HUD homes.. what's the deal now that there's a mortgage crisis?
How do you know if tomatoes are safe to eat? Has there been a run on tomato plants so people can grow their own?
Too much rain or not enough... what's a farmer to do? Check with those in your area to see what the effects are.
25 percent of people infected with AIDS don't know it.
Registering to vote by mail. A lot of people think they have to go to the courthouse, but you can simply place a call, get a form and mail it in.
Local auto racing tracks... has the price of gas forced some out of this popular activity?
Car dealerships are running out of hybrids.
The weak dollar is bringing Canadians over the border to shop.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday's story ideas
Flood insurance. What's covered in the average homeowners policy, and where can you get coverage pertaining to floods?
Families are canceling vacations. Might be interesting to talk to a psychologist on how to break the news to a generation that has never heard the word "no" from parents. Also might find good ways to teach kids to save and cut back.
Attack of the killer tomatoes. Salmonella outbreak has put a crimp into many food establishments.
Photo IDs when you don't drive anymore. Where can seniors get them since so many organizations and businesses require them now?
What ever happened to the gas tax holiday? Talk to your member of Congress.
I love this story... older war veterans are now counseling younger ones returning from the Middle East.
Has your tax rebate check not shown up? If you owed back taxes to the state, it might have been seized.
"Green collar" jobs. What opportunities are out there for those who want to earn a living by saving the environment?
Families are canceling vacations. Might be interesting to talk to a psychologist on how to break the news to a generation that has never heard the word "no" from parents. Also might find good ways to teach kids to save and cut back.
Attack of the killer tomatoes. Salmonella outbreak has put a crimp into many food establishments.
Photo IDs when you don't drive anymore. Where can seniors get them since so many organizations and businesses require them now?
What ever happened to the gas tax holiday? Talk to your member of Congress.
I love this story... older war veterans are now counseling younger ones returning from the Middle East.
Has your tax rebate check not shown up? If you owed back taxes to the state, it might have been seized.
"Green collar" jobs. What opportunities are out there for those who want to earn a living by saving the environment?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Tasteful approaches for vulture stories
While I don't agree with airing vulture stories (grieving widows, victim's families, etc.) I understand a lot of you are forced to do these cheap excuses for broadcast journalism. (Geez, Grape, tell us how you really feel...)
In any event, I've noted of late a few anchors who deliver teases for these stories with a gleam in their eye. Nothing is more sleazy, more cheap, than watching an anchor look into the camera the way a cat looks at a mouse and say something like, "Tonight we get an exclusive interview with the wife of yesterday's murder victim... it's a story you'll see only on channel whatever."
Oh, please.
If you're going to write something that cheesy, at least deliver it with a straight face. Bad enough to use someone's grief for a promotion, but don't lower yourself with body language any more than you have to.
As for doing these stories, we all know they are extremely difficult. On the occasions I've been assigned to these (9/11 comes to mind immediately) it is best to have the photog wait in the car and politely knock on the door first. Vulture stories are not the place for ambush journalism.
In any event, I've noted of late a few anchors who deliver teases for these stories with a gleam in their eye. Nothing is more sleazy, more cheap, than watching an anchor look into the camera the way a cat looks at a mouse and say something like, "Tonight we get an exclusive interview with the wife of yesterday's murder victim... it's a story you'll see only on channel whatever."
Oh, please.
If you're going to write something that cheesy, at least deliver it with a straight face. Bad enough to use someone's grief for a promotion, but don't lower yourself with body language any more than you have to.
As for doing these stories, we all know they are extremely difficult. On the occasions I've been assigned to these (9/11 comes to mind immediately) it is best to have the photog wait in the car and politely knock on the door first. Vulture stories are not the place for ambush journalism.
Monday's story ideas
We mentioned this awhile ago, but some older gas pumps can't handle four dollar a gallon gasoline. Now that it's here, check to see how those stations are dealing with it.
Oil prices affect asphalt costs, which means cities might not be able to repair roads as they had planned.
Investors are taking advantage of trading laws to buy huge amounts oil contracts at a fraction of their cost. (Margin trading) Congress was looking into closing this loophole awhile ago... what's the latest? Check with your member of congress.
The display of a hangman's noose has become more prevalent of late, so some states are making this a crime.
Some parts of the country are experiencing a drought again. If you're in one of those areas, check with farmers to see how they're doing.
Canadian stores are "hiding" tobacco products, hoping the "out of sight, out of mind" tactic will keep young people from starting to smoke. If you're in a border market, hop across and check it out. Why isn't this done in the US? (Hint: tobacco lobby.)
Summer school. Are more teachers interested this year in order to make a few extra bucks?
Oil prices affect asphalt costs, which means cities might not be able to repair roads as they had planned.
Investors are taking advantage of trading laws to buy huge amounts oil contracts at a fraction of their cost. (Margin trading) Congress was looking into closing this loophole awhile ago... what's the latest? Check with your member of congress.
The display of a hangman's noose has become more prevalent of late, so some states are making this a crime.
Some parts of the country are experiencing a drought again. If you're in one of those areas, check with farmers to see how they're doing.
Canadian stores are "hiding" tobacco products, hoping the "out of sight, out of mind" tactic will keep young people from starting to smoke. If you're in a border market, hop across and check it out. Why isn't this done in the US? (Hint: tobacco lobby.)
Summer school. Are more teachers interested this year in order to make a few extra bucks?
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Gasoline stories: stating the obvious
If I see one more package that talks about the fact that Joe Smith spends eighty bucks to fill up his SUV, has a sound bite from a consumer who says he has no choice but to pay high prices, and essentially tells the public nothing it doesn't already know, I'm going to scream.
Those of you who have been on gas station patrol are probably getting sick of doing the same story. But you know what? If it's the same story, it's your own fault.
Incredibly, I have not seen one story, network or local, about the history of gas crises. Not one story about people who are profiting from this, and I'm not talking about the oil companies.
When a topic like this hits and won't go away, you have to look hard for the other sides (yes, plural) of the story.
For those of you too young to remember, we've already had two gas crises in this country, in 1973 and 1979. In '73 prices shot up to fifty cents a gallon, which back then seemed ridiculous. But the problem wasn't so much the price, as the shortage. Some parts of the country started rationing gasoline. I was living in a Connecticut suburb of New York City, and we were under the "odd-even" ration system. If your car's license plate ended in an even number, you could buy gas on even numbered days. Odd plates got in line on odd days. Everyone could buy gas on the 31st of any month. And there were lines like you wouldn't believe, and limits. You could wait an hour and only be allowed to buy three bucks worth of gas.
In '79 the price hit a dollar a gallon for the first time, and we were under the odd-even system again. And this brings me to the part of the story where the ill wind brings someone some good. I was sitting in line one morning when a young guy tapped on my window. I rolled it down and he said, "Donut? Coffee?" He'd figured out there was a constant captive audience of customers and probably made a fortune with his snack and coffee cart. Soon people started selling everything in gas lines. And the station we watched, WABC-TV, did sidebar stories about this. One even featured a woman who was giving disco lessons (hey, it was the seventies) while people were stuck in line. After the gas crises ended, the practice continued, as vendors moved to toll booths, once again realizing that customers would buy a donut or newspaper while waiting.
Who are the "donut vendors" of today? Who is using high gas prices as an opportunity? While gas isn't being rationed, many people are held captive in their own homes. Only this time people are looking for ways to conserve. So who is selling solar panels in your market? He's probably got a line of customers. How can you convert your diesel car to one that burns used restaurant vegetable oil? Someone in your area is probably doing conversions. As people begin to shudder at the cost of heating their homes this winter, who is selling efficient fireplace inserts?
The point is, stating the obvious isn't doing your viewers any good. Yes, gas is the top story right now but you won't find anything new at the pump. If you really want to make a mark, think outside the box and point out something that isn't obvious. Dig for the new angle. And if you want to add a little history to your package, call up the network feed desk and ask for video (actually, it will be film) of those 70's crises.
Do a story that actually helps a viewer, and you've got a loyal viewer.
Those of you who have been on gas station patrol are probably getting sick of doing the same story. But you know what? If it's the same story, it's your own fault.
Incredibly, I have not seen one story, network or local, about the history of gas crises. Not one story about people who are profiting from this, and I'm not talking about the oil companies.
When a topic like this hits and won't go away, you have to look hard for the other sides (yes, plural) of the story.
For those of you too young to remember, we've already had two gas crises in this country, in 1973 and 1979. In '73 prices shot up to fifty cents a gallon, which back then seemed ridiculous. But the problem wasn't so much the price, as the shortage. Some parts of the country started rationing gasoline. I was living in a Connecticut suburb of New York City, and we were under the "odd-even" ration system. If your car's license plate ended in an even number, you could buy gas on even numbered days. Odd plates got in line on odd days. Everyone could buy gas on the 31st of any month. And there were lines like you wouldn't believe, and limits. You could wait an hour and only be allowed to buy three bucks worth of gas.
In '79 the price hit a dollar a gallon for the first time, and we were under the odd-even system again. And this brings me to the part of the story where the ill wind brings someone some good. I was sitting in line one morning when a young guy tapped on my window. I rolled it down and he said, "Donut? Coffee?" He'd figured out there was a constant captive audience of customers and probably made a fortune with his snack and coffee cart. Soon people started selling everything in gas lines. And the station we watched, WABC-TV, did sidebar stories about this. One even featured a woman who was giving disco lessons (hey, it was the seventies) while people were stuck in line. After the gas crises ended, the practice continued, as vendors moved to toll booths, once again realizing that customers would buy a donut or newspaper while waiting.
Who are the "donut vendors" of today? Who is using high gas prices as an opportunity? While gas isn't being rationed, many people are held captive in their own homes. Only this time people are looking for ways to conserve. So who is selling solar panels in your market? He's probably got a line of customers. How can you convert your diesel car to one that burns used restaurant vegetable oil? Someone in your area is probably doing conversions. As people begin to shudder at the cost of heating their homes this winter, who is selling efficient fireplace inserts?
The point is, stating the obvious isn't doing your viewers any good. Yes, gas is the top story right now but you won't find anything new at the pump. If you really want to make a mark, think outside the box and point out something that isn't obvious. Dig for the new angle. And if you want to add a little history to your package, call up the network feed desk and ask for video (actually, it will be film) of those 70's crises.
Do a story that actually helps a viewer, and you've got a loyal viewer.
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