Dear Grape,
As a reporter looking for another tv news job in another market, I know I shouldn't be considering high or low ratings as a valid reason to take or reject a job offer. But what about low morale that some people at last-rated stations seem to have? What about the stresses of being at a last-place station where managers are stressed themselves and negative vibes reverberate through the newsroom, or demands on air-talent are made to "make the ratings better?"
Last year one client told me he wasn't going to apply to a certain station because it wasn't number one in the market. Well, I shot him with the clue gun and got him to send a tape, because very often ratings don't tell the whole story.
There are plenty of things to consider when job hunting. The News Director is the first thing, and the biggest thing, because the ND sets the tone for the newsroom. So, would you rather work for a guy who is a cylon and runs a number one station, or a decent human being who will help your career grow, but runs the station that is number two in the market?
Then consider the company. There are a few right now that are notoriously cheap and put out a lousy product. Incredibly, some of those stations may actually be number one in their markets. That doesn't mean you want to work for them.
As for morale at a last place shop, well, I think I had the most fun at my first station, and it was dead last. We had an attitude that we had nothing to lose, so the ND let us try new things, push the envelope. We had a better team spirit in that station than the others in which I've worked.
I also worked for a perennial number one station and working there was like the Bataan Death March. Morale couldn't have been lower. The people were very talented, the product was good, but we were treated like dirt. The only reason we did well was because the staff had so much pride in its work. I worked for another number one station that put out a horrible product, but because the community had "always watched the station" they did well in the ratings.
There are plenty of stations with great ratings that don't deserve them. In some cases, they've figured out what the public wants and have given it to them. If the market wants a parade of car wrecks, then car wrecks will make you number one.
Judge each station separately and forget the ratings factor. It really doesn't have any indication as to how you'll be treated, or what the quality of the product is.
Grape,
Like most tv stations across the country, my station is going through some tough times. Advertising is sinking, so therefore, no OT, and no new hires (we're already short-staffed). However, my station hasn't laid off anyone, yet. But things continually get worse. Can they lay-off staffers that are on contracts, like me?
-Not Liking Looming Lay-offs
Well, you're not gonna like my answer. I honestly have no clue.
Not being a lawyer, I cannot say if your contract will protect you or not. Layoffs are different than terminations.
Best thing to do if you're not sleeping nights is to go over your contract with an attorney.
Grape,
Is there some reason we have so much weather in our newscast? I mean, it is in the first block, then there's the full weather segment, then a segment at the end. What's the deal?
Well, two reasons, and one of them has to do with our old nemesis, the consultant. A while back they did surveys and asked people the question, "Is weather important to you?" Well, of course, everyone said yes, so the consultants decided we needed more weather, then more, then more. Doesn't matter that you've seen the forecast ten minutes ago, we're gonna give it to you again, beat you over the head with it, and make you write it on a blackboard one hundred times like a multiplication table in the third grade.
As for why there's weather at the end of a newscast, it is because many producers can't time a show, even though everything is computerized. Back in my day (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) we ended each newscast with a kicker, and the show timed out. No computers, half the time no producers. Sticking weather at the end of the show gives a producer an easy out, as a good weather person can talk for ten seconds or sixty to finish the newscast.
Many years ago Jay Leno visited our station and "helped" the weather guy with the forecast. As the guy ran through the record highs and talked about the previous day, Leno interrupted and asked, "Why do you guys spend so much time talking about what happened yesterday?" The guy is a comedian, but his comment made so much sense.
For you weather people out there with three or four minutes to fill, don't just do the same thing every day, please make things interesting. Explain things, be a science teacher, show some unusual weather video, mix it up. By the time four minutes goes by and I still don't have the forecast, I have highway hypnosis... then I can't remember the forecast when I do hear it.
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