and wiping noses and bottoms. Our boys, of
whom we are very proud, are the result of a caring, involved father.
It's an insult to every father, either working or stay-at-home, to say
that they are incapable of nurturing. I would encourage you to
research your position with real-life stay-at-home families before
cementing your opinion.
Sincerely,
Angela Rust
---------------------------
Date: 2/23/2009 11:51:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: lpapp@ wi.rr.com
Reply To:
To: sjh4h5@ mizzou.edu , athomedad@ aol.com
CC: Cynthia.Davis@house.mo.gov
Dear Ms. Hollenbeck:
Please inform Rep. Cynthia Davis that I am a stay at home dad and I do "nurture" my daughter and to think that fathers cannot and do not is pure and simply wrong in her thinking. Besides, isn't this discrimination leaving stay-at-home dads out of the bill for doing the exact same thing the stay-at-home moms are? I cook, I clean, I take care of my child, and nurture her, while my wife works full time.
Maybe she should think twice, and three times, or even ten times, about this. Apparently she also thought buying a truck for personal use with state money was a good idea too. She's extremely lucky to still have her job.
Sincerely,
A Stay-at-Home Nurturing Father and Damn Proud of It,
Les Papp
========================
Subject: RE: Rep. Cynthia Davis Parenting bill
Date: 2/23/2009 11:57:29 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: rcornelius2@ austin.rr.com
Hi. I just read about Rep. Davis' bill for $600 payment to stay at home mom's but not stay at home dad's. This is absurd and the lady is an idiot. As a Republican stay at home dad in Texas, I can't believe the stupidity of this woman. I have always said even before being a parent, and now more so as a SAHD, that being a stay at home parent has to be the hardest job of all. It tests your stamina, will, determination, mind, abilities, and more. This bill would be discriminatory at the onset. The FMLA already says that parents, male and female alike, must get equal benefits.
Please make sure you report to the people of your state that this is wrong and discriminates against dads everywhere. At a time that our society and country has realized how important a dad, albeit both parents, is to a child's upbringing. If there is to be some type of legislation like this, then it has to be all inclusive of both mom and dad. However, I believe this type of legislation is ridiculous and socialistic at best, and coming from a Republican woman. I'm confused. It is wrong and a waste of taxpayers dollars. We already have a welfare system where you can get paid for having babies.
====================
Subject: Davis is an IDIOT!
Date: 2/23/2009 11:59:57 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: bronner@ io.com
Reply To:
To: sjh4h5@ mizzou.edu , athomedad@ aol.com
Ms. Hollenbeck, I have been the primary care-giver of my daughter since the
day she was born. She is now six, and it's been the best job of my life.
To think that this Davis buffoon thinks she can nurture a child...and I
cannot...is laughable.
I, for instance, have never allowed MY child to run around unattended near
busy streets. And Child Protective Services has never been called to MY
home to return a lost child. Apparently this is the level of nurturing that
Ms. Davis is so proud of.
My daughter is a fantastic child: caring, compassionate, upbeat and joyful.
And she attends a special school for the Gifted, after having blown the roof
off her IQ tests. If this clown Davis thinks she can do better, she's
delusional as well as misguided.
As a member of the media, I implore you to do everything in your power to
stop her ridiculous legislation and to shine a spotlight on her ignorance.
Thank you,
George Bronner
Interview with Andy Hall, media giraffe
Name and Title: Andy Hall, Executive Director and Founder of Center for Investigative Reporting in Madison, Wisconsin
Address: 5006 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Ave. Madison, WI 53706
E-mail: ahall@wisconsinwatch.org
Phone: 606-262-3642
Wensite: wisconsinwatch.org
Biography:
Andy Hall grew up in Indiana and graduated from Indiana University in 1981. He worked for seven months for the New York Times as a “copyboy”. Following that, he worked as a reporter for eight years at the Arizona Republic, covering a variety of topics. He was also a part of the investigative team, which broke the Keating Five scandal. In 1991, he began working at the Wisconsin State Journal, working as an investigative reporter and then as a K-12 education reporter. For the past ten years, he has taught journalism and mass communication courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Motivation behind starting center:
Hall was looking for a means to pursue his two great passions for investigative reporting and teaching. He got into journalism because he “wanted to do some good.” He was inspired by Chuck Lewis, who started the Center for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. The business model for the Center for Public Integrity was replicated for the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Reporting.
Funding the center:
The center was initially funded in January 2009 by Hall’s severance check from the Wisconsin State Journal. He had assembled the pieces for the center over two years, and was ready to start working there full time, so he left the Wisconsin State Journal. Luckily, the journal supported his decision and worked out a severance agreement with Hall. The WCIJ just recently received a 100,000 start-up grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism program. WCIJ is currently accepting money from organizations and individuals. It will not accept donations from companies. It hope to set up a system for micro-payments for citizens to donate to causes they see as worthy.
Purpose of center:
The purpose of WCIJ is to help increase the amount and quality of investigative reporting in Wisconsin. The Center’s mission is to “protect the vulnerable, expose wrongdoing and seek solutions to ongoing problems.” They will focus on issues that matter to folks in Wisconsin, and will incorporate all kinds of journalistic mediums- print, broadcast and online. Government integrity and ethics, as well as government efficiency will be a major focus of the center.
How it works:
All content will be available for free to news media in Wisconsin. Partners in Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Public Television and the UW-Madison School of TV and Mass Communication will work on projects through the center. The center will collaborate with all media outlets throughout the state. It will also serve as a resource to news organizations in Wisconsin conducting their own investigations. It will answer questions about who would be helpful sources on a story, how to file open records requests, and other topics of interest. It hopes to help all news media, both mainstream and ethnic, dig deep into matters of importance to the citizens of the state of Wisconsin.
Personal Motivation:
“I got into journalism right after Watergate, and I’ve seen the power and importance of hard-working journalists like Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein to help hold a corrupt president accountable. I saw when institutions fail the news media has a central role to play in protecting democracy”, Hall said, “I have really held fast to that idealistic vision over these decades, even as we’ve all had to deal with financial cutbacks and we’ve all grown older and in some cases, become more skeptical. At heart, journalism remains an extraordinarily important pursuit, perhaps more than ever now, as we’ve seen government efforts go array and government officials become better at covering their tracks. Hall added, “It’s essential we become more connected with human sources and better at analyzing data to see how things are really happening.”
Hall says he hopes this will eventually have regional, national and international interest. He thinks the model should be easily replicated in other states to help strengthen investigative journalism and democracy. It should also help encourage citizens to question going-ons in their communities. WCIJ hope to teach residents how to begin looking into issues and hold state-wide workshops to help citizens “become experts at what is going on in their society.”
Personal and financial risks:
Hall’s wife, Dee Hall (reporter for Wisconsin State Journal) and himself have invested a substantial amount of money to get the organization off the ground. WCIJ will likely need $500,000 a year to run. Hall says this money may not be easy to come by. He comments, “It’s a time of great parole for our society and though it may be tough to come by, support is needed for time and labor-intensive journalism. It is essential to develop business models to ensure investigative reporting will stay alive, and journalists will be given resources to do this important work.”
The role of participatory democracy:
“We’re hoping to empower residents of Wisconsin and to give them the tools to do a better job looking into the quality of life in their community. People love their communities and their state and they often worry about what is happening in their state. We hope to move them past the state of worry and to take action,” Hall said.
“We want to turn residents into citizen journalists. We hope to help them develop investigative skills and to turn those skills into action or if they find some sort of wrongdoing that deserves attention, they will alert that [wrongdoing] to WICJ so that those findings can be explored by professional news media,” Hall said.
Hall On the State of Journalism:
“In many regards, there is a lot of good news about the state of journalism and democracy. People still care, they have not checked out. Voter registration remains high. The number of people reading the work of journalists is actually at an all-time high, if you combine those reading the paid product and those viewing that content online. What we do still matters and people still turn to us when confronted with important issues. We however, are at a time when the economic pillars for for-profit journalism have crumbled, and nothing is in sight to replace them,” Hall says.
Since advertising revenue is down and new avenues for advertising are available, Hall believes many of the dollars that have drifted away will not be coming back. Hall says he hope to support the effort of for-profit media organizations with his non-profit organization during this tough economic time.
In this economy, how do we preserve journalism?
Hall believes, “We have to start with trying to understand what are the most essential parts of journalism that need to be saved. Because the resources aren’t there, we cannot save it all. One of the essential parts to save is the ability to aggressively and fairly examine the actions of powerful officials in our community and in our state.”
Some other parts of journalism that need to be saved, according to Hall include: political coverage, sports coverage and business coverage. He says media outlets have recognized the importance of saving breaking news, the weather, celebrity news, and sports because all of those attract high audiences, especially online. He says in this case, the business models have been adapted to save these types of coverage. Hall says, media outlets also have to look at what models we have for saving investigative and watchdog journalism. Hall thinks non-profit is part of the answer to saving these models. He hopes his center will also be part of the answer.