Walking is growing in popularity, both as a good exercise and also as a way to save gasoline.
People age 19 and 20 are the most likely age group to go without health insurance, as many parents health plans don't cover children past eighteen. What's the solution, especially if you're in college and don't have a job?
The average person would save $1800 per year ditching the car and taking mass transit to work.
Wal-Mart has improved the fuel efficiency of its trucks by 20 percent this year... so how did they do it and why can't every company do it?
Interesting fact about grocery shopping... the more expensive items are on the middle shelves, the cheaper ones are on the top and bottom shelves. Apparently food companies pay big bucks to get their products into the middle. So go shopping, put your camera on the bottom of the cart and look for bargains.
Negotiating for a discount with a physician. It's not insulting, it's done all the time by many people who have little or no insurance.
How are honeybees doing in your market? Reports earlier this year had them disappearing... are they still vanishing or are farmers seeing a return?
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
One market anchors
Years ago I was visiting a friend who worked in another market, and of course I watched his newscast. Then we went to dinner, and he asked me what I thought of the news team.
"No offense," I said, "But your anchor is just awful."
"He's a piece of the furniture," he said. "That guy is our star."
I'd never heard the furniture reference before, but I have many times since. It refers to someone who has been at one station so long that he or she has literally blended into the woodwork...
And become a viewer favorite.
It's like a favorite old pair of slippers. You love them but wouldn't throw them away even though Goodwill wouldn't take them. Or a crusty old Uncle you love even though he's embarrasing out in public.
You can find a piece of the furniture in most markets, and if you look up their bios chances are you'll find they've been there forever.
Which brings me to the point of all this... if you find a place you really like, why not become part of the decor yourself? Even if you're talented and could go elsewhere, longevity can be extremely attractive to a News Director... and very lucrative for you. Moving every two years doesn't do much to establish yourself with an audience, but sticking around does.
You'll get to a point (if you haven't already) when you realize the network anchor shot just isn't gonna happen. At that point, look at your current situation. Could you be happy and stay there forever? Could you be the favorite Uncle or pair of slippers for the local viewers?
There's nothing wrong with being a one market anchor. Plenty of them out there making lots of money while being very happy. Just something for you to consider when you stop chasing the brass ring.
***Coming this weekend... something special for photogs!
"No offense," I said, "But your anchor is just awful."
"He's a piece of the furniture," he said. "That guy is our star."
I'd never heard the furniture reference before, but I have many times since. It refers to someone who has been at one station so long that he or she has literally blended into the woodwork...
And become a viewer favorite.
It's like a favorite old pair of slippers. You love them but wouldn't throw them away even though Goodwill wouldn't take them. Or a crusty old Uncle you love even though he's embarrasing out in public.
You can find a piece of the furniture in most markets, and if you look up their bios chances are you'll find they've been there forever.
Which brings me to the point of all this... if you find a place you really like, why not become part of the decor yourself? Even if you're talented and could go elsewhere, longevity can be extremely attractive to a News Director... and very lucrative for you. Moving every two years doesn't do much to establish yourself with an audience, but sticking around does.
You'll get to a point (if you haven't already) when you realize the network anchor shot just isn't gonna happen. At that point, look at your current situation. Could you be happy and stay there forever? Could you be the favorite Uncle or pair of slippers for the local viewers?
There's nothing wrong with being a one market anchor. Plenty of them out there making lots of money while being very happy. Just something for you to consider when you stop chasing the brass ring.
***Coming this weekend... something special for photogs!
Friday's story ideas
Student loans are being affected during the credit crisis. What will kids do if they can't get a loan?
"Staycation" is the new term for staying home and being a tourist in your own town. (Also a euphemism for "I don't feel like paying a small fortune to drive the kids to Disney World this summer.") Show viewers some little known tourist attractions in their own backyard.
There are now a record number (more than seven million) of people in the criminal justice system. What are states doing to deal with the increasing cost?
Detoxification diets. What's safe, and what's risky? Talk to a doctor and a nutritionist.
The Supreme Court is considering a ruling as to whether child abuse investigations violate parents' rights to raise their children any way they see fit.
More teenagers are getting plastic surgery.
Those Wii systems are being used for medical rehabilitation.
"Staycation" is the new term for staying home and being a tourist in your own town. (Also a euphemism for "I don't feel like paying a small fortune to drive the kids to Disney World this summer.") Show viewers some little known tourist attractions in their own backyard.
There are now a record number (more than seven million) of people in the criminal justice system. What are states doing to deal with the increasing cost?
Detoxification diets. What's safe, and what's risky? Talk to a doctor and a nutritionist.
The Supreme Court is considering a ruling as to whether child abuse investigations violate parents' rights to raise their children any way they see fit.
More teenagers are getting plastic surgery.
Those Wii systems are being used for medical rehabilitation.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Mailbag: Does the new guy in town carry a hatchet?
Grape,
We just got a new ND who called a staff meeting on his first day and assured us that all our jobs are safe. Should I believe this, or is this a standard tactic?
-On eggshells
Dear Eggshells,
Well, obviously if you're a new manager you don't want people worrying about their jobs, so this is a pretty standard line for those first day speeches. Whether the ND is telling the truth or not is another story.
I remember going thru this once when I was a reporter. The old guy loved my stuff, the new guy hated it. I moved on.
The best thing for you to do is get your resume tape updated (and out of the building) in case the new guy goes thru the newsroom with a chainsaw. You'll probably be able to get a good read on things shortly. You can also call up his previous station and ask whoever answers what kind of person your new boss is.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I can tell you that it is impossible to like all the people you've inherited. Just like a baseball team, a new manager wants to eventually put together his or her own lineup.
If you should become a target of the "make him miserable so he'll quit" tactic, you'll know where you stand.
Grapevine,
How exactly does an "out clause" work?
-New Kid
Dear New Kid,
Glad you asked, since many young people have never even heard the term.
Let's say your first job is in market 80 and you've signed a two year contract with no outs. 18 months into the contract, a station from market 39 calls and offers you a job. You can't take it. But if you have a "top 40 out" you can leave (according to the terms of your contract) to take a job in any of the top 40 markets. Such cases may require you to give a month's notice, or only allow this in the last few months of a contract.
Always, always, always have a lawyer look at a contract before signing. Every contract is different. And remember, outs are rarely offered... you have to ask.
Grape Man,
I keep sending out reporting tapes and getting offered producers jobs with the promise to move into reporting. What does this sound like to you?
-Confused
Dear Confused,
Sounds an awful lot like "the check is in the mail."
We just got a new ND who called a staff meeting on his first day and assured us that all our jobs are safe. Should I believe this, or is this a standard tactic?
-On eggshells
Dear Eggshells,
Well, obviously if you're a new manager you don't want people worrying about their jobs, so this is a pretty standard line for those first day speeches. Whether the ND is telling the truth or not is another story.
I remember going thru this once when I was a reporter. The old guy loved my stuff, the new guy hated it. I moved on.
The best thing for you to do is get your resume tape updated (and out of the building) in case the new guy goes thru the newsroom with a chainsaw. You'll probably be able to get a good read on things shortly. You can also call up his previous station and ask whoever answers what kind of person your new boss is.
Having been on both sides of the fence, I can tell you that it is impossible to like all the people you've inherited. Just like a baseball team, a new manager wants to eventually put together his or her own lineup.
If you should become a target of the "make him miserable so he'll quit" tactic, you'll know where you stand.
Grapevine,
How exactly does an "out clause" work?
-New Kid
Dear New Kid,
Glad you asked, since many young people have never even heard the term.
Let's say your first job is in market 80 and you've signed a two year contract with no outs. 18 months into the contract, a station from market 39 calls and offers you a job. You can't take it. But if you have a "top 40 out" you can leave (according to the terms of your contract) to take a job in any of the top 40 markets. Such cases may require you to give a month's notice, or only allow this in the last few months of a contract.
Always, always, always have a lawyer look at a contract before signing. Every contract is different. And remember, outs are rarely offered... you have to ask.
Grape Man,
I keep sending out reporting tapes and getting offered producers jobs with the promise to move into reporting. What does this sound like to you?
-Confused
Dear Confused,
Sounds an awful lot like "the check is in the mail."
Thursday's story ideas
New iPhones. A big deal, or does no one care anymore?
Gasoline taxes. Show how they are used in your state.
Red light laws for motorcycle riders. Many red lights are "tripped" by the weight of cars, and motorcycles aren't heavy enough, so some states allow them to "proceed with caution" thru red lights which are never going to change.
Retail sales were up in May. Did people simply spend their rebate checks, rather than save the money?
Airlines changing itineraries. I've had one changed six times in a month. What are passengers' rights?
Spending on allergy medications is skyrocketing. Why are so many more people affected, and can you do anything about it?
Gasoline taxes. Show how they are used in your state.
Red light laws for motorcycle riders. Many red lights are "tripped" by the weight of cars, and motorcycles aren't heavy enough, so some states allow them to "proceed with caution" thru red lights which are never going to change.
Retail sales were up in May. Did people simply spend their rebate checks, rather than save the money?
Airlines changing itineraries. I've had one changed six times in a month. What are passengers' rights?
Spending on allergy medications is skyrocketing. Why are so many more people affected, and can you do anything about it?
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