$5.00

October 2009 January 2010

Longform Drama THE SEARCH Paid Shows a FOR A JOB Mixed Blessing Navigating for TV News One of the Page 4 Toughest Job Markets Ever Return Page 8 of Leno Schedule Shift Brings Relief to NBC Affiliates Page 6

DuPont Awards Local Stations Wow This Year’s Judges Page 17

COVER IMAGE BY WIN MCNAMEE GETTYIMAGES

FROM THE EDITOR Bad News vs. Good News

We all know it is the worst of times. But who knew it was also the best of times? CONTENTS Just when some folks were wringing their hands over the demise FEEDS l 4 of local TV news, something comes along and rights the apple cart. Longform ads make big money for stations, but In recent times, local stations have been faced with declining do they blur the lines between news and revenues and budget cuts that have resulted in the continual commercials? *PBS' Gwen Ifill looks back at her streamlining of news operations and, in the most extreme cases, transition from newspapers to TV. *NBC affiliates the elimination of local news broadcasts entirely. are happy with NBC shifting Jay Leno back to As our story by Jon Lafayette in this month’s Feeds section points out, more and after their late news shows. *Editor & Publisher more are turning to product placement — paid segments that often appear to be news gets a buyer in the 11th hour. reports to the uninitiated — as a way to generate new, much needed income. Welcome though this new revenue stream may be, these reportlike product COVER STORY l 8 placement segments come at a price: In the worst-case scenarios, the integrity of a The outlook for finding TV news jobs in 2010 is station’s news department can be called into question, especially if they look too brighter, but seekers will have to do more for less. *A look at how media professionals should much like “news” and involve the station’s on-air news talent. go about finding work in today's climate. *Talent Is this the harbinger of a future where if there’s any local news content at all, it’s agents know where the jobs are, but do you need been paid for and dictated by a sponsor? one to land a position? Not so fast. A white knight has appeared, at least for the moment, in the form of the prestigious Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, which has selected SPECIAL REPORT l 17 among this year’s winners news programming from a total of six local stations — the Local TV news had a rough year with recession- most recognized in one year by the organization in two decades. driven cutbacks, but of 14 Alfred I. duPont- As the duPont Awards program director Abi Wright tells Elizabeth Jensen in her Columbia University Awards handed out this year, story about the award winners on Page 17, “The jury left with renewed confidence six go to local TV news programs. All the winners in the state of local television.” are highlighted in this section. Praise doesn’t come much higher than that. And it serves as a reassuring reminder that brilliant and meaningful journalism is as possible as always at the local level. SIGN OFF l 26 Just a little something to keep in mind the next time you see a TV report that looks Tom Petner describes what not to do in your a lot like “news,” but isn’t. search for a new job. —Tom Gilbert Editor NEWSMAKERS l 15 BUSINESS ADVERTISING SALES l 24 Ph: (212) 210-0748 Fax: (212) 210-0772 TECHNOLOGY l 25 Executive Producer: Jeff Reisman, [email protected] (212) 210-0748 EDITORIAL OFFICES Producer: Danny Schreiber, [email protected] (503) 723-9688 NewsPro (ISSN 2151-1764), Volume 1, Issue 5, is published Ph: (212) 210-0706 Fax: (212) 210-0772 Monthly, except for combined issues in January/February and SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE (888) 288-5900 Production Manager: Nicole Dionne November/December at Crain Communications Inc, 711 Third Ave, New York, NY 10017. / Periodical postage pending at New VP-Publisher: Robert Felsenthal, (212) 210-0262 Group Circulation Director: John LaMarca Circulation Manager: Nicole Chantharaj York, NY, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send Editor: Tom Gilbert, [email protected] address changes to NewsPro, Circulation Dept, 1155 Gratiot (323) 370-2420 Ave, Detroit, MI 48207-2912. / Subscription and Customer THE AD AGE GROUP Service (888) 288-6954.Subscription price for US and US Art Director: Jeanine Dunn VP-Publishing and Editorial Director Territories is $59, Canada and Mexico is $69, all other Copy Editor: Angel Musker David S. Klein international is $89 per year. CRAIN COMMUNICATIONS INC. Executive VP-Operations: William A. Morrow Chief Information Officer: Paul Dalpiaz Keep up to date with the news industry with Senior VP-Group Publisher: Gloria Scoby Corporate Circulation Director: NewsPro. To subscribe call (888) 288-5900. 1 Chairman: Keith E. Crain Group VP-Technology, Circulation, Kathy Henry year $59 (US) President: Rance Crain Manufacturing: Robert C. Adams Founder: G.D. Crain Jr. (1885-1973), Secretary: Merrilee Crain VP-Production & Manufacturing: Chairman Emeritus: Mrs. G.D. Crain Jr. Visit us online at TVWeek.com/Newspro Treasurer: Mary Kay Crain David Kamis (1911-1996) NewsPro® is a registered trademark of Crain Communications Inc.

January 2010 | NewsPro | 3 *INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS FROM THE WORLD OF PROFESSIONAL FEEDS NEWS STATIONS the paid segments. Former weekend anchor Vicki Liviakis, Longform Ads Pull in Revenue But who hosts commercial seg - ments “Medical Mondays” and Raise Ethics Questions “Living Green,” no longer does news, focusing instead on the By Jon Lafayette commercial production side. Two other medical segments The package is presented like continue to be hosted by something you’d see on the morning anchor Daryn Folsom local news rather than like a because her participation was traditional infomercial. Some- part of the contract. times it resembles a lengthy KRON continues to feature story; other times it’s experiment, using audience an interview with a local doctor feedback to gauge what or businessman, or a roundup viewers feel is acceptable, Grief of local tourist destinations. said. The station also makes But if viewers listen closely sure that it is more than and pay attention to the complying with Federal Com - disclaimers, they’ll realize that munications Commission rules they are being pitched a regarding sponsorship and product or service in payola. Noting that product programming that’s paid for by placement is skyrocketing, the advertisers. FCC is considering comments Such product placement about changing its rules for deals are being used in- sponsorship identification and creasingly to raise revenues for embedded advertising. TV stations pinched by the Greif added that local rival, recession. But they’re also NBC-owned KNTV, had hired raising questions about ethics away one of his commercial and preserving the credibility producers and has begun of local newscasts. airing similar programs. KNTV “Sponsorships are President and General Man- problematic for all sorts of ager Rich Cerussi de clined to KRON-TV’S “MEDICAL MONDAY” newsrooms, not just broadcast comment. newsrooms,” said Kelly Mc - magazine described the product, so it asks more for a While stations try to draw a Bride, ethics group leader for segments as having “the look 2-minute paid segment than it line between news and adver - the Poynter Institute, who and feel of a real news-talk would charge for four 2- torials, sponsored segments are stressed that stations ought to show, complete with a news minute spots, but he said the popular with some advertisers have clear policies to avoid the ticker scrolling past un- station did not have a specific precisely because of the positive appearance that they are derneath and Chyrons [the rate card for the segments. rub-off they get from the selling their content. graphic tags that identify the As a former news director station’s news credibility. But while most broadcast person speaking] that are and VP for news at KRON “Because they have a executives say there’s a clear pretty much indistinguishable parent Young Broadcasting, reporter that comes out and line at their station between from those you’d see on which is working its way out of actually does the segment, it’s news content that can’t be regular news segments.” bankruptcy, Greif said he may almost like having an en - bought, and other pro- Brian Greif, the in - be more sensitive to news dorsement from a radio disc gramming that incorporates dependent station’s new gen- values than other executives. jockey,” said Julia Tyndall, paid messages from sponsors, eral manager, said that its Because of that, the station marketing manger for La-Z- “from the audience per- move into locally produced has “made a number of Boy Furniture Galleries of spective, it’s very hard to tell paid programming has “added adjustments over the years to Atlanta, who last year the difference,” McBride said. quite a bit of revenue across make sure that it fits not only appeared on “The Daily 2” “They assume the worst.” the group, and at KRON it’s a the needs of the advertisers segments at the end of Last year, KRON-TV in San significant part of what we do but the needs of the viewers newscasts on Cox-owned Francisco caught a lot of grief now. It’s been a success.” as well.” WSB-TV in Atlanta, touting for airing paid advertising Greif said KRON views paid For example, he’s phasing the store chain’s home design segments. Mother Jones programming as a premium out the use of news talent in service. Shannon Walshe, a

4 | NewsPro | January 2010 former anchor at the station and “Your Carolina,” are pro- did you switch to TV? now doing some of its in- duced by a programming NEWSPRO Q&A fomercials, interviewed her. department that is staffed Ifill: I was talked into switching Tyndall said La-Z-Boy separately from the news to television by the late Tim spends about $50,000 a week department, according to Phil Gwen Ifill: Russert [of NBC News and ‘Meet advertising on WSB and that Lane, VP and GM of WSPA. A Journey From the Press’]. I’d been a frequent the “The Daily 2” segments Viewers shouldn’t confuse guest on ‘Meet the Press’ as cost an additional $2,500 to these shows, which tell view - Print to Network well as on ‘Washington Week,’ $3,000, including production ers about products for sale to Pubcasting and he literally dared me to try expenses. The spots resulted and where to buy them, with television full time. He pro - in people calling to make the station’s top-rated new- Gwen Ifill is the moderator and mised me training, support appointments and a scasts, Lane said. managing editor of PBS’ and the chance to learn a new noticeable increase in Web site “There’s an obvious “Washington Week,” the lon- craft. When other networks hits coming to the stores from distinction between the two. gest-running prime-time news caught wind of NBC’s pitch online apps on wsbtv.com, the It’s not done on the news set; and public affairs program on they followed suit, and by then station’s site. it’s not done with news television, and a senior corres- I felt I had little choice but to As far as John Friedmann, anchors,” Lane said. One pondent for “PBS NewsHour.” pursue the opportunity to try sales manager at WSB, is show is shot in downtown In December, she also became something new. concerned, “there’s no news Greenville at Michelin on one of the rotating co-anchors involvement at all,” in “The Main, a museum/retail loca- of the nightly newscast when Daily 2.” “It’s got its own open tion where the station has a the program went to a two- and close, so basically it’s a 2- high-definition studio. anchor format. “It was our idea from our Ifill, a New York City native staff as a way to control costs, and graduate of Simmons “It was ... save jobs and fill a need for College in Boston, started her local content and local career in newspapers, reporting a way to programming,” he said. The for the Baltimore Evening Sun control costs, economics are compelling. “It’s and the Boston Herald Amer- save jobs a significant savings from ican before she joined The what we pay for syndicated Washington Post, where she and fill a need programming.” covered both local and national for local And it generates more politics. In 1991 she joined The revenue because the station New York Times, where she was content can sell more commercial a White House correspondent. GEWN IFILL and local inventory. But in 1994, her career took programming.” “It’s a win-win on both a left turn when she jumped sides,” Lane said. into television as chief con gres- NewsPro: Is there anything you -Phil Lane, WSPA-TV The trend is also beginning sional and political corr - miss about newspapers? to attract national advertisers. espondent for NBC News. She Kevin Gallagher, executive VP joined the elite ranks of jour- Ifill: I miss the writing. I minute program unto itself.” and local activation director at nalists with a weekend Wash - discovered when I was working The segments are not even media buying agency Starcom, ington talk show in 1999 when on my book that I missed introduced by the news said he’s put together some she made the switch to the having the time and latitude to anchors, he said. deals for clients and expects to PBS programs. play with words and build a The 2-minute WSB se- do more this year. A veteran of six presidential narrative, even without pictures gments, which run following Stations are “willing to be campaigns, she moderated the to help tell the story. the newscast at 12:56 p.m. more creative in an effort to vice presidential debates during Monday through Friday and compete for those limited both the 2004 and 2008 NewsPro: Some in the business 8:56 a.m. on Saturday, are dollars that the clients have presidential elections. were surprised when you proving popular. Friedmann and bend the rules or even Author of the 2009 book, jumped to PBS in 1999 from a said that after a slow start, break the rules that maybe “The Breakthrough: Politics and top NBC News job, because of “The Daily 2” began gathering existed before,” Gallagher said. Race in the Age of Obama” the smaller audience. Are there traction. Now there’s a sponsor To make the deals more and a member of the board of things you can do in public for the segment every day. efficient for big clients, the Committee to Protect broadcasting that you can’t in “I think it’s exceeded Gallagher said he’s been Journalists, Ifill will also host commercial TV? everybody’s expectations, working with station group the duPont-Columbia Awards Friedmann said. owners rather than individual on Jan. 21. She recently Ifill: Tim was once again one of Media General’s WSPA-TV stations. discussed her career with the first people to convince me in the Greenville-Spartanburg, “If you’re going through an NewsPro’s Elizabeth Jensen. that the PBS offer would be a S.C., and Asheville, N.C., O&O group you know that the good one for me. ‘Washington market, has been creating production quality in the case NewsPro: You’ve said that your Week’ gave me the chance to local shows that rely on of a vignette is going to be ‘first love’ is news papers, and anchor my own program, and product placement to replace there and it makes it more you worked at some of the best, ‘NewsHour’ gave me an outlet to syndicated programming. The turnkey than having to do it including The Washington Post dig deep, substitute for Jim ❑ shows, including “Seen on 7” one market at a time.” and The New York Times. Why [Lehrer], and learn the art of the

January 2010 | NewsPro | 5 FEEDS ratings of “The Jay Leno Show.” were one of those who reserved The ratings decline cost judgment until we actually saw LOCAL NEWS NBC affiliates $22 million per what happened.” in-studio interview. No quarter, according to Harmelin. Of course there are some combination like that existed in Among the biggest losers: NBC’s markets where the Leno show commercial broadcasting. Late Shift owned and operated stations in performed well. Affiliates the biggest markets. “I heard Leno did real well, NewsPro: The ‘NewsHour’ has When plans to air Leno in actually, in the Midwest and not recently undergone a Cheer prime time emerged, one NBC as well on the Coasts,” said Dale makeover, putting you in the affiliate, WHDH-TV in Boston, Woods, president and general co-anchor chair several nights Leno wanted to air a newscast at 10 manager of WHO-TV in Des a week. The show has been Reversal p.m. rather than Leno, but Moines, Iowa. dealing with a budget backed down when the network During the November challenge in recent years. What at NBC played hardball. sweeps Leno registered ratings was behind the changes and is “I’m glad it’s over,’’ said Ed in the 4 to 5 range among the program in danger of By Jon Lafayette Ansin, president of station owner adults 18-49, and WHO’s disappearing? Sunbeam Television, according newscast closed the gap News that NBC is moving Jay to the Boston Globe. “It’s an between it and No. 1 ranked Ifill: The reality for all of Leno back to 11:35 p.m. is good experiment, and it didn’t work.” KCCI-TV. television news — not just news for affiliates, whose late Other affiliates were less While lead-ins are public broadcasting — is that newscasts generally suffered important, Woods said the we have to adjust to our during the network’s 10 p.m. newscast rose mainly because audiences, not expect them to experiment with the talk show “We’re not of the station’s own efforts. adjust to the way we have in prime time. going to have a “Was it Jay Leno or is our always done things. “I would say we are thankful multiyear late news up because it’s a Responding to that challenge that NBC looked at it and better product?” asked Woods. has revitalized the ‘NewsHour,’ reacted as quickly as they problem as a “I think our late news is up quickening our pace and have,” said Ray Heacox, result of this. It because it’s a better product. timeliness. Our coverage of the president and general manager will be a much More people are tuning in to Haiti earthquake disaster of KING-TV, the NBC affiliate in watch our late news.” provided a case in point of how Seattle. shorter time to Leno’s performance didn’t our new integration has made KING’s late news eked out a get to some appear to have a damaging us a better product on multiple narrow win in key demographic reasonable effect on the late news at KSEE- platforms. We’re quite excited. ratings during the November TV in Fresno, Calif., according sweeps, despite drops on a health.” to president and general percentage basis in the mid- NewsPro: You already have an - Ray Heacox, KING-TV manager Matt Rosenfeld. influential place in the teens. It lost the household “Our anecdotal sense is that Washington talk show world at ratings race for the first time in vocal in public but made sure it has not had the impact that ‘Washington Week,’ but your ages, Heacox said. the network was aware of the we have heard it’s had about name keeps coming up as a “It was not our normal late- effect Leno was having on local the country,” Rosenfeld said. possible host of ABC’s ‘This night performance,” he said. ratings, particularly on local KSEE does not subscribe to Week’ or CNN’s Sunday ‘State KING was hardly alone. A newscasts. Nielsen, and Rosenfeld said his of the Union.’ Are you about to study by Harmelin Media found “We kept them informed sense is based on the station’s make another switch? that in over 210 TV markets, regularly, but at the same time sales in the late news time NBC affiliates averaged a 25 we understood that there were period. The station ranked No. 2 Ifill: Not that I know of. But life percent drop in ratings, thanks risks going into this at 11 p.m. last May, when it got can surprise. ❑ mostly to the jaw-dropping experiment,” Heacox said. “We Nielsen data, and in November,

38th Annual Clarion Awards 100+ categories across all communications disciplines Deadline: March 31, 2010 www.womcom.org/clarion

Produced by the Association for Women in Communications

6 | NewsPro | January 2010 the local paper reported that dramas at 10 o’clock is clearly down,” a great number of people KSEE remained in second place where they have to head, along PRINT JOURNALISM expressed interest in buying the behind ABC-owned KFSN-TV. with some ‘Dateline,’” said magazine, he said. That said, Rosenfeld said he Heacox. Late last week, his optimism was sure Leno had some effect Heacox said he’s en - 11th-Hour came through: Nielsen ann- and he’s glad NBC is making couraged by the number of ounced that it had sold the changes. pilots NBC already has in Savior magazine to Duncan McIntosh “I think that like probably production. “We’re not going to Appears Co. Inc., the Irvine, Calif.-based every other NBC affiliate in the have a multiyear problem as a magazine and newspaper pub - country, we’re excited to have result of this. It will be a much for E&P lisher of mostly boating-related positive PR about the 10 to 11 shorter time to get to some titles including Boating World p.m. time period,” he said. reasonable health,” he said. The contraction in the print magazine and Sea Magazine. Affiliates expect to do well in While NBC’s late-night press took a shocking toll in Mitchell, however, posted on his the first quarter, when NBC will drama might have caused December when one of the blog that he is “out as editor,” air coverage of the Winter sleepless nights for its affiliates, oldest and most esteemed after eight years, as is Joe Olympics from Vancouver, B.C. the end game at least provided chroniclers of the story — the Strupp, one its lead reporters. “The Olympics will be great some comic relief as it became monthly Editor & Publisher — The new editor is Mark for all NBC stations across the fodder for monologues, and said it would itself cease to Fitzgerald, a 26-year veteran of country. It’s just a wonderful sometimes the newscasts publish in the New Year, after the publication who most platform to market your themselves. some 125 years in existence. recently was its editor-at-large. program and showcase the “We’re covering the facts Owner Nielsen said it would Charles “Chas” McKeown will great job that the network versus every blow by blow,” as shutter the publication devoted remain publisher. does,” said WHO’s Long. the late-night saga unfolds, said to the print journalism bus- The magazine’s Web site After the Olympics it’s Rosenfeld, who caught some of iness, along with book industry announced the news with the unclear what NBC’s prime-time Conan O’Brien’s reaction to the title Kirkus Reviews, even as it headline “Back in Business.” In schedule will look like, but way he was being treated by sold off other titles such as The its article on the purchase, E&P affiliates are counting on NBC. One night he read a list of Hollywood Reporter, Billboard quoted Duncan McIntosh as improvements. “rumors” about the future of and Mediaweek to a company sayingthatheknewimmediately “I know that they’re working NBC Late Night. called 5 Global Media. when he heard about the folding hard, and the long-term answer “It was absolutely hilarious,” The staff of E&P, as shell- that he wanted to keep it going. to the question is scripted Rosenfeld said. ❑ shocked as they were, stuck “Such a critical information around through the end of the sourceforanewspaperindustry year to put out a January issue, so desperately in need of help which just hit the stands last should not go away,” McIntosh week. Former editor Greg said. Terms weren’t disclosed. Mitchell said he remained hope - Mitchell said that he and ful that a new buyer would Strupp would continue covering revive the magazine. the industry for the time being “Practically from the minute at a blog called E&PinExile the announcement was made (http://eandpinexile.blog- that Nielsen was shutting us spot.com/). ❑ Subscribe to the news industry’s LOOKING FOR LOCAL EXPERTS leading resource for industry news today! FOR YOUR NEWS STORY? Get “same day” interviews on current business and

October 2009 consumer trends, best practices, hot growth areas, Survey and live quotes from real experts. Subscription Results LOCAL WARMING Environmental Journalists put a journalists worry community focus on In nearly 100 TV markets, we work with thousands of Hotline about resources a global issue Page 16 local business owners, including: (888) 288-5900 • Automotive Dealers • Home Builders Is TV News • Home Service/Improvement on the Ball? Why the ACORN story should have • Legal Firms come from the pros Page 50 • Healthcare/Medical Firms COVER IMAGE BY GIO ALMA • Financials/Banks/ Credit Unions Always by deadline, ADAM ARMBRUSTER WTVJ-TV’S JEFF BURNSIDE 1 year $59 (US) always free. Partner ESA&Company 1 year $69 (Canada/Mexico) 941-928-7192 1 year $89 (All other international) [email protected] www.adamarmbruster.com

January 2010 | NewsPro | 7 COVER STORY

Push for Work

The TV News Market Could Rally in 2010, but Job Seekers Need To Show They're Ready to Take on More Tasks for Less Salary

he outlook for television news jobs in 2010 is brighter than it as the economy has improved, hiring has started to pick up. was last year, but the key to getting hired is having multimedia “Going back to this time last year, stations were feeling the Tskills and the willingness to do more — for less money. economic squeeze, eliminating people and instituting hiring freezes,” News executives and talent agents say that industry changes and said Barbara Frye, vice president of talent placement services for Frank continued economic uncertainty have created newsrooms that require Magid Associates. “Over the last three months, positions that went on-air talent to be multifaceted on the job, with the greatest demand unfilled are now being filled, but there’s a catch to all that. Many being for those who are comfortable delivering news online. Happily, stations are looking for people at a reduced salary, and for people who

8 | NewsPro | January 2010 I don’tthinkthey’llevercomeback.” The daysofspendingwhateverittakes tohireananchorareover,and a reporterthatwasoncepaid$30,000, ismorelikelytoget$25,000. 2008 isnowpaying$35,000to$40,000,” Fryesaid.“Inthiseconomy, positions. to shoottheirownstories. person mustalsobeabletodoreporting.Reporterswilling can domorethanonetask.” She saidthatin2009,asignificant numberofhigh-pricedtalent “A stationthatwaswillingtopay$60,000forameteorologistin The decreaseinsalaries,shesaid,appliesacrosstheboardforall She said,forexample,ifastation’slookingmeteorologist,that swiftly. I’mmoreoptimisticnowthan Iwasthistimelastyear.” off guardbythedecreaseinadvertising dollars,andtheyhadtoreact they’re lesslikelytomove,”Fryesaid. “In2008,stationswerecaught desire tostayput. housing marketwherehomesarenotsellingeasilycontributetothe move, evenforajobinlargermarket.Economicuncertaintyand a where theyareandsatisfiedwiththeirsalaries,they’relesslikely to not eliminated,butthesalariesattachedtopositionswerecut. lost theirjobsbecauseofstationbudgetcuts.Thethemselveswere Kirk Varner,vicepresidentand director ofnewsattheLINTV- “If theyhaveaspouse,andtheother personhasagood-payingjob, Job openingsarefewer,shenotes,becauseifpeoplehappy January 2010| NewsPro | 9

PHOTOGRAPH BY WIN MCNAMEE; GETTY IMAGES COVER STORY

owned duopoly WTNH-TV and WCTX-TV in New Haven, Conn., said cites great cover letters, a DVD or tape that’s a montage of an signs of an economic upturn are on the horizon, and as we head applicant’s best work, and follow-up phone calls that are not annoying. into an election year, that should help the bottom line for the “Aside from the resume, I want someone who’s passionate about television industry. the business, smart, engaging, dynamic, and who looks at this as a While his station is fully staffed at the moment, he hopes to have career, and not as just another job,” Collura said. more positions later this year. He advises all job applicants to upgrade Tim Geraghty, vice president and news director of News10 for their resumes as much as possible. Gannett-owned KXTV’s in Sacramento, Calif. said “We need people with as diverse a skill set as while there is always a demand in specialty possible,” Varner said. “We’ll be looking for people reporting areas like weather and sports, many who present portfolios that show content people forget the job opportunities that exist produced explicitly for the Web, not those who can behind the camera. just do on-air work.” “I’m fascinated by the fact that no matter how The ability to pitch in whenever and however many college kids I talk to, when you ask them needed is increasingly valued as stations attempt what they want to do, 90 percent plus always say to do more with fewer resources. When a terrorist they want to be on-air,” Geraghty said. “There’s attempted to blow up a plane headed for Detroit a tremendous supply of people who want to be on Christmas Day last year, Deborah Collura, vice on-air. On the off-air side, there’s demand and president of news for Post-Newsweek Stations, not nearly the supply. said its Detroit station [WDIV-TV] called upon its “In most markets, you can probably start on holiday staff to multitask to cover the story. the assignment desk or as a producer, if you have the skill sets. Our market is not a starter market Blurred Lines for people on the air, but it can be for people “We had one of the investigative producers pick MENDES NAPOLI behind the scenes.” up a camera and go into the field and interview Most of the hiring in 2009 occurred in small-and passengers,” Collura said. “Our news operations manager got into the medium-sized markets, said Mendes Napoli, president and owner of helicopter and shot exclusive video. We took him live, he did a couple Napoli Management Group in Los Angeles, who expects that trend to of cut-ins, and he did fine. The lines are more blurred between the continue through 2010. reporter, assignment desk and producers.” “We’re weeding out some people who are frustrated and tired, which Collura said in an age where viewers want content when and how will continue to create job openings,” Napoli said. “I see stations they want it, stations have to be able to harvest content and deliver it replacing people in 2010, but no new positions. There are fewer people 24/7, whether that delivery occurs on air, on the Web, or on cell being placed at the network level. The trend is toward multimedia phones. Managers are looking for people with multimedia skills who journalists who can report and shoot their own stories.” can do multiple jobs, she emphasizes. Napoli said most mid-size market salaries remain stable, but “The other thing that will be crucial to staffing in 2010 and beyond, significant cuts have been made in salaries in the larger markets. is that news managers are going to have to hire very carefully,” Collura Anchor salaries, he said, are down 10 to 15 percent on average, and said. “It’s the A and B players who will survive for the future. We can positions that once paid $300,000 to $500,000 are disappearing. no longer take mediocre people because there are fewer openings, and there are more people to pick from.” Diversity a Big Concern What will make an applicant stand out from the crowd? Collura “For male anchors, they’re looking for younger, hipper, more of a reporter-anchor type, and not as much of a behind-the-desk person,” Napoli said. “Some of the same is true for female anchors. Diversity is a definite concern. For example, Salt Lake City’s Hispanic population has grown, and they’re trying to reflect more of the population on air. The people we represent are representative of the marketplace.” Career Coaching Napoli’s company tracks the movement of jobs through various & sources, and he said between January 2009 and November 2009, there were 301 job placements in the TV industry, compared to 419 Talent for the same period in 2008, and 573 in 2007. Representation “The demise of the business is overexaggerated,” Napoli said. “News will continue to be more and more important to stations. Communities rely on stations for local news. How it’s delivered is changing, but who you get it from is not. www.NoWhiningTalent.com “I think we’ll see more jobs in news departments as the platforms 817-987-3600 emerge. Economically, I don’t think it will be as lucrative to work in the business, but there will be many more jobs to come.” ❑

10 | NewsPro | January 2010 Rare Items Tips for Finding Jobs in News

By Allison J. Waldman

ou don’t have to know the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest figures to realize that unemployment is a huge Y problem. Couple that with the sea change enveloping the ways of the news business, and you’ve got a job market that seems JOURNALISMJOBS.COM IS ONE TOOL FOR NEWS INDUSTRY JOB-SEEKERS to be even tougher than most. According to Dan Rohn, founder of the online media job board market your strengths to the right people. JournalismJobs.com, the availability of jobs varies with the different Tom Dolan, president of Dolan Media Management, based in the media. Washington area, specializes in identifying, evaluating and “Online media is still pretty strong, because it’s a growing area,” he recommending candidates for jobs at TV stations, cable networks and said. “Even though there are less people needed to run a section online Internet companies, which pay the freight. for a news organization, it’s still an area where you’re not seeing mass All of the candidates Dolan recruits have to be prequalified by his layoffs like newspapers, where the business model is out of date.” firm. And in order to prequalify, they must be ready for the Rohn noted, however, that that is not to say there’s no life left in prequalifying process, he said. traditional newspapers. “They should have done some homework before contacting us,” “We still get a decent number of classified ads for newspapers, Dolan said. “Be very conversant in the practices in the industry right reporters and copy editors, because even with all the doom and gloom, now. What seems to be working effectively? Have some knowledge of these newspapers are still operating in their communities,” he said. research and how markets are researched.” The outlook for broadcast news jobs is less than rosy as well, He added that candidates should be prepared to have examples of Rohn said. their work that validates what they’re selling in themselves. “For a “They’ve tightened up a lot in the TV industry. There’s more news manager, that’s a couple of newscasts. Not on a big storm day, consolidation. In some areas of the country, news shows are being but an average day where you’re generating news and your imprint canceled altogether and stations are picking up the news from a larger is on that broadcast in one way or another,” he said. city. There’s still some hiring because people do leave. They have to Dolan also advises that TV news candidate should be prepared to be replaced and the show still goes on.” answer the following question: What are the key elements to a good newscast that makes it a good newscast every day? Job Search Tips “You’d be surprised how many candidates respond with two or With all that in mind, how do media professionals find work in three elements when you can reel off 12 or 15 if you’ve really today’s climate? studied this and know your stuff,” he said. “You should be For those after the higher-end jobs, it helps to enlist the aid of an prepared to talk about how you produce anchors. How do you executive recruiter who specializes in media positions and can help differentiate a lead story?”

January 2010 | NewsPro | 11 COVER STORY

As has always been the case with finding a job, however, it often contacts that may be of help. boils down to who you know. She cautions not to go overboard with the gimmicks and “You have to network,” Rohn said. “Contact friends from college, intrusions, however. “Do not text people. Do not try to send a resume former co-workers, even from two or three jobs ago. Try to stay in the to a cell phone. Don’t IM or send Twitter, because you’ll make people loop with any job openings or any opportunities. Go to conventions mad,” Ryan said. “The idea of sending a box of candy with your where journalists are going to be and work the room.” resume or sending it by FedEx so they’ll have to get it … You’ll spend Rohn cautions that when applying for a job on a board site like $25 for nothing.” JournalismJobs.com, you might be one of a couple hundred Ryan’s advice is to create a resume that clearly outlines the depth applicants for the position. of your experience, accomplishments, the type of audience you’ve “It’s kind of tough to stand out even if you have excellent reached, the shows you put together, the people you’ve interviewed, qualifications. You could be at the bottom of the stack and they don’t and the skills you have. read more than 10 or 15 applications and you’re out of the running,” She encourages experienced professionals to put an emphasis on he said, adding, “before that classified hits the job sites, try to be in their contacts. “Older workers need to ‘sell’ the fact that they have contact with the person who’s going to be making the decision.” contacts. Also, many bosses know that if they hire the over-35 guy, Rohn also advises the serious applicant to be flexible with regard he’s going to show up. That in the news business is the ultimate,” to relocation. “You may have to go to Idaho or Montana or South Ryan said. Dakota to find a market that’s looking for reporters,” he said. “The big cities are always going to be flooded with applicants. The key is getting Reel Advice your foot in the door. Once you get in, you have to really bust your butt For a clip reel, Ryan suggests you “put together the very best to prove that you can do the job.” clips you’ve got, but they’re only going to look at the first two.” He also recommends taking advantage of social networking Therefore, lead with your top stories. She also suggests that if you sites like Facebook and MySpace, and the professional networking put the reel on a Web site, make sure you utilize the best quality site Linkedin. software to run it. Where reels are concerned, creativity is the key, ultimately. Utilizing Facebook “Creativity still sells. Pick unique stories for your reel. Show how “People are much more savvy in the media now,” Rohr said. “These your teasers sell. If you did interviews, show examples of that. sites are becoming more popular because people are using it for career Anything that makes you stand out from the other 12 people applying stuff. Facebook used to be more of a social thing for family and friends for that job,” Ryan said. and photos, but now you see people putting up their things Also, when selling your services, try to find someone inside the journalistically.” network who can introduce you to the news director or business Robin Ryan, a Newcastle, Wash.-based career consultant and manager, whoever might be doing the hiring. “Use your contacts,” author of the book “Over 40 & You’re Hired,” is a proponent of Ryan said. “They can pass your resume along. If you’ve been in the Linkedin, but not so much the social sites. business 10 years, you’ve met a lot of people.” “The people who will hire you are not on Facebook. They are not According to JournalismJobs.com’s Rohn, the best approach is an on MySpace. They are not on Twitter. Job hunters might be on aggressive one. “This economy is not like it was a few years ago. They’re there, but not the bosses that make the decisions,” said Ryan. not going to bring you in and take you out to lunch,” he said. “Know “Linkedin has the tools to help you in your job search more when you need to follow up. Be aggressive but don’t be obnoxious. effectively.” She also suggests using Linkedin to search for past Employers are not going to like that. You don’t want to annoy them.” ❑

Contract Questions? Contract Expert Answers! TVCONTRACT.COM

Rick Carr, Esq. [email protected] 303-918-8414

12 | NewsPro | January 2010 contract has gotten weaker because of the economy.” Jordan said even when the overall economy improves, it doesn’t Making the mean that the broadcast economy will get better because the Internet and new delivery platforms will continue to put pressure on stations to watch the bottom line with talent salaries. Match Adam Leibner, an agent with N.S. Bienstock in New York, said it’s actually good experience for talent coming out of college to get that Talent Agents Can Help Clear first job on their own, but once they’re ready to get into the top 100 markets, signing with an agent is important. the Path to the Right Job Carrying Clout “We listen to management, their tastes, and what’s important to By Dinah Eng them,” Leibner said. “If you’re with the right agency, management will look at your stuff first.” alent agents make their living by knowing where the jobs are, He said N.S. Bienstock has been known as a news agency since and how to place their clients. Whether you need an agent it was established in 1964, but began diversifying more than a Tto land a job is, well... up to you. decade ago. News executives say good talent agents can be invaluable in the “We have a great news department, and handle hosting and reality hiring process, serving as delicate matchmakers when clients fit what programs,” Leibner said. “We’re doing books, radio, and anything on managers are looking for. At the same time, they note that job TV that’s unscripted. We have a large company and are able to applicants who are comfortable marketing themselves and diversify. If you’re not thinking about growing with the times, you negotiating their own deals don’t need an agent to get hired. won’t succeed.” With fewer jobs available, the advantage of having representation On the hiring side, Deborah Collura, vice president of news for lies in having an advocate who is plugged into an ever-changing Post-Newsweek Stations in Detroit, said talent agents are extremely market. “Eight of us are agents, and we have contacts on every level of the industry,” said Mendes Napoli, president and owner of Napoli Management Group in Los Angeles. “We each call eight to 10 people a day with potential opportunities. If you don’t have an agent, it’s almost impossible to know where all the jobs are, and what they’re looking for.” Napoli said his company has Now more than ever. . . maintained strong relationships ADAM LEIBNER with hiring managers for more than 17 years because they know he only suggests clients who might fit what the manager is looking To help you navigate for. The firm handles 450 clients ranging from anchors to meteorologists to general assignment reporters. through the most difficult “We’re a television news agency, and have gotten away from hosting [jobs],” Napoli said. “We’ve narrowed back to our roots because TV news is not going away and it’s more competitive than time in our business. ever. Our ability to get people jobs has increased, but no talent agency has the power to make anyone hire anybody.” While the ability of agents to help pinpoint opportunities in the current market is important, changing times also means less latitude www.robjordan.com for agents to negotiate deals. “When people say contracts are negotiable, that’s not really the case anymore,” said Rob Jordan, president of Rob Jordan Talent Management in Charlotte, N.C. “More often than not, executives are saying, ‘This is what we have for this job. Are you interested, yes or 704-969-1150 no?’ The ability to sit down over the phone and hammer out a

January 2010 | NewsPro | 13 COVER STORY

An Agent: Yes or No? Deciding whether an agent is right for you requires careful research and listening to your intuition. Like any partnership agreement, it’s important to assess STEVE HERZ ROB JORDAN whether you’ll get along with each other, and whether important in the process of identifying potential job candidates. the agent has the right contacts for the jobs you want. “If you’ve got a great relationship with an agent, you can say, It’s important to look at an agency’s track record to ‘In a month, I’m going to be looking for a traffic reporter,’ ” “ Collura know if it can deliver. “You should talk to as many said. “ ‘This is what I can pay, and what I need.’ They’ll then track agents as you can,” says Mendes Napoli, president and down the right person. Agents make the process easier because owner of Napoli Management Group in Los Angeles. they know who’s in their stable.” “Getting your call returned as a prospective client is a She said a good agent will evaluate clients honestly, and will good indicator of what the relationship might be like.” warn managers if they’re interested in someone who might not be Here are some important things to consider before the best fit. Knowing that a person has no interest in moving to signing with an agent: certain cities, for example, saves time in the search for job candidates. Do you like each other news directors in New York, or on a personal level? Albuquerque,’ or wherever you Reflecting the Community “It’s like a marriage,” says ultimately want to work. Ask them for client references. On “Diversity is extremely important in the big markets,” she notes. Steve Herz, president of IF Management in New York. my Web site, there’s a list of “You want people who are a reflection of the community behind the “The core of our staff has people I represent, and I have scenes and in front of the camera. A lot of agents will attend the been together for 10 years no problem with prospective diversity conferences with their clients and will say, ‘This person now. We want clients who clients calling people I work isn’t available now, but they really want to work in your market.’ ” work hard, who are in the with, to ask about me.” Maintaining credibility with hiring managers is critical to business for the right reasons. They’re interested in What is your competition establishing trust in the hiring process, said Steve Herz, president journalism and making a going to be within the of IF Management in New York, which handles 160 clients. IF difference in the world. They’re agency you sign with? Management began in 1996 by representing sportscasters, and has the kind of people who care “You’ll have competition in the since diversified into news and entertainment as well. about their family and co- general marketplace, but you shouldn’t be up against “Some news directors look at talent agents like used car workers. It’s the qualities you’d look for in a friend.” multiple people in the same salesmen trying to get their clients a job,” Herz notes. “We want to agency,” Jordan says. “A lot of be a partner with the people we send talent to. Most of our clients How well, and how often, major agencies have hundreds come through referral. We talk to people at the stations they’ve does the agent of clients. Ask, ‘If there’s an worked at previously, and ask if they’re people we would want to communicate with you? opening for a morning show in Dallas, how many people do work with.” “Do they talk with you once a year, when it’s time to renew you handle who will be Herz said agents provide an invaluable service for clients by your contract, or periodically, interested in that job?’ ” finding out comparable salaries in the marketplace, analyzing deal to assess your career?” notes points, and looking at the legality of contracts. Deborah Collura, vice Will you be able to afford When it comes to nailing a position, though, everything comes president of news for Post- the agency’s fee? Commission fees for talent back to the job candidate, said Tim Geraghty, vice president and Newsweek Stations. “Are they willing to listen to what’s agents vary from agency to news director for News10 at KXTV, the Gannett-owned ABC affiliate important to you? Your agency, ranging from 5 in Sacramento, Calif. geographic, financial and percent to 10 percent of the “I hire who will be the best employee with the best skill sets for position preferences? Is the talent’s salary. the job, whether they have an agent or not,” Geraghty said. “We agent giving an honest “Our fees depend on where work with prospective employees as they wish, in terms of working assessment of your work? The good, bad and ugly?” the person is in market size with their talent agents. I say, your agent works for you, and if it and potential earnings,” works out, you’ll work for me.” Does the agent have the Jordan says. “There are Geraghty said the role and influence of the talent agent has contacts to get you where agents who are not flexible in remained the same over the years. Budgets have been cut, and you want to go? their commission structure. You need to look at whether newsroom roles have changed, he notes, but the relationship “You’re hiring someone to open doors for you,” says Rob you can afford it because between management and agents has remained the same. Jordan, president of Rob agencies can’t promise clients “Agents are doing what they can to make sure their clients get jobs, Jordan Talent Management, premium dollars anymore.” but it boils down to who we’re looking to hire,” Geraghty said. ❑ “so ask them, ‘Do you know — Dinah Eng

14 | NewsPro | January 2010 NEWSMAKERS

Adam Aaro has been as morning anchor with KPNX- promoted to weeknight TV in Phoenix. CLOSE-UP: RUSS MITCHELL anchor/reporter from morning anchor/reporter at KTVZ-TV in Nannette Miranda has been CBS News Names Bend, Ore. renewed as reporter with Mitchell National KABC-TV in Los Angeles. Correspondent Lori Brown has been renewed as a reporter at WMC-TV in Graciela Moreno has been Memphis, Tenn. renewed as a primary anchor Russ Mitchell has been named with KFSN-TV in Fresno, Calif. national correspondent by CBS News. Peter Busch has been She also has added duties as a The veteran reporter will continue as promoted to weekend evening host of the station’s anchor of the “CBS Evening News, anchor from reporter at KPHO- community affairs programs. Sunday Edition” and as TV in Phoenix. Mellisa Paul has joined KXTV correspondent for “CBS News Sunday Kevin Corke has joined in Sacramento, Calif., as Morning.” WTVJ-TV in Miami as midday weathercaster and Mitchell has departed as “The Early Show” as news anchor, weeknight anchor and reporter. She previously was a post he has held since January 2007. He became the reporter. He previously was a weekday morning anchor of the “CBS Evening News, Sunday Edition” in April correspondent for NBC News. weathercaster and co-anchor for KIVI-TV in Boise, Idaho. 2006 and has been with “Sunday Morning” since July 2002. Deanna Durante has been He previously served as the anchor of the “The Early renewed as reporter with Michaela Pereira has been Show’s” Saturday edition beginning with its debut as “CBS WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. renewed as morning news News Saturday Morning” in 1997 and was one of the primary anchor at KTLA-TV in Los anchors of the “CBS Evening News, Saturday Edition” from Mark Edwards been renewed Angeles. as weekend sports anchor and 1999 to 2006. He joined CBS News in 1992. reporter with KTHV-TV in Little Cara Sapida has been Rock, Ark. promoted to full-time reporter at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh. Nina Sparano has joined Joe Vithayathil has been Craig Gold has joined WPEC- KWGN-TV and KDVR-TV in renewed as morning feature TV in West Palm Beach, Fla., Stacey Skrysak has joined Denver as reporter and reporter at KPTV in Portland, as weekend morning KTRV-TV in Boise, Idaho, as anchor. She previously was Ore. meteorologist. He previously evening anchor. She previously main anchor at KRDO-TV in was a meteorologist at KTKA- was reporter/fill-in anchor at Colorado Springs, Colo. Jason Volentine has joined TV in Topeka, Kan. WWTV in Traverse City, Mich. KIAH-TV in Houston as Rebecca Thomas has been reporter. He previously was Thalia Hayden has joined Shannon Royster has been renewed as weekend evening anchor/multißmedia journalist WPTV in West Palm Beach, renewed as primary co-anchor anchor at KNXV in Phoenix. at KOLN-TV in Lincoln, Neb. Fla., as multimedia journalist. at KSLA-TV in Shreveport, La. She previously was a reporter at WHEC-TV in Rochester, N.Y. PROFESSIONAL DIRECTORY

Rod Hill has joined KGW-TV in Portland, Ore., as weekend Do you have... evening meteorologist. He most recently worked for that ...a product or service to sell? market’s KATU-TV. BUILDING RESUME TAPES & CAREERS ...to the news business? Vera Jimenez has joined KTLA-TV in Los Angeles as (706) 364-7564 prime-time weather anchor. Advertise in She previously was morning traffic anchor and weathercaster in that market’s KCBS-TV.

Rachel Kent has joined WFFF-TV in Colchester, Vt., as Contact Danny Schreiber video journalist from WWNY- TV in Watertown, N.Y. 503-723-9688

Scott Light has been renewed

January 2010 | NewsPro | 15 NewsPro PZ[OLUL^ZPUK\Z[Y`»Z SLHKPUNYLZV\YJLMVY PUK\Z[Y`UL^Z  )RU RYHU WHQ \HDUV QHZV SURIHVVLRQDOV ZRUNLQJ LQ HYHU\ VHJPHQW RI WKH LQGXVWU\ KDYH GHSHQGHG RQ 1HZV3UR IRU WKH XSWRWKHPLQXWH GHYHORSPHQWV DQG LQIRUPDWLRQ WKH\ QHHG WR KHOSWKHPVWD\RQWRSRIWKHLUEXVLQHVV  1HZV3UR SURYLGHV FRPSUHKHQVLYH FRYHUDJH RI WKH PRVW LPSRUWDQWQHZVLQDOODVSHFWVRIWKHQHZVLQGXVWU\{WHOHYLVLRQ SULQW UDGLR DQG RQOLQH 1HZV3UR FRQWLQXHV LWV OHDGHUVKLS LQ FRYHULQJ WHOHYLVLRQ QHWZRUN ORFDO DQG FDEOH QHZV HTXLSPHQW DQGWHFKQRORJ\  ,QDGGLWLRQ1HZV3URUHPDLQVWKHQXPEHURQHVRXUFHIRUWKHVH HVVHQWLDOVSHFLDOUHSRUWV  f 0RVW3RZHUIXOLQ7HOHYLVLRQ1HZV  f +HDOWKDQG0HGLFDO5HSRUWLQJ  f (QYLURQPHQWDO-RXUQDOLVP  f %XVLQHVV1HZV f 'LYHUVLW\LQWKH1HZVURRP  f 1HZV,QGXVWU\&RQYHQWLRQ&RYHUDJH  f -RXUQDOLVP$ZDUGV  f '&7DONHUV  1RRWKHUSULQWRURQOLQHUHVRXUFHJLYHVQHZVSURIHVVLRQDOVWKH VSHFLDOL]HG LQGHSWK FRYHUDJH WKDW 1HZV3UR GRHV{DQG LW SURYLGHV DGYHUWLVHUV ZLWK D SRZHUIXOO\ WDUJHWHG HQYLURQPHQW LQZKLFKWRFRPPXQLFDWHWKHLUPHVVDJHWRQHZVSURIHVVLRQDOV HYHU\ZKHUH 5HDFKWKHSHRSOHZKRUHDFKWKHQDWLRQ

CONTACT:1,--9,0:4(5 ‹QYLPZTHU'JYHPUJVT+(55@:*/9,0),9  ‹KZJOYLPILY'JYHPUJVT DUPONT AWARDS

By Elizabeth Jensen An Outstanding Showing by Local TV Journalists Marks the Winners Circle of This Year’s’Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards

Local television news has just come through two years of topic for award-winning news coverage, as in past years. wrenching recession-driven changes and cutbacks that have left American RadioWorks’ winning documentary examined one smaller staffs doing more work. Despite that, the jury of the legacy of U.S. detainee abuse in Iraq, while HBO’s “The Recruiter” Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards found that strong looked at how the U.S. Army gets enlistees, and PBS’ reporting in local communities continues to be done. “Frontline/WORLD” explored the lives of children growing up in Of 14 awards being handed out this year — one more than last Pakistan under the influence of the Taliban. year — six will go to local television news programs. That is the The 2008 U.S. presidential election was the subject of two most in more than two decades, and double last year’s three. winning entries, including “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie For the second year, “the local entries in particular were Couric’s already much-acclaimed interviews of Republican vice unusually strong,” said Abi Wright, the awards program’s presidential candidate Sarah Palin and NPR’s series of in-depth director, adding that “the jury left with renewed confidence in the voter discussions on the role that race played in the election. state of local television.” The remaining programs to receive awards varied widely in Among networks, CBS News will take home two awards, for their subject matter, from the effect of the recession on children political and economic reporting. PBS programs won two honors, to a judge grappling with decades-old human rights abuses in as well, and an HBO documentary was also singled out. NPR and Chile, post-Hurricane Katrina government corruption and illegal American RadioWorks won radio awards. And, although the immigrants doing work on dairy farms in Vermont, among others. program has traditionally honored excellence in broadcast Programs that aired in the United States between July 1, journalism, for the first time a duPont Award is being given for 2008, and June 30, 2009, were eligible for consideration. The a Web-based production, and it will go to the multimedia winners will be honored in an evening ceremony, hosted by production studio MediaStorm for its look at the legacy of PBS’ Gwen Ifill, on Jan. 21 at Columbia University. NBC News children born out of rape in Rwanda. Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel will present the The ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continued to be a Silver Batons.

THE WINNERS

The York Project: Lindsay Totty series of candid, sometimes interesting place.” In addition Broadcast/Recording uncomfortable conversations to a cozy setting, she said she Race and the Technicians: Ivan Burketh, Josh 2008 Vote Rogosin about the role of race in the insisted that “food had to be NPR, Michele Norris & Senior Interactive Designer: 2008 election. Although the involved” to get participants Nelson Hsu topic had been discussed in to loosen up. “We thought we Steve Inskeep Executive Producers: Madhulika Sikka, Christopher Turpin ongoing coverage, Norris were going to have to pull Reporters: Steve Inskeep, Michele said, she had the feeling that teeth,” she said, but the Norris Producers: Brendan Banazsak, Steve Inskeep of “Morning people were “dancing around conversations took off within Heidi Glenn, Neva Grant, Erin Edition” and Michele Norris it,” and “I sensed that if we five minutes of the first Killian of “All Things Considered” gave people more time and meeting. The conversations Editors: Susan Feeney, Maria Godoy, Coburn Dukehart convened a diverse group of gave people a comfort zone were so revealing, she said, Production Assistant: Pennsylvania voters for a we could get to a really that NPR hopes to be able to

January 2010 | NewsPro | 17 DUPONT AWARDS

re-create the project around other issues, including, possibly, immigration.

Pill Mills WSVN-TV, Miami, Carmel Cafiero & Anthony Pineda

Reporters: Carmel Cafiero Producer, Photography: Anthony Pineda

Hours and hours of undercover work by reporter Carmel Cafiero and photographer Anthony Pineda led to this five-part series of reports that, Cafiero said, “put a picture and faces” to the pain clinics where doctors dispensed addictive narcotics to all comers in a form of “legalized drug dealing” that wreaked havoc on communities far WSVN-TV’S “PILL MILLS,” AN EXPOSE OF PAIN CLINICS, INVOLVED HOURS AND HOURS OF UNDERCOVER WORK. from South Florida as well as locally. Advocates had Farnsworth, Patricio Lanfranco producer who did occasional News Directors: Marselis Parsons, Editor: Blair Gershkow work for “The NewsHour,” Anson Tebbetts attempted for years to shut Co-producer: Andrés Cediel the clinics down, and the Coordinating Producer: Rob Weiss spent years tracking the For her three-part reports finally helped push Assistant Producer: María José judge and what he called his Calderón investigation into how through a prescription drug descent into “the abyss” of Composer: Barbara Cohen Vermont dairy farmers were monitoring bill that will Production Assistants: Amanda the country’s past, secretly hiring illegal migrant eventually track who is Beck, Lily Koppenberger continuing on despite Executive Producer: workers in order to stay in writing the prescriptions and considerable challenges Richard Pearce business, senior political who is getting them. “It was raising the funds that went for, among other things, reporter Kristin Carlson, a nice for a chance to do This profile followed acquiring the expensive native Vermonter working at something that affected conservative Chilean Judge archival footage that the a locally owned station where change, that will help people Juan Guzmán’s duPont judges found serious journalism is a in the long run,” said first- transformation beginning in compelling. Amnesty priority, spent nearly a year time duPont winner Cafiero, 1998 as he investigated International has used the talking to one of the farmers who has been at the station, human rights abuses in Chile film to encourage dialogue before they went before the with just an 18-month stint during the era of Gen. about state-sponsored terror. camera. It was a story she elsewhere, since 1973 (when Augusto Pinochet — whom Farnsworth speculated that said she had long wanted to it was known as WCKT). She he once supported — and his audiences embraced the film tell — other local news and Pineda have worked eventual decision to because the filmmakers outlets had looked at the together on investigative prosecute him. Elizabeth didn’t tell the story “just from issue with a great deal of reports since 1991. Farnsworth, a former PBS the left point of view.” anonymity — but it took time “NewsHour” senior to get farmers and illegal The Judge and the correspondent, has covered General, on PBS Foreigners on the workers to make the decision Chile off and on since to open up publicly, possibly POV, Elizabeth Farm working as an assistant on a exposing themselves to Farnsworth & Patricio WCAX-TV, Vermont, film there in 1970. She and prosecution. (Indeed, she Lanfranco and Kristin Carlson Patricio Lanfranco, a Chilean Reporter: Kristin Carlson said, her main subject was filmmaker and news Producer: Kristin Kelly Producers, Directors: Elizabeth subpoenaed after her report, Editor: Joe Carroll

18 | NewsPro | January 2010 Belo salutes KHOU-TV and WWL-TV on each receiving a 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award

Dallas/Fort Worth: WFAA-TV, TXCN. Houston: KHOU-TV. Phoenix: KTVK, KASW-TV. Seattle/Tacoma: KING-TV, KONG-TV, NWCN. St. Louis: KMOV-TV. Portland: KGW-TV. Charlotte: WCNC-TV. San Antonio: KENS-TV. Hampton/Norfolk: WVEC-TV. Louisville: WHAS-TV. Austin: KVUE-TV. New Orleans: WWL-TV, WUPL-TV. Tucson: KMSB-TV, KTTU-TV. Spokane: KREM-TV, KSKN-TV. Boise: KTVB.

Belo Corp. l www.belo.com DUPONT AWARDS

but not charged.) Getting the and one story was soon a story, she said, is “testament divisionwide effort — from to the fact that this farmer the “CBS Evening News” to wanted to tell the truth. It radio and the Internet — to just took finding the right look at the impact of the farmer to unlock the story.” economic crisis on children. Everyone was covering the Under Fire: bankers and the job losses, Discrimination McManus said, but few were and Corruption in following the children who the Texas might “be affected their entire National Guard lives.” The series, a KHOU-TV, Houston partnership with USA Today, & Mark Greenblatt revived the prestigious “CBS Reports” documentary brand. Reporter: Matt Greenblatt KATIE COURIC’S CBS NEWS INTERVIEW OF SARAH PALIN WAS A “GAME-CHANGER.” In the past, McManus said, Producer: Chris Henao Editor, Photographer: Keith the industry could do long- find a single one that was out Tomshe, The Sarah Palin form documentaries in prime of line. “It’s one of the Executive Producer: David Raziq Interviews time, something that isn’t News Director: Keith Connors reasons we hired Katie, CBS News economically feasible today. because she’s such an & Katie Couric But, he said, the recession This series of more than a outstanding interviewer,” he reports “were a big enough dozen reports over two years Reporter: Katie Couric said. “She has an uncanny initiative” to deserve the title, started with a “phone call Producers: Matt Lombardi, ability to ask that question at Jennifer Yuille and the new model will from an upset mom” who the right time.” Coordinating Producer: continue to be replicated had heard about blatant Lori Beecher from time to time for other hostility and discrimination Associate Producer: Children of the Brian Goldsmith topics. against women in the male- Executive Producer: Rick Kaplan Recession dominated Texas National CBS News, CBS Reports The Recruiter Guard. Then, like a thread Many news organizations and HBO & Edet Belzberg unraveling, the team made anchors had interviews with Reporter: Katie Couric an open records request to Correspondents: Dr. Jennifer Republican vice presidential Ashton, Kelly Cobiella, Seth Director, Producer: Edet Belzberg follow up on initial reports candidate Sarah Palin, but Doane, Sandra Hughes, Anthony Producer: Alan Oxman Co-Producer: Adam Bolt and the story turned into an Katie Couric’s, with its Mason, Byron Pitts, Maggie Editors: Chad Beck, Adam Bolt investigation into cover-up Rodriguez “nimble questioning and even Producers: Betty Chin, Wendy Cinematography: Edet Belzberg, and financial misdoing at the tone” had the greatest impact Krantz , Matt Lombardi, Nichole Liz Dory, Rossana Rizzo Composer: Derrick Hodge very highest ranks, said on the presidential campaign, Marks, John Mondello, Kristin Senior Producer: Nancy Abraham reporter Mark Greenblatt. “It Muller, Mary Raffalli, Karen the duPont judges found. Raffensberger, Robin Skeete, Lisa Executive Producer: Sheila grew and grew, and the more “Every once in awhile an Weiss Nevins we reported, the more people interview seems to be so Writer: Jerry Cipriano Senior Producers: Anthony The regularly appearing box became comfortable talking important that it’s a real Batson, Gavin Boyle, Katie Boyle, in The New York Times listing to us,” he said. The episodic game-changer,” said Sean Chris Hulme, Estelle Popkin the names, ages and reports were later compiled McManus, president of both Executive Producers: Rick Kaplan, Rand Morrison, Zev hometowns of U.S. soldiers into an hourlong special that CBS News and Sports. Shalev, Patricia Shevlin killed in Iraq prompted had even more impact, said Couric, he said, “really did director Edet Belzberg — a David Raziq, executive manage to ask the right CBS News and Sports MacArthur “Genius” award producer. The investigation, questions and elicit some very President Sean McManus recipient whose first film which led to new legislation interesting responses that I was meeting with a Detroit followed Romanian street and the removal from power think really did give people a doctor who wanted CBS to children — to want to know of three commanding lot of insight into the vice cover his mobile hospital more about those giving their generals and a separate base presidential candidate.” Palin serving low-income children lives for the country, she commander, earns the in her recent book called the when he had the insight that said, noting, “I felt a complete fourth duPont award for the questions unfair, but maybe the topic was bigger. disconnect between what was investigative unit. McManus said he’s looked So McManus sat down with going on and what I was back at every one and didn’t some of his staff members

20 | NewsPro | January 2010 experiencing.” As she dug deeper, a story in the Army Times about a soldier who won an award for his recruitment efforts led her, in 2004, to her subject, whom she eventually filmed in his day-to-day efforts to enlist new soldiers. The story, told without political point of view, also followed four teenage recruits through basic training. The film, which aired on HBO, is now being shown in schools where students continue to be recruited, she said, calling that the work’s “most important impact.”

Pakistan: Children of the Taliban, on PBS WGBH, Boston, FRONTLINE’S “PAKISTAN: CHILDREN OF THE TALIBAN” TOLD THE STORY OF THE COUNTRY THROUGH THE EYES OF CHILDREN FRONTLINE/World, Justine Faram children would be more strangers.” She said it helped Dan Edge & Executive Producer: relatable for viewers. “It’s very that she spoke the language Sharmeen David Fanning important to tell the story and is a Muslim. She and Obaid-Chinoyn Reporter Sharmeen Obaid- through a medium that director and cameraman Dan Director, Cameraman, Chinoy and her colleagues people can relate to, so Edge spent days getting Composer: Dan Edge, Producer chose to tell the story of people are no longer ‘the children in remote parts of Reporter, Producer: other,’ ” she said. Her work the country to open up about Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Pakistan through the eyes of Executive Producer for October children, because their has often focused on their desires to go to school Films: Julia Barron experiences now will shape children, and earning their or to become suicide Editor: Alex Archer trust, she said, “is a long bombers, compiling what the Senior Producer: Ken Dornstein the country for at least a Associate Producers: Fazeelat generation in the future, she process. Children trust very duPont jurors deemed “a ❑ Aslam, Asad Faruqi said. They also thought rarely, especially with stunningly bleak portrait.” Production Manager:

CONGRATULATIONS 2010 DUPONT-COLUMBIA AWARD WINNERS

CBS News and Katie Couric The Sarah Palin Interviews CBS News CBS Reports: Children of the Recession

January 2010 | NewsPro | 21 DUPONT AWARDS

which had to wait until a experience” and because slow month. The followups, some of them “were really he said, were database bitter about their driven, which was also time- experiences.” They were proud consuming. But the impact of to be soldiers, he said, but also the yearlong investigation upset that “then this was considerable, with two happened and it irreparably judges receiving private damaged us.” reprimands, and a third facing an ethics trial in April. Intended The powers of special judges Consequences have been limited and new MediaStorm & procedures have been put in Jonathan Torgovnik place. For the duPont judges, the reports “performed a Photography and Interviews: “WHAT KILLED SERGEANT GRAY?” FOCUSED ON PRISONER ABUSE IN IRAQ Jonathan Torgovnik valuable public service.” Producer: Chad A. Stevens On-Location Video: Jules Shell including a new hospital What Killed Studio Video: Bob Sacha, Chad A. policy that sends ambulances Stevens 33 Minutes Sergeant Gray? Composers: Pamela Chen, to the airport automatically to 34 Right American RadioWorks, Sherman Jia KMGH-TV, Denver & when there is an alert. And Michael Montgomery & Graphics: Tim Klimowicz Executive Producer: Brian Storm Tony Kovaleski the airport now has a Joshua E. S. Phillips dedicated ambulance on site; Reporter: Tony Kovaleski, Kovaleski said a paramedic Producers: Michael Montgomery, In early 2006, Jonathan Producers: Tom Burke, Arthur recently told the team that Joshua E.S. Phillips Torgovnik was on assignment Kane Editor: Catherine Winter that had likely saved six lives for Newsweek in East Africa Photojournalist: Jason Foster General Manager: Byron Grandy . covering HIV and AIDS when News Director: Jeff Harris General Sessions Joshua Phillips was working during a stop in Rwanda he Executive Producers: Tom Burke on a book (“None of Us Were sat in on “the most horrific Arthur Kane, Tony Kovaleski Court WTVF-TV, Nashville & Like This Before,” out in interview” of his career, as a April) on U.S. torture and woman revealed how her KMGH’s report into the Phil Williams detainee abuse when a family had been killed before exceedingly slow ambulance Reporter: Phil Williams combat medic he was her during the 1994 genocide response times at Denver Producer, Photojournalist: interviewing mentioned a and she had been repeatedly International Airport, the Bryan Staples colleague, Sgt. Adam Gray, raped. She mentioned in country’s fourth busiest, Producer: Kevin Wisniewski News Director: Sandy Boonstra who had died from an passing the baby that began when a businessman overdose. Over three years, resulted from the rape, and died waiting for care. When This series of reports on Phillips said he and his when Torgovnik got home “it six months later there was a nepotism, ticket-fixing and eventual collaborator, was haunting me,” he said. plane crash at the airport, a other corruption in the local Michael Montgomery, tracked He returned on his own to public records request turned court system from veteran down and gained the trust of track down other isolated up information that it took investigative reporter Phil a dozen members of the and stigmatized women and 33 minutes for the first Williams and the WTVF sergeant’s unit and got them their children — they are ambulance to show up. investigative team grew from to open up for a one-hour estimated to number 20,000 Reporter Tony Kovaleski and “having been in the radio documentary about — eventually linking up with his colleagues had to face community. People would how they abused prisoners in Web site MediaStorm to down the local hospital, mention tidbits about things Iraq, practices they said were “provide a space for their which complained to station they were hearing about the sanctioned by superiors, and voices to be heard.” For the management that the report judges,” said Williams, and the effect that had had on first time in his career, he was inaccurate, but the team eventually the collection of them. Despite being skittish said, he also went beyond had the official reports to tidbits convinced the team it about eventual prosecution reporting, and launched back it up, Kovaleski said. was worth digging deeper. (which hasn’t happened) they “FoundationRwanda.org” The series and a subsequent The challenge, Williams said, wanted to talk, Phillips that has raised more than half-hour special helped was finding the initial time speculated, to help Gray’s $700,000 to support prompt major changes, “to do the surveillance,” mother “make sense of this secondary education for the

22 | NewsPro | January 2010 children.

NOAH Housing Program Investigation WWL-TV, New Orleans

Reporter: Lee Zurik, Reporter; Researcher, Contributor: Karen Gadbois Photography: Tom Moore, Bob Parkinson Executive Producers: Dominic Massa, Chris Slaughter

WWL-TV’S “NOAH HOUSING PROGRAM INVESTIGATION” ORIGINATED WITH A TIP FROM A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST A tip from a community activist led to WWL-TV’s 50- work, anchor and reporter Lee contractors working for the Urban Development, the New part investigation into post- Zurik told TVWeek last spring, New Orleans Affordable Orleans Inspector General and Hurricane Katrina corruption when the series won a Homeownership program, or a federal grand jury, which are in a government program that Peabody award. Ignoring NOAH, had ties to the agency’s ongoing, said Dominic Massa, was meant to help poor and pressure from New Orleans head and a relative of the WWL’s executive producer for elderly residents with housing Mayor Ray Nagin to stop mayor’s. The reports triggered special projects. Zurik has renovation but may have reporting, the team also investigations by the FBI, the since left WWL for rival instead funneled money to turned up evidence that U.S. Dept. of Housing & WVUE-TV, where he won’t be contractors who never did the on the air until spring.

Congratulates all of the winners of the duPont-Columbia Award!

January 2010 | NewsPro | 23 BUSINESS

January, it said it would invest $70 million coverage in exchange for their federal Sorting Out over seven years in community monies. Of all the report’s recommendations, foundations, double its current he said, getting National Public Radio Journalism’s investment, to help foster “informed, affiliates, in particular, to ramp up local engaged communities.” reporting is “the one that seems to me New Funding Many others, however, insist that practical.” there’s a need to think much, much Many NPR affiliates are starting down Proposals bigger. that road already. NPR’s CPB-funded Argo In the 100-page October report “The Project for the past year has been training By Elizabeth Jensen Reconstruction of American Journalism,” reporters from local stations to tell stories commissioned by Nicholas Lemann, the related to the community impact of the All fall, they came fast and furious: Another dean of the Columbia University global financial crisis. conference or report on new funding models Journalism School, authors Leonard PBS is taking its own steps to support to reinvent and save journalism. Downie, the former local journalism, although Conferences at Harvard, Yale, Aspen, and executive editor of The they are more limited. In reports from the Knight Foundation and Washington Post, and Two challenges early January, PBS Columbia University’s Journalism School, Michael Schudson, a to increased announced that by May it just to name a few. professor at the Journ- public funding will launch a new Web site The consensus? There wasn’t one. There alism School, give a nod to are finding the that will aggregate all of are lots of ideas, but no clear picture yet of community foundations the programming service’s what will work. and philanthropy as poss - federal funds and news and public affairs The Knight Foundation has been at the ible options. insulating programming, as well as forefront of encouraging new models But the recommen- newsrooms from content from NPR, to through grants to organizations that use dation that got the most political make it easier to find. A digital open-source technology; are targeted attention, and drew the key component of the at local and geographic, not virtual, most controversy, was to pressure. project is taking place communities; and allow universal access. encourage greater public behind the scenes: PBS is The approach is that “Everybody should try funding of traditional overhauling its digital new models,” said Jose Zamora, a program newsrooms, through changes in the content system so that the Web site will also associate in the foundation’s journalism federal tax code, redirection of government be able to offer up to users journalism that program. “There’s no other way to find money already given to public broad - has been produced at their local public what’s next than to experiment.” casting, and through direct public in- station. So far, he said, crowd-funding — or vestment in a fund for local news - Schudson acknowledged two of the soliciting direct donations for specific stories gathering. challenges to increasing public funding of — as practiced at Spot.us (http://spot.us/) Not all the reaction was negative. Still, traditional media: Finding the federal funds, seems to be doing well, as is a site called Schudson said, much of it was along the and insulating the newsrooms from political Printcasting.com, where writers and lines of “you guys are communists or pressure. U.S. public broadcasting has advertisers submit material to the site for idiots,” because “government funding grappled with both in recent years under the readers to print out custom magazines. A equals government control.” Republican Bush Administration, which Knight-funded hyperlocal aggregation site In fact, he noted, there’s already routinely tried to cut CPB’s appropriation called Everyblock.com was purchased by government funding of newsgathering in and installed a CPB head who attempted to MSNBC, he noted, which “in a way is a huge the U.S. through the Corporation for impose politically driven programming success in itself, recognition that we’re doing Public Broadcasting, not to mention the changes at PBS. But, he added, those something that’s valued by the media U.K.’s BBC. “The BBC has not turned the challenges aren’t unconquerable. world.” U.K. into the Soviet Union,” he said, and Journalists, said Lemann, the Journalism Some nonprofit news sites such as the at home, “We have a 40-year record of School’s dean, “are really socialized not to VoiceofSanDiego.org, which taps the public funding of broadcasting.” think about what we do in a policy context.” support of individuals, foundations and The authors recommended that CPB, Ask a typical journalist what in the public businesses to fund its targeted reporting, whose grants to local public broadcasting policy realm is relevant to journalism, he are also making a go of it. Knight is also high stations often are used to support said, and the answer is, “We want one thing: on the potential of community foundations infrastructure, instead be directed to A shield law and everything to be publicly ❑ to support local journalism: In early require those stations to do local news disclosed, and that’s it.”

24 | NewsPro | January 2010 TECHNOLOGY

owned WTVT-TV in Tampa-St. Petersburg, Using IP transmission does present some Stations Fla. “Skype’s picture is what it is. I have challenges, and the biggest is latency. Often used it in the past at other stations. There a field crew will transmit video via IP but Stick to Web are situations in which it’s very handy.” have its reporter on the phone for a live On the other hand, Streambox, an IP talkback with anchors. Protocol program designed especially for professional “The Streambox has several settings, and use, comes at a cost, but offers “a much the higher the bandwidth the lower the Stations higher-quality picture,” McClain said. latency. With a robust connection, delay could be as little as two seconds. That’s

By Hillary Atkin Reliability Touted really acceptable,” McClain said, adding that As every news director and assignment desk According to Tim Heiner, director of sales transmitting through an air card on current editor knows, ENG and even satellite trucks for Streambox, the applications’ big 3G networks creates a 10-second to 15- have their limitations, whether they are advantage is “very efficient but high second latency and requires about 20 distance, terrain or safety concerns. That’s why many news organizations across the country are embracing IP (Internet Protocol) video transmission, especially when it comes to situations like broadcasting live from a rolling bus, or from the middle of a lake — or using a live link from a 20th floor office when the mayor decides to hold a news conference. For some station groups, the efforts are part of a next-generation newsroom initiative, which calls for deploying whatever new technologies can get breaking news up the fastest, both online and on air — whether it’s a reporter taking a still picture on a BlackBerry that goes up on the Web or JEFF LIEBMAN OF WDIV-TV IN DETROIT STREAMING LIVE VIDEO FROM HIS CAR TO THE STATION USING STREAMBOX. using a laptop’s air card to transmit a clip at a Starbucks. reliability over IP networks. The quality and minutes to feed about one minute of video reliability of low-cost networks — that’s our — making it a less desirable choice. Easy Access claim to fame.” Streambox is one of the platforms WTVT experimented with various Changes on Horizon making inroads into the insular applications and went with Streambox in Telco executives say it’s just a matter of newsgathering world, offering news organ - July 2009, installing the application on time before 4G coverage and Wi-MAX are izations the ability to feed back high- three field laptops and getting two decoders widely deployed throughout the country at quality video and go live via broadband at the station. The setup allows for two live speeds 10 times faster than 3G, alleviating and Wi-Fi in situations where it would be streams on air at the same time, or going the time lag and delay problems. difficult or impossible for a microwave back to back from one to the other But with news departments working truck to maneuver. “We use whatever we need, however we overtime to be ever more nimble and Skype, a free IP service that is primarily can get it. It makes our job more exciting. competitive, the current technology is a targeted toward consumers for telephone We are not bound by traditional notions boon to newsgathering. and video calls, was an early solution for anymore. It’s whatever fits,” said Brian “It’s now a daily occurrence. People some stations like WBRC-TV in Birm- Bracco, vice president of news at Hearst used to think deadlines were 5, 6 and 11 ingham, Ala. television stations, who oversees news p.m.,” Bracco said. “The deadline is now. “We immediately recognized the value of operations at nearly 30 stations. “You As soon as you get it, you get it to the delivering live video, and stations were quick wouldn’t want to use ENG trucks in the Web. We’re using all the tools. There are to put [Skype] on in situations like storm height of an electrical storm, but you could a lot of efficiencies here. We’re publishing, chasing, early on before these other transmit outside a house with a good posting and broadcasting more things professional solutions were developed,” said wireless connection and be as safe as you than we were before and remaining Mike McClain, VP and news director of Fox- can be.” relevant.” ❑

January 2010 | NewsPro | 25 SIGN OFF *BY TOM PETNER Fifth Graders vs. Job Applicants

need to take a Manhattan lunch and pitch meeting with Mark One of the more bizarre things Frye sees several times a year: Burnett. He’s the British producer and TV guru who People who take a job, and either change their minds or simply never introduced the competition-based reality programming genre show up. to the U.S. So here’s my reality show idea for Burnett: a spinoff “It tends to happen more with big jobs involving a lot of money and of his “Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader” program. a lot of recruitment time,” she said. Case in point: One candidate interviewed for an EP news job, accepted it, but never reported for II’d call it “Are You Smarter than a Broadcast News Applicant?” work. A concerned news director called the guy’s wife, who didn’t Here’s what I can deliver: know where he was. Police in California and other Western states * A television anchor who submitted a resume tape – supposedly searched for the man, but never found him. He finally called in and bulk erased – showing the candidate having sex with someone at the said he wasn’t going to take the job after all. No kidding! end of the tape. Adding insult to recruitment injury, the person called Frye the * The “produced” resume tape of a candidate drinking beer, same day and asked, “Can you cussing and smoking between takes. help me find a job?” * A job applicant who made the news director wait until he finished One applicant a workout. for a “news” job Drawing a Blank * A candidate who sets his after-dinner brandy on fire with a Frye said technology has cigarette lighter. listed, under changed the search process, and * An applicant for a “news” job who listed, under “awards and “awards and news directors have switched to achievements,” a link to bikini.com, where she was featured as girl- achievements,” asking for DVDs instead of VHS of-the-month. tape. “But I’m always surprised at Cool, huh? What do you think of my show idea so far? a link to how many people send us blank These may sound phony but they’re not. These are sadly some of bikini.com, DVDs,” Frye said. “It’s clear that the true – and truly bizarre – experiences Sandra Connell, president where she they didn’t bother to quality of Dallas-based Talent Dynamics, has had with broadcast news job check. We get five or six DVDs a applicants over the years. was featured week that are blank, broken or Connell is one of three top television news recruiters who passed as girl-of-the- unwatchable.” along their advice, “best of” stories and view of today’s crop of More people, especially broadcast news candidates. The others are Barbara Frye, VP of talent month. younger people, won’t even bother placement services at Frank Magid Associates, and Tom Dolan, putting together a DVD, instead president of Dolan Media Management. referring news directors and recruiters to their Web sites or Seen It All videos posted on “YouTube.” Frye says a link-only approach to a This trio has collectively been in the game for decades and has seen resume reel is wrong. “News directors still want a DVD. They don’t thousands of resumes, tapes and, in the process, placed hundreds want a bunch of emails with links.” of job candidates in newsrooms throughout the country. What’s Frye’s advice to applicants? “Check, double-check, and So if you’re ready to tell your boss to “shove it” and move to that triple-check everything,” she said. next big newsroom job, you first should consider some of their stories. Tom Dolan, who prequalifies job candidates for his clients, echoed All three say something as simple as spelling can kill your new job Connell’s and Frye’s focus on sweating the details in a job search. “I’ve deal. One of Connell’s all-time favorites: the job candidate listed a definitely seen bad misspellings kill someone’s chances at a job,” he reference on a resume as a “Pullet Surprise Nominee.” said. Dolan’s advice on cover letters: “Always have someone proofread Then there are the “wrong names, spelling mistakes, wrong titles it. And overloading your resume with personal references, sending for news directors or the name for a competing news director on the cameo videos and leaving off a reference from someone you reported letter,” she said. to is a flag and dead giveaway.” “You might ask Barbara Frye how many cover letters she gets OK, Mark Burnett, where do I sign? This is definitely the stuff of addressed to me. We get them for her,” Connell added. reality TV. Yep, says Frye. “I’m always just flabbergasted when it happens. I automatically wonder, if they can’t get the place or name right, how Tom Petner is an award-winning journalist and media executive. can they possibly be a good reporter?” He can be reached at [email protected].

26 | NewsPro | January 2010 The Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards

HONORING THE BEST IN BROADCAST NEWS FOR 40 YEARS

www.dupont.org