tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83316958993842520142023-06-06T05:05:20.673-05:00TVNEWSGRAPEVINEMAKE JOURNALISM GREAT AGAIN.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.comBlogger1137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-48637007793497964692021-01-09T09:19:00.004-06:002021-01-09T09:19:45.703-06:00R.I.P Journalism, 2021<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In 1974 (yes, I’m </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">that </i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">old) I walked into my
first Journalism class at the University of Connecticut. The bell rang and a
middle-aged, white haired gentleman entered the class, moved to the front of
the room and looked up. “I’m Evan Hill and welcome to Journalism. Check your
opinions at the door.” The man who would become my favorite teacher of all time
was a by-the-book journalist who taught us the importance of being fair, objective
and unbiased.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">At one point we were assigned to write a profile and I
ended up with the University’s first female Trustee. I handed in my profile and
watched as Mister Hill went through it at his desk, red pen poised to strike.
Suddenly he shook his head and the pen slashed through a sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“What’d I do?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“There’s an opinion in your story.” He turned the page
around and showed me the offending sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I’d referred to the woman as an attractive brunette
dressed in a tailored business suit with a single strand of pearls. “I don’t
understand. How is that an opinion?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“You called her attractive.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“Well, I mean, she’s not a fashion model or anything
but she’s a nice looking woman.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">“In whose opinion? Yours? Maybe someone else thinks
she’s ugly.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Sure, that was an extreme example, but he taught me
something which made me very careful to keep even the slightest opinions out of
my stories.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">During my career as a television reporter I probably
did more than three thousand stories. And I don’t think any viewer had a clue
as to how I voted. In fact, the opinionated stuff you see today on TV would
have gotten me fired in a heartbeat.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But then things changed as I saw my first blatant
example of media bias in 2004. I was working in New York, and the country was
in the middle of a presidential election. During the morning meeting when
stories are assigned people were discussing a story in the New York Post about
a major Democratic presidential candidate who allegedly had a mistress. People
were speculating if the mistress was real, when from the back of the room an
intern spoke up. “She’s my roommate in college. He calls our room all the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Jaws dropped, conversation stopped. Suddenly every
reporter turned to her and started asking questions. And every reporter wanted
this story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Until the person in charge spoke up. “We’re not doing
this story.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A veteran reporter who was head of the union was
furious, arguing that this was a major national story. And this being a union
shop in New York, just about everyone who worked there was pretty liberal and a
Democrat. The manager wouldn’t budge. “Nobody cares about that stuff anymore.”
What followed was the biggest newsroom argument I’ve ever witnessed, with liberals
fighting for the story that would surely take down a Democrat. These were real,
old-school, objective reporters. But the story was killed and never saw the air.
Thankfully, the candidate did not become president.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Same TV station, a few months later. We’re airing
sound bites from a George W. Bush speech and all of a sudden I hear a scream in
the middle of it. Then it happens again. And again. I assumed the control room
simply had two tapes playing at the same time or there was a hot microphone
somewhere. But a later look at the tape showed someone had actually edited the
infamous John Dean scream into the sound bite. A little detective work found
the culprit. Was he fired? Suspended? Fined? Nope. Same manager. Rules didn’t
apply in that station if you made a Republican look bad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In 2005 I started working as a freelance producer for
all the major networks. And I started to notice something. When I worked for
NBC, people assumed I was liberal. When I worked for Fox, they thought I was
conservative.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I see 2008 as the year journalism began a death spiral
as the media love-fest for Obama was in full bloom. Planted questions in the
White House press room, more softballs than a beer league, and a ridiculous
query from a reporter who asked the President what had most “enchanted” him
about being President. I think if the President had come to a sudden stop, some
of these reporters would have broken noses.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">But the past four years have left no doubt that
journalism is dead. Suppression of news, known as “bias by omission” in which
you simply don’t cover stories you don’t like (see: New York, 2004), along with
what is now known as “opinion journalism” (which is an oxymoron) have left the
media with no credibility. The often laughable coverage of the “peaceful
protests” in 2020, the prime example bring a reporter in front of a burning
building saying things were mostly peaceful, showed how the networks are not
even trying to hide their bias any longer. The double standard evident this
week during the incident at the Capitol. Looting, destruction of businesses, burning
buildings, destroying monuments, billions in damage, police officers killed or
injured… that’s okay. A bunch of people storming the capitol… and yes, people
died… but they made it seem like it was worse than 9/11 or the day JFK was shot.
Once anchor said, “We will get through this.” ABC actually used the term “cleansing
the movement” in reference to Trump supporters. If you don’t know your history
as it refers to cleansing, look up Nazi Germany.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">So, rest in peace, journalism, and it appears free
speech is circling the drain as well with big tech banning anything they don’t
like. Trump is now banned from Twitter. The Ayatollah still enjoys his account.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The big problem is that “news” is no longer about
information but affirmation; meaning you will watch or read things with which
you agree.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The bigger problem is social media, which has done
nothing but divide us. The internet is Skynet, terminators not needed to
destroy society. We have met the enemy and it is us.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Of course now the media will call for unity, after
referring to half the country for four years as racists, homophobes, Nazis,
Klan members, and everything you can think of. And now they expect everyone to
hold hands and sing Kumbaya? As we say in New York, I got your unity right
here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I feel very sad that the business I loved is playing a
key role in the destruction of this country. People often ask me, “What do I
watch or read? How do I know what the truth is anymore?” Sorry, I have no
answer. But if you read both sides, the truth is probably somewhere in the
middle. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Look, don’t let anyone, especially a reporter or
anchor, tell you what to think. Most people have enough common sense to
understand that the fringe groups of both parties are not the norm. The guy
with the Republican yard sign who lives next door does not attend Klan rallies.
The person across the street with a Democratic sign does not go looting on
weekends. But the media would have you believe you need to hate the person who
thinks differently than you do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">There’s an old saying. Tell a lie often enough, and it
becomes the truth. But that’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>changed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tell a lie often enough, and it now becomes journalism.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-3865686454426167032020-01-06T09:06:00.002-06:002020-01-06T09:06:56.607-06:00NEW BOOK!<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I'm back. Kinda sorta.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I've updated my Street Smarts book for the new decade, which also includes the original text. Since so much has changed in the business and ethics seemed to go out the window at the network level, I thought it was time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, available on Amazon today and everywhere else shortly. Any questions fire away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, I'll drop in from time to time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Broadcast-Journalism-Street-Smarts-Vision/dp/1674780729/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=broadcast+journalism+street+smarts&qid=1578323109&s=digital-text&sr=1-2-catcorr" target="_blank">Broadcast Journalism Street Smarts: 20/20 Vision for 2020 and Beyond</a></span>Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-67017939089316407192013-08-26T13:15:00.001-05:002013-08-26T13:15:49.279-05:00There's no crying in news; or, why rookies need to grow a backbone and become a Vulcan(In this scene the News Director has just chastised his rookie reporter for nothing in particular since he loves keeping the upper hand. As expected, the tears begin to flow, pleasing the ND to no end.)<br />
<br />
<i>ND: Are you... crying?"</i><br />
<i>Reporter: (Trying in vain to hold back tears) No. No.</i><br />
<i>ND: Are those.... tears?</i><br />
<i>Reporter: No.</i><br />
<i>ND: There's no crying in news! Did Walter Cronkite cry? No! Did Edward R. Murrow cry? Nooooo! Because there's no crying in news!</i><br />
<br />
Unfortunately, these days there seems to be a lot of crying in news. This year I've had more phone calls from reporters in tears than ever before. For whatever reason, managers seem to take perverse pleasure in ripping their new employees, when they should be doing just the opposite. While a News Director doesn't need to treat rookies like the bubblewrapped kids we often see in this country, he doesn't need to make the new kid walk on eggshells.<br />
<br />
Let's face it, some NDs really get off on the power trip, and that's why many of them are stuck in small markets or working for lousy companies. But we've covered that ground before.<br />
<br />
So it's time to channel your inner Vulcan. You must become Mister Spock, and check your emotions at the door.<br />
<br />
You must grow a backbone. I'm not telling you to be insubordinate, but until you show managers that they can't get under your skin, they'll keep hammering you. You must keep in mind that it is simply management manipulation to make you feel less confident about your abilities, and therefore, less confident when it comes to job hunting.<br />
<br />
But this isn't about them, it's about you.<br />
<br />
Learn to sort constructive criticism from the comments that are simply mean spirited. Always consider the source of the comment. Just because someone carries a title of ND or Executive Producer doesn't make that person an authority on anything. There are hordes of crash test dummies working in positions of power.<br />
<br />
Grow the backbone. Be the Vulcan and don't show your emotions. Raise your shields. As soon as you brush off nasty comments, they'll stop. The best defense is to be cheerful right after you've gotten hammered. Go back to the newsroom, tell a joke, laugh. Let them know they're not pushing your buttons. <br />
<br />
Live long and prosper. <br />
<br />
<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-7690683489643815452013-08-10T07:04:00.002-05:002013-08-10T07:06:52.814-05:00Jedi Mind Tricks: Due to cutbacks, the old "good cop, bad cop" tactic is now performed by one personStop me if you've heard this before on a date:<br />
<br />
"You're really attractive, have a great personality, and I've enjoyed spending time with you. I'm sure you'll make someone a wonderful husband/wife."<br />
<br />
But......<br />
<br />
Yes, that's the old "good cop, bad cop" dating version. You build the person up before dumping them to soften the blow, sort of like offering a condemned prisoner anything for a last meal before throwing the switch on the electric chair and frying said prisoner. <br />
<br />
Back in the day the newsroom version of this was a skill set employed by the News Director and either his Assistant or the Executive Producer. Whoever was playing the good cop would build you up, usually just before a contract negotiation, and then the other would drop the hammer. Or, the bad cop character would lay the groundwork for a lousy offer by repeatedly focusing on your shortcomings, so when the good cop came by with an offer you were glad to sign.<br />
<br />
Alas, lots of stations have done away with some of these positions, so the ND gets to play a dual role, and we're not talkin' Lindsay Lohan in <i>Freaky Friday.</i><br />
<br />
Depending on the News Director, you can get one of two scripts. The ND can lead off with the good cop, but the end result will be an offer you're not too pleased with. Or he can start with the bad cop, which results in a lousy offer that you'll be thrilled to accept.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Scenario Number One:</b> "You've done some really great work here the past few years, and you're a valuable member of the team. I know I can always count on you to go the extra mile, you're a positive influence on the newsroom and I'd really like you to stay. We've got some long term plans for you if you can make a commitment."<br />
<br />
(At this point you're pumped, smiling, sitting up straight, and waiting for the offer that will change your lifestyle. You're already picking out the color for your new car. Now stand by for the "but" part of this script.)<br />
<br />
"But.... as you know the economy is not great and we've had to tighten our belt. (ND shifts in chair as he realizes he's sitting on the keys to his Mercedes.) I really wish I could offer you a lot more since you are soooooo valuable to the newsroom. Anyway, I hope you'll consider this offer as it's the absolute best we can do." (ND has fingers crossed behind his back, and the words "go to confession" are written on his desk calendar for Saturday.)<br />
<br />
At this point the ND hands you a contract which is as convoluted as the health care bill. You quickly scan it for numbers and see that the proposed increase in pay will allow you to buy the ramen noodles with the little shrimp instead of the plain ones.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Scenario Number Two:</b> "Well, I know this job has been a struggle for you and I appreciate the effort. I was hoping you would have made more progress at this point, and every time you seem to be taking your work to the next level you do something that makes me wonder if your head's in the game. It's basically two steps forward, two steps back with you."<br />
<br />
At this point you're beginning to break out in a cold sweat. <i>Uh-oh, I'd better get more resume tapes out. When is my last day here? How long can I pay my rent before I have to pack up and move into Mom's basement? </i>And just when you've heard enough from the bad cop to make you think you're outta here, the good cop gallops in on a white horse and hands you a contract. Surprise!<br />
<br />
"But, I still believe in your potential and would like to see you fulfill that potential. So we've decided to offer you an extension. Of course, I'll expect you to work harder to avoid all those little things that have been setting you back."<br />
<br />
You exhale your tension as you flip through the contract, searching for those numbers. There they are! A three year deal with no outs! And a salary increase that will allow you to buy an extra soda each week from the break room vending machine! Sweet! And a few minutes ago you thought you were out the door. Whew, what a relief! Gimme a pen, where do I sign?<br />
<br />
<br />
You must be aware that in any contract negotiation, mind games will be played. Also keep in mind that the first offer is almost always the lowest one because part of a News Director's job is staying under budget. There's almost always room for polite negotiation, and I must emphasize the word <i>polite.</i> Play hardball and take a firm tone, and the bad cop could escort you out the door.<br />
<br />
<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-49114422235170490662013-07-15T06:39:00.000-05:002013-07-15T09:28:03.797-05:00I'm going on semi-hiatus... If you've been a regular visitor here for the past few years you may have noticed the posts have not been as frequent of late. Some of this is due to a two week vacation in June, but most of it is because of a very big change in my career.<br />
<br />
I've been writing novels for the past few years, and I've mentioned this a few times here. Well, a while ago I was offered a three-book deal by HarperCollins, known as one of the "Big Six" publishers. This is the kind of thing authors dream about... getting a major publisher to believe in your work and promote it. While television news has been my career, writing has always been my passion.<br />
<br />
The key here is "three-book deal" which means I have to devote much more time to writing fiction... and a little less time here.<br />
<br />
This does not mean I'm going to stop posting. There are still plenty of things you guys need to know, the industry is always changing, and I keep hearing of new Jedi Mind Tricks being played on unsuspecting journalists by those ne'er-do-wells in management. So though the posts will be less frequent, they'll still be there. Since I'm a quality vs. quantity guy anyway, this makes sense. <br />
<br />
Besides, there are seven years worth of posts that you can read (the current count is 1,320) so there's plenty of useful information if you care to wander through the archives.<br />
<br />
If you're a client, fear not, as I'll still take care of you and give you as much time and help as you need. Absolutely nothing will change.<br />
<br />
If you send an email with a question, it might take a little longer to answer it.<br />
<br />
As for my fiction, the first book is scheduled for release in August, and I hope you'll support it by either picking up a copy, telling your friends, or both.<br />
<br />
In the meantime know that I'll still be looking out for you guys. Hell, somebody has to.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, here's my new author blog if you'd like to check it out...<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1864830036"><br /></a>
<a href="http://thechannelingauthor.blogspot.com/">http://thechannelingauthor.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
. Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-24907023538986969432013-07-13T09:28:00.000-05:002013-07-14T09:29:13.040-05:00Sharknado copyIt occurs to me that with all the talk about the scientific possibility of a "sharknado" that stations need copy should this phenomenon occur. If you're gonna run a crawl about this, you can't simply wing it.<br />
<br />
So here's a template you can use should the skies start raining sharks. And remember, there's a difference between a sharknado watch and a sharknado warning. A watch means conditions are favorable for a sharknado, while a warning means that flying hammerheads have been spotted in your area.<br />
<br />
SHARKNADO WATCH:<br />
<br />
The National Sharknado Service has issued a sharknado watch for the following counties. (Insert counties and duration of watch here.) Sharknadoes can produce heavy rain, thumping music with gradually increasing speed, and flying sharks which may or may not include great whites. Should a sharknado occur you are advised to take cover, stay indoors and throw any raw steaks back in the freezer. If you are on the water in something less than a twenty foot watercraft, you're gonna need a bigger boat.<br />
<br />
SHARKNADO WARNING<br />
<br />
The National Sharknado Service has issued a sharknado warning for the following counties. (Insert counties and duration of watch here.) A sharknado has been spotted in (location) and is currently moving (speed and direction.) Sharknadoes produce heavy rain, flying sharks, cheesy movies, and Discovery Channel photographers busy collecting b-roll for Shark Week. During the first moments of any sharknado, a teenage bimbo will be eaten. During the middle of the sharknado, a push-the-envelope reporter stupid enough to stand on the beach will be swallowed during a live shot and Tweet from the shark's stomach. During the final moments of any sharknado, the biggest, baddest shark will either explode or be electrocuted.<br />
<br />
SIGN UP FOR SHARKNADO ALERTS!<br />
<br />
Viewers can get immediate warning that a sharknado is imminent by signing up for an alert. When a sharknado watch or warning is issued we will send a thirty second clip of the theme from Jaws to your cell phone. If you don't take cover by the end of the clip you're already dead. Viewers who already use this as their ring tone will be doomed.<br />
<br />
- Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-2531999827566357152013-07-11T06:39:00.001-05:002013-07-11T06:39:47.238-05:00Another accident waiting to happen: reporters running their own live trucksEvery year I've run a warning about pushing the envelope during hurricane or storm coverage. A lot of people don't listen. Perhaps the sad fact that three storm chasers died recently might make managers and field crews put safety ahead of sensational coverage.<br />
<br />
But there's another accident waiting to happen on the horizon. It's the disturbing trend of having reporters run their own live trucks. As if those who are one man bands don't have enough to do already, this will add another item to the list of duties. The problem is that this job requirement isn't an editorial one, but a technical one. And of all the dangerous things to do in this business, driving and operating a live truck is right near the top.<br />
<br />
I was riding in a live truck many years ago when our mast clipped an underpass. Though bolted to the floor of the truck, it ripped those bolts right out of the floor and flew up between me and the photog so fast that we didn't realize what happened. Had either of our seats been directly in front of the mast, which was the case in our other truck, one of us would have been killed.<br />
<br />
I worked with another photog who inadvertently put his mast up into a power line and was severely burned.<br />
<br />
Driving live trucks is another story. I had to do it on many occasions, and always hated it because it was an unstable top-heavy vehicle. I had too many things to worry about while thinking about my story; don't drive through the tunnel because the clearance is too low, don't take turns too fast, don't go fast, period. While I never had to actually run a live truck, I know what goes into it. It's somewhat of an art, and, if you don't know what you're doing, it could be a deadly one.<br />
<br />
So the beancounters out there who have come up with this crazy idea need to re-think it. Sure, you can save a salary by turning two man crews into one man bands, but you are putting way too much on a reporter's plate when you add live truck duties into the mix. I really hope I'm wrong, but I think it's only a matter of time before a reporter running his own truck gets seriously injured. While you're thinking about your story, what you'll say in your live shot, writing something for the web, Facebook, Twitter... your full attention cannot possibly be on operating something that absolutely requires your full attention.<br />
<br />
If you're at a station that uses this practice, send out your tapes and get outta there. <br />
<br />
And if you're one of the people instituting this insane practice... you'd better be able to look yourself in the mirror when someone gets hurt. Or worse.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-35768547808374159672013-07-07T08:00:00.001-05:002013-07-07T08:00:35.555-05:00Top ten reasons your confidence is shotSometimes I think I should have taken a few psychology courses in college, since many questions these days have to do with the mindset of those working in newsrooms. Back in the day the young reporters were of the take-no-prisoners type, wannabe Woodward and Bernsteins who thought nothing was impossible and shrugged off criticism that wasn't valid.<br />
<br />
Ah, but many of you are from the "everybody gets a trophy" generation, and if that's the case, you've recently discovered that you are not the center of the universe. You don't get a paycheck or a better job just for trying.<br />
<br />
Look, I'm not Doctor Phil, but I've seen enough and heard enough to know what's causing such a lack of confidence that permeates the industry. When type A guys turn into the geeks on The Big Bang Theory or traffic-stopping women who could cut a man in half with a barroom death stare are reduced to shuddering lumps, there's a reason.<br />
<br />
Guess what, much of it isn't your fault. (That should make those of you from the blameless society feel better.) Well, I said much of it. Part of it is your fault if you let outside factors chip away at your confidence.<br />
<br />
So if you're feeling worthless lately, check this list and you might find the reason why.<br />
<br />
1. Your News Director is a jerk. (Sure, there are more colorful terms I could use, and have used.) No matter what you do, you've done something wrong. Or your work is never good enough. Recognize this as an old ploy to keep your confidence down, make you afraid to send out resume tapes, and make an insecure News Director feel more superior. It might also make you feel you're not good enough to leave, and therefore sign another contract out of desperation.<br />
<br />
2. You dwell on the past. You might have knocked out ten great packages in a row but that stumble during a live shot is making your forget all the good stuff you've done. (And if your ND is the type to harp on said mistakes, that takes your anxiety up a notch.)<br />
<br />
3. You have no support system. This is typical of people in their first jobs. No parents to tell them how wonderful they are, close friends are thousands of miles away, and they're alone in a strange town. If you don't make friends with the people in the newsroom or get an objective veteran mentor, like an anchor, you're going to feel lost. Annnnddddd.... cue the insecurity.<br />
<br />
4. News flash: Not all the people in the world are nice. Some are minions of the devil. The sooner you realize this, the better off you'll be. Many entry level people are shocked at how nasty co-workers can be. The smaller the market, the bigger the egos.<br />
<br />
5. No response from your resume tapes. That doesn't necessarily mean your work isn't good. You may not have connected with the right ND.<br />
<br />
6. You're assigned lousy stories, even though your bring great ideas to the table. (That doesn't mean you have to do a lousy job. If you're assigned a dog, figure out a way to impress people with the way you turned it into a great story.)<br />
<br />
7. You're the newsroom whipping boy. Lousy assignments, the worst equipment, nasty remarks. Chances are the ND is hoping you'll quit by making you miserable. And if the ND isn't the one who hired you, this is pretty common.<br />
<br />
8. You've been passed over more than once for a promotion. Doesn't mean you weren't the best person, you just weren't the person management wanted. If you're passed over twice, move on, because they'll never promote you.<br />
<br />
9. You haven't turned a good package in awhile. And whose fault is that? A dysfunctional newsroom and a nasty ND don't prevent you from doing great work.<br />
<br />
10. You fail to consider the source of any criticism that isn't valid. So, the gal at the next desk who has less experience than you told you that your package was awful. Or your ND who has been fired from his last four jobs says you're worthless. When you accept criticism from people who don't have the credibility to dish it out, you're giving others the power over you.<br />
<br />
Bottom line, suck it up and attack your job with a vengeance. Don't let others control your confidence. It comes from inside, not outside.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-38689916008879894292013-07-01T08:03:00.002-05:002013-07-01T08:03:17.681-05:00What's wrong with my resume tape? (Excerpt from Broadcast Journalism Street Smarts)<br />
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">A female anchor once told me, “News Directors are just like
single men. They say they’ll call, but they never do.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Nothing drives on-air people nuts more than wondering what
actually happens to their resume tapes after they send them. Did the ND watch
my tape? Is it sitting in a giant pile unopened?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the big
one.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Is my resume tape good enough? There are no definitive
answers to any of these, but you have to keep one thing in mind to maintain
your sanity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">In many cases, it is not a matter of hiring the<i> best</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> person for the job, but the <i>right</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> person. Here are some of the comments
I’ve heard over the years from various managers after watching really good
resume tapes. Preface all of these with “great tape, but...”“Too old.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“Too young.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“Not another blonde.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“But we need a male/female.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“Overqualified/not enough experience.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“Won’t fit with the current co-anchor.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">“I’d rather hire someone local so we can save moving
expenses.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">You get the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is a lot like that episode of Seinfeld: “It’s not you, it’s me.” In
many cases, the stars have to align for you to get the job. Your tape may be
just fine, but you are not what the ND is looking for. Or your tape may need
some improvement. (More on that later.) But in order to understand how the hiring
process works, we need to take a peek inside the News Director’s office.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Let’s start at the beginning. There’s an opening. The ND
runs an ad in TVJobs.com. (He thinks he’ll save himself a few headaches by
putting the term “no phone calls” in the ad only to have the phone ring one
nanosecond after the opening hits the website.) Then the tapes begin to
arrive.(Let me preface the rest of this discussion by saying that when I made
the transition from reporter to manager I made myself a promise that I would watch
every resume tape as soon as it came in. This promise died a grisly death when
we ran an ad for a sports anchor and had 100 tapes show up in a week.)The tapes
begin to pile up the next day thanks to the wonders of overnight delivery. The
sad thing is, if the job was just posted, the applicant has just wasted fifteen
bucks. ND’s don’t think any more of a tape which arrived via Fedex than one
that was sent Media Mail. The only time to send a tape overnight is when it is
requested, or when you know for a fact the News Director is making a decision
tomorrow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Okay, back to our story. Now there’s a giant pile of tapes
in the ND’s office, or if he has an assistant, in the assistant’s office. Every
ND has his or her own system. In one case, I as the assistant news director was
asked to go through the tapes and only bring the best ones to the ND. Since he
and I had the same taste in reporters, this worked well. In another case, the
ND watched them all himself, then asked me and the Executive Producer to watch
what he considered the finalists. At another station, the ND piled up the tapes
and invited the whole news staff to watch them after the 6pm newscast and
honestly listened to everyone’s opinion. And finally, I worked as a reporter at
a station that changed News Directors. I noticed the new guy watched resume
tapes with the sound off. When I asked him why, he said “if they don’t look
good, I don’t want them.” (Not being anything close to Robert Redford, I sent
out a dozen tapes the next day.)When it is time to watch the tape, here is what
generally happens. The envelope is opened and the tape, resume and cover letter
are pulled out. The tape goes in the machine while the ND takes a quick glance
at the resume to see the person’s name and the current station or university.
“Okay, we’ve got Joe from Wichita.” The “play” button is hit, and the show
begins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Okay, your slate has rolled by and your first standup
begins. It had better be your best work or the “eject” button will be hit very
quickly. At this point you’re asking, “How can this be? This isn’t fair! The ND
hasn’t even gotten to my packages yet!” Bud sadly, in most cases, this is true.
Most managers are looking for their own style of on-air person. So your first
few seconds of tape had better show some personality, creative writing ability,
ability to communicate, animation, connection with the viewer. Remember, first
impressions count the most. And, yes, this is a very superficial business. Some
ND’s are very concerned with how you look. Once again, not fair, but that’s how
the business is. So, if you’re lucky your tape is still rolling. If an ND
watches a package or two, you’ll make the short list. The tape will be put
aside. This is generally when your cover letter is read, and this is a chance
for you to shine. A clever, well-written cover letter can set you apart from
one filled with grammar and spelling errors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So now all the
tapes have been viewed and the ND has narrowed it down to maybe six. In most
stations, the GM will want to approve on-air hires, and in some cases, approval
must come from corporate. The list is narrowed, usually down to three, and the
interview process begins. The rest is up to you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Things to improve your chances:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-A tape that really moves. A nice montage of standups, a
great live shot, and three great packages. If you’re an anchor, make sure to
include some crosstalk and a good variety of stories. Make sure at some point
in the tape we can see your smile. (If you’re a college student, we really
don’t expect you to have a live shot.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Your personality <i>must </i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">come out. The world is full of cookie-cutter people; what
makes you different? Don’t tell me, <i>show</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Make your first package an enterprise story or something in
which you’ve done some digging. Sadly,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>many reporters start with a spot news package. Remember, the police do
most of the information gathering in spot news, so unless the story is really
unique, don’t lead with it. (That’s why most stations let interns cover car
wrecks.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-A story with some kind of emotion or humor. A lot of times
managers will be talking about applicants and one will say “she’s the reporter
who did that homeless story”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or
“he’s the reporter with the waterskiing squirrel feature.” Make an ND laugh or
cry and you’ll be more memorable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Anchoring in which your energy and personality comes
through the screen. Too many anchors send tapes in which they are simply
reading. <i>Talk</i></span><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"> to the
viewer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">And here are some things that can work against you:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Voice. Nothing takes you out of the running faster than a
wicked accent. No one wants an anchor who sounds like “The Nanny” or Scarlett
O’Hara. (In a bizarre bit of irony, you can’t get to New York if you sound too
Noo Yawk.) If you’ve got an accent, get rid of it and make a new tape.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-The work is not your own. News Directors are like
Columbo<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>in spotting little things
that don’t add up. A favorite trick of a college intern is to “borrow” a local
or network reporter’s package, re-voice it and add his or her own standup. But
it is often obvious this is not the applicant’s work. In one such case a young
man was well into his package when his “exclusive interview” included a sound
bite featuring a hand holding a microphone. The hand had beautifully manicured
long red nails and an engagement ring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Misspelling the News Director’s name on your cover letter.
Why would you hire a reporter who is supposed to have attention to detail if he
or she can’t spell your name correctly? If the name is not listed in the ad,
call the station and ask for it. (Even if the ad calls for you to submit a tape
to Human Resources, you want your cover letter addressed to the ND.) Ask for
the correct spelling, and if it is one of those names that can be male or
female, like Terry, Kelly, or yeah, Randy, ask if the ND is a he or she. My
name is Italian and really isn’t that difficult to spell, but I’ve had mail
addressed to “Tonto,” “Toronto,” and my favorite, “Ranno Tanno.” I once had a
phone call for “Mr. Tomato.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Getting the call letters wrong in your cover letter. We
realize job applicants send the same cover letter to everyone, just make sure
you match the ND with the station.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Bars and tone on the tape. For those who don’t know, bars
and tone are used by engineers to set broadcast levels and to chase on-air
people out of master control. They are not necessary on a tape. You may as well
just mail a screaming baby with your application.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-The DVD is blank. Amazingly this happens more often than
you would think. Check each tape before mailing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Calls to find out if your tape has arrived. ND’s know this
is an attempt to get feedback and can find these calls annoying. Just use the
US Postal Service delivery confirmation if you want to make sure.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Beauty pageants listed on your resume. If you’re
attractive, it is obvious on your tape. While I know many pageant vets who are
competant journalists and nice people, there is a stigma that pageant people
are all style and no substance. If you’re going to list a parade of pageant
victories on your resume you might as well just tattoo “high maintenance” on
your forehead. Enter as many pageants as you want, just leave them off the
resume. (I actually worked with one anchor who listed her dress size on her
resume.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Modeling portfolio photos. Once again, if you’re
attractive, it is obvious. Sending photos of yourself in a bikini just labels
you as superficial. Sending any kind of still photos is a colossal waste of
money.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">-Packing peanuts. Not really a mistake, but a good way to
get an ND in a bad mood. Proponents of packing peanuts often send their tapes
in giant boxes sealed with enough tape to bind Ironman to a chair. The ND
struggles to open the box, then endures an explosion of styrofoam. Since most
stations no longer have maintenance men, this sends the ND to the Chief
Engineer, who presents him with a 1958 Electrolux vacuum cleaner that makes
more noise that the generator on the live truck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;">Now a word about feedback. Don’t call for it. A good way to
get some is to include a self addressed stamped postcard asking for it. You’re
bound to get some response. But there are two kinds. Good old-fashioned
constructive criticism is always welcome, especially if it points out something
of which you might not be aware. Make a note of those NDs, fix the problem, and
send a new tape when you do. On the other hand, there are some NDs who seem to
enjoy writing feedback that demeans the job applicant. If you get feedback like
this, ignore it and be thankful you don’t work for someone who would be that
mean spirited. </span></div>
Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-44647541323581807662013-06-24T08:30:00.001-05:002013-06-24T08:30:09.724-05:00If you're working in the heat, shooting your own video, or both, it's time to shoot your standup earlyThe most common complaint I hear is that reporters pretty much hate shooting their own video. The most common sidebar to that complaint is that the reporter ends up with wrinkled or dirty clothes, looks like an unmade bed by the time the standup is shot, or both.<br />
<br />
Movie companies routinely shoot scenes out of order. And, when you think about it, we do the same thing when shooting a story. The most usual order is sound bites, b-roll, and finally, a standup.<br />
<br />
Time to move the standup to the front of the line.<br />
<br />
I'm seeing too many rumpled outfits, too many outfits with that tell-tale mark on the right shoulder. So, a few things to make you look better in your standups:<br />
<br />
-If you're a one man band, carry a hand towel with your gear. Before you pick up your camera, place the towel over your right shoulder. Then when you shoulder your camera it won't leave a mark.<br />
<br />
-Shoot your standup before you start shooting b-roll. This might actually require you to think a little earlier about what you want to say, but in reality, it's not a big deal. If you're gonna get all rumpled shooting b-roll, do it after you're done putting yourself on camera.<br />
<br />
-Guys, if it's hot as hell, leave the jacket and tie in the car until you're ready to shoot your standup. Put 'em on, shoot your standup, and you're done with them for the day.<br />
<br />
-Carry a mirror. You always want to look your best on camera, so take a quick look before you shoot it.<br />
<br />
-Finally, play back your standup and make sure you're happy with it before you move on to something else.<br />
<br />
<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-15868255079708696422013-06-18T10:33:00.000-05:002013-06-18T10:33:29.850-05:00Adding some age in the era of high defWhen you're young, you wanna look old. When you're old, you'll do anything to look younger. The latter is especially true with the advent of high def.<br />
<br />
But this is for those who have just graduated or still in their early twenties. And I speak from experience, because I looked so young I was stuck in radio until I was 28. I routinely got carded well into my thirties. (Now if someone offers a senior discount I get seriously ticked off.)<br />
<br />
It's hard for people who look very young to have credibility, so early in your career you need to add a little age wherever you can.<br />
<br />
Men: Wearing polo shirts or shirts with open collars only makes you look like you're still in college. Neckties are a must, and dark suits will make you look older than light colored ones. Old school stuff like cuff links and pocket squares can also add a bit of age.<br />
<br />
Women: Stick with business attire; suits, jackets, professional outfits. Forget things like sleeveless blouses or dresses or stuff that's too trendy. Hemlines should hit the knee. And nothing says old school more than a simple strand of pearls. (They don't even have to be real.)<br />
<br />
When you get older, looking young will be a nice problem to have. But for now, age and credibility go hand in hand, and you need all the age you can get.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-13944856557707937702013-06-13T06:43:00.003-05:002013-06-13T06:43:49.801-05:00Rush to judgmentOkay, back from a very long vacation (miss me?) after which I returned to an exploding email inbox and a very angry cat who is seriously ticked off at me. ("So, you go away for weeks and then expect me to jump into your lap and purr when you call? Fuhgeddaboudit.")<br />
<br />
We've heard the term "dog days of August" but in television news June may as well be known as the "month of mistakes." That's because it's the beginning of the longest job hunting season of the year, situated right after May sweeps. No more sweeps till November, so there's plenty of time for the revolving door to spin.<br />
<br />
The mistakes I'm referring to are the ones made when accepting a new job, and, in many cases, that first job. In the case of new grads, this is particularly true.<br />
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Tell me if you've felt this way. You're either stuck in the ninth circle of television news hell or just got that diploma and cannot wait to get your life started. You're ready to jump at the first offer and don't care what it is.<br />
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News Directors know this.<br />
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More people get stuck in bad situations with bad contracts during the summer because they're simply too eager to take the leap. NDs prey on new grads in particular because they're still wearing rose colored glasses and naive enough to think everyone in the real world is a nice person with only their best interests at heart. They know the last thing a new grad wants to do is move back home and hang out in mom's basement for months waiting to cash that first paycheck while the student loan lurks nearby. So they throw the worst possible offer out there, knowing you'll take it.<br />
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This is the time for patience.<br />
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When you get an offer, any offer, you must take the time to step back and take a good look at it. If there's a contract, get a lawyer to read it. Talk to the people who used to work at the station. Do your research on the News Director and the company.<br />
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It's just like dating. It's better to be in no relationship than a bad one.<br />
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When you rush to judgment, you often make mistakes. Nothing feels better than getting that first job or a better job, but nothing feels worse than the realization that you've made a huge mistake and are stuck for two years.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-59448162124692835172013-05-27T08:19:00.001-05:002013-05-27T08:19:23.542-05:00Reporter's contracts: a stupid idea that really needs to go awayI'll bet most of you who aren't in management never realized that a reporter's contract can backfire on a News Director. As much as you wanna get out of your current deal, there are plenty of NDs who are counting the days until certain contracts run out.<br />
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You need only look at major league baseball to understand this. The Yankees are stuck with A-Rod for several more years, owing more than $100 million to a broken down player who the fans hate. But hey, let's get that ten year contract done and lock him up so he can't go anywhere else.<br />
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Trust me, there's an A-Rod in every newsroom that a News Director can't wait to cut loose. But he can't since there's a contract involved. Yep, that contract he was so desperate to impose has now come back to bite him on the ass.<br />
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I understand the necessity of putting anchors under contract. I've never
seen the need with reporters. I've had this view both as a reporter and
a manager. When I was a rookie I once asked a consultant if viewers cared about the reporting staff, and he said, "Viewers make their choices primarily because of the anchors."<br />
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So why the obsession with contracts, especially with rookies... the ones most likely to become an A-Rod?<br />
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A few reasons.<br />
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-Many NDs are lazy when it comes to finding talent and consider the hiring process a pain. If people can't leave, there's less hiring to do.<br />
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-It's either company policy, or the GM insists on it.<br />
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-It adds stability to the newsroom. (In reality, it adds stress, as people obsess about their contracts and often feel like they're stuck in a bad relationship.)<br />
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-There's the notion that people will spin the revolving door if there aren't contracts.<br />
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So it's time for the "virtual contract." One that benefits both sides. One that says, "I hope you'll stay here awhile, and I'm going to make this a nice place to work so that you won't want to leave." One that doesn't charge you thousands to leave a job. (Is there any other industry that uses this insane tactic?)<br />
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Nothing stresses out a young reporter more than a contract that hangs around his neck like a noose, one that threatens serious legal action or heavy buyout fines if he leaves. Remove that, and you'll have a reporter whose attention can be focused where it matters: getting good stories.<br />
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This may surprise you: there are people in major markets working without contracts. Because NDs there are smarter and know that if they leave, there will be hundreds of qualified people lining up to take their place.<br />
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It should be the same everywhere.<br />
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I think back to that gal I knew from Texas who had all these quaint little sayings. One was, "You ride a horse longer with loose reins."<br />
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Get rid of the contracts, keep your newsroom happy and make it a fun place to work, and no one will want to leave. No contract can ever top that.<br />
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<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-27228476975576973752013-05-25T15:38:00.001-05:002013-05-25T15:38:22.615-05:00Welcome to the beginning of the summer job hunting seasonSo the hits for this site are off the charts today. I'm gonna take a wild stab and guess that since sweeps just ended and people just graduated most of you are enjoying the long weekend putting together resume tapes.<br />
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Welcome to the party, pal. Yippie-ki-yay.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-57316459197483900972013-05-25T07:39:00.002-05:002013-05-25T07:39:34.048-05:00Memorial Day: Thanks, vets!Don't forget to thank a current member of the military or a vet this weekend. Thanks to them, we have the freedom to do what we do.<br />
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And please, if you don't know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, look it up.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-78141381468436658492013-05-22T08:48:00.003-05:002013-05-22T08:48:43.503-05:00Graduation Day book saleOkay, here's a break for you new college grads who are heading out into the real world with student loans totalling more than my mortgage. Of course, you don't have to be a new grad to take advantage of this.<br />
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Electronic book distributor Smashwords is offering 25 percent off my 2013 textbook (that's five bucks for those of you who are math challenged.)<br />
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Here's the link:<br />
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<a href="http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/270493" target="_blank">http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/270493 </a><br />
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Then use this coupon code at checkout:<br />
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<big><strong>CQ65V</strong></big><br />
<big><strong> </strong></big> <br />
Smashwords enables you to download to any electronic device, including Kindle, Nook, Apple devices, and many more.<br />
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<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-45138978020065277512013-05-06T14:06:00.001-05:002013-05-06T14:06:31.411-05:00200 sports openingsThis is from Sports Illustrated's website today:<br />
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"Fox Sports 1 is expected to make around 200 hires."<br />
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Sports jobs are hard enough to get, so this is a real bonanza. Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-3234512801244240552013-05-03T09:09:00.000-05:002013-05-03T09:09:00.809-05:00Stranger than fiction, or, how to fake your own death for eleven yearsEvery once in awhile I get an assignment that is truly bizarre. In this case, I've been working for Inside Edition on a story about that Pennsylvania woman who disappeared eleven years ago and was presumed dead until she turned up in Florida.<br />
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Turns out going off the grid is as easy as writing a novel.<br />
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In this case, Brenda Heist (and you gotta love the irony of the last name) simply re-invented herself as a cleaning woman in Pensacola, Florida. Yesterday we spent a lot of time with one of her clients, a kind-hearted woman named Sondra who took her in when she said she needed to get out of an abusive relationship. She said her name was Lovie Smith (yeah, same name as the Chicago Bears coach, but Sondra didn't follow football.) She paid everything in cash, bought cars with cash, covered her tracks, developed trust with clients in the community. Even though she left a husband and children behind she told Sondra she was a widow and had no kids. Sondra became close friends with her and had no inkling she was being conned. <br />
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This is a wild story and if you get a chance check it out on Thursday's episode of Inside Edition. I'll post the link here after it airs.<br />
Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-22769136459027737422013-05-01T05:29:00.001-05:002013-05-01T05:29:59.096-05:00Entry level job hunting is a lot like the NFL draftWhile I'm a NFL junkie and go into my fall Sunday coma with the NFL Sunday Ticket, I don't watch college football at all. So when the draft rolls around, I'll watch even though I have no idea which players might be good. I want to see who the Giants pick and enjoy the high comedy that is the New York Jets, who are the football version of a dysfunctional newsroom.<br />
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The analysts discuss all sorts of positives and negatives. Can a quarterback throw deep? Is the receiver shy about going over the middle? Is the person a team player? You'll hear them talk about a player with a good work ethic, or one who has a "motor" which means he never quits or takes a play off.<br />
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Then there are those "red flags" that can send players dropping off a cliff. Drug use, arrests, and, in the case of a certain Notre Dame linebacker, nonexistent dead girlfriends. (By the way, I don't buy it that anyone could be that gullible.)<br />
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Every summer after May sweeps, News Directors who hire entry level people have their own version of the draft. They're looking mostly for potential, because work done in college rarely simulates that done in a real newsroom. But they also look for the following:<br />
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-Experience: Has the applicant done an internship, or worked in a college station? Or simply learned journalism theory out of a book?<br />
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-Industry knowledge: Does the person know how to edit, how to put a story together?<br />
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-Versatility: Can the applicant do more than one thing, such as news and sports, or news and weather?<br />
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-Attitude: How does the applicant interview? Willing to learn, or already knows everything there is to know? <br />
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-References: What do people say about the applicant, especially those who worked with the person during an internship?<br />
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-Red flags: Does the person's social media sites indicate any alcohol or drug problems? Are there very opinionated or offensive comments on the Internet? (Trust me, every ND will check your electronic footprint, and most will do a background check.)<br />
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So how would you rank? First round draft choice? Middle of the pack? Undrafted free agent?Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-10919089363341565562013-04-29T03:00:00.000-05:002013-04-29T06:36:52.399-05:00Unless you have the power to read minds or contact the dead, speculation makes you look stupidOver the past two weeks the news business has apparently acquired a whole bunch of reporters with paranormal powers. Incredibly, these people are not only able to see into the mind of the captured Boston bomber, but are able to act as mediums and contact the dead one as well. These supernatural skill sets allow them to tell the general public exactly what the bombers were thinking, what their mindset was, and what they were or were not planning to do next.<br />
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They were going to New York. No, they weren't. They acted alone. Nope, they had help.<br />
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I continue to be amazed at journalists who simply spout these theories as if they are facts. And let's face it, they're theories. Just because they've interrogated the captured bomber doesn't mean he told the truth. (Why would he lie? Uh, I don't know... he just killed and maimed a bunch of people, so let's trust him.) Just because they've looked into the history of the dead bomber doesn't mean they had any idea what made him set off bombs or what he planned to do next.<br />
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We've already seen some incredibly embarrassing, and yes, amateurish coverage during the week of the bombing. How bad was it? The President had this line over the weekend:<br />
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"I know CNN has taken some knocks lately, but the fact is I admire their
commitment to cover all sides of the story just in case one of them
happens to be accurate."<br />
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A funny joke, but a sad commentary on what the news business has become. <br />
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Meanwhile, now that corrections have been issued, it's apparently time to speculate.<br />
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And of course, let's speculate by injecting some political bias into the argument.<br />
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There's an old newsroom joke that goes like this: Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.<br />
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It's not a joke anymore. It's fact.<br />
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Unless you have hard facts, don't speculate. It makes you look stupid. And it makes me change the channel.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-74457072700414300742013-04-26T08:38:00.001-05:002013-04-26T08:38:46.555-05:00Am I attractive enough for a television job?If you've asked yourself this question and aren't sure, this should prove how subjective appearance is...<br />
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People Magazine has named Gwyneth Paltrow as the most beautiful woman on the planet.<br />
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(Yeah, I know. Words fail me too.) <br />
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<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-30776959769420581782013-04-24T07:19:00.003-05:002013-04-24T07:19:30.613-05:00Am I good enough for a network job?If you've asked yourself this question and aren't sure, this might clear things up...<br />
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<a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-22-2013/this-is-cnn-">http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-22-2013/this-is-cnn-</a>Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-64799723578205204682013-04-22T10:26:00.000-05:002013-04-22T10:26:58.633-05:00In times like these, it's okay to be an American on the airI went to a seminar about two weeks after 9/11. The topic of patriotism came up, as many stations (including mine) had either put up flags on the set or decorated them in red, white and blue. Some had on-air staff members wear flag pins or ribbons. Our station never received a single complaint. No one had a problem with the show of patriotism.<br />
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Well, almost.<br />
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One person at the seminar said she found such displays of patriotism "offensive." Most of us couldn't believe anyone could make such a statement.<br />
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So here we are again, twelve years later.<br />
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Of course, we now have an unwritten "policy" that people in the sports department can wear flag pins, patriotic ties, or whatever. But for some reason it's considered "inappropriate" for someone in the news department to do so, because it might constitute "bias."<br />
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Oh, please.<br />
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Let me get this straight... the news business has become incredibly biased in the last ten years, so much so that our trust level has reached that of used car salesmen and lawyers, yet we would appear "biased" if we literally wore our patriotism on our sleeves? How hypocritical is that?<br />
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If I were a News Director today I'd be fine with anyone who wanted to wear an American Flag pin. And if any viewer was somehow offended, I'd remind them what country they're living in. <br />
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Political correctness has done a ton of damage to this country. We don't need to make it any worse by denying our patriotism.<br />
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Because that's one thing that doesn't demand objectivity.<br />
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<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-54846744916115097802013-04-19T10:45:00.000-05:002013-04-19T10:45:21.594-05:00If your source isn't credible, shut the hell upThe movie "All the President's Men" should be required viewing for anyone in the news business. (Or, what a concept, read the book.) It shows how information needs to be backed up; if not by someone who will go on the record, but by sources who are rock solid. Even then, sources might have their own agenda.<br />
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This week we've gotten a re-run of the Newtown shooting story in Boston. During the past few days the misinformation has gotten out of hand. At first thirteen people died. Apparently ten miraculously rose from the dead since Monday. Police made an arrest, then they didn't. It got so bad that the FBI, it what was seemingly an unprecedented move, actually called out the media for irresponsible reporting in this statement:<br />
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<i>"Contrary to widespread reporting, no arrest has been made in
connection with the Boston Marathon attack. Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press
reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been
inaccurate. Since these stories often have unintended
consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the
investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information
through appropriate official channels before reporting."</i><br />
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Once again, the race to be first rather than right left the business with an omelet on its face. But this time it got so bad that the feds actually had to call reporters to the principal's office.<br />
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Like any reporter, I've used unnamed sources in stories.<i> </i>But I only relied on those that were rock solid. Often sources might have an agenda, might want to send you down the wrong path, or simply don't like you and want to make you look stupid.<br />
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In the case of this story, many reporters are relying on sources they met ten minutes ago.<br />
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The key phrase in the FBI statement is the one regarding "unintended consequences." Here's what that means: If you released a story that said the bombers had been arrested, some guy felt safe and went outside, and was killed by the suspects who were still at large, that would be the result of your incompetent reporting.<br />
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I realize many of you are under pressure to get the facts out on social media before they hit the air, but please be careful. When using a source... consider the source.<br />
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<br />Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8331695899384252014.post-79376497704030523432013-04-11T09:26:00.001-05:002013-04-11T09:26:13.372-05:00The biggest mistake people make on their resume tapesThe President was in your market and you covered it. You broke the story, right?<br />
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A school shooting took place in your market. You broke the story, right?<br />
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The oil spill coated beaches with oil and you work on the Gulf Coast. You broke the story, right?<br />
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Chances are the answers to these questions would be a resounding "no" but chances are very good you've put a story like this right up front on your resume tape. Because you think an important story or a national story makes you seem like a better reporter.<br />
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Uh, no it doesn't.<br />
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If you take anything from this post, take this: just because a story is national, or the lead story on your newscast, doesn't mean it's a resume tape story. <i>Because it doesn't take anything special to cover a story that's already there.</i><br />
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Several years ago it seems like half the reporters looking for jobs started their tapes off with a Hurricane Katrina story, even if they lived in Montana. This year every reporter in the northeast will probably have a school shooting story. Next year it will be something else.<br />
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News Directors don't want reporters who can show up when everything is right in front of you. They want reporters who can come up with enterprise stories, who can dig for information and not have it handed to them by officials. They want people who can turn memorable stories that are unique, that the other stations won't have.<br />
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The best story you've ever done may have ended up in the second block of your local newscast, but no one cares where it aired. NDs only care what you did with the story and how you put it together. They don't care that you once rubbed elbows with the President. They want to see what you can come up with on a day when absolutely nothing is happening. <br />
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Show off your reporting skills, not the fact that you happened to be in the middle of a big story because it took place in your neighborhood.Randy Tatanohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05472027150290852887noreply@blogger.com1