Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Meteorologist Attacked By Pelican, On The Air



Among the FEW things that have never happened to me as a meteorologist: getting attacked by a pelican, live, on the air....

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

News Anchor Team Resigns On Air

Two Bangor, Maine, news anchors resigned together, live on the air during yesterday's 6 PM newscast.

Cindy Michaels and Tony Consiglio, who have spent the past six years at WVII and its sister station WFVX, surprised viewers and staff members with their on-air departure, but according to an article, upper management expressed little wonder.

They had been reportedly been feuding with management about it's involvement in the news operation's production.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

TV Meteorologist Denies Being Involved In Zumba Studio Prostitution Scandal (Video)

Nothing captures the public's imagination more than a zumba studio prostitution scandal!

After police busted an alleged prostitution operation at a zumba studio in Kennebunk, Maine, they began releasing the names of alleged patrons.

Although the name of longtime WCSH-TV meteorologist Joe Cupo has not been released as a patron, the rumor ran wild that he was on the list.  The rumors ran so wild, Cupo decided to go on the air to dispel the rumors.


Here's the video:


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Station Airs Graphic of Petraeus Book With Title Changed to Vulgar Phrase

The name of the Petraeus biography is "All In," but during last night's 5PM newscast on Denver station KMGH, a graphic of the book cover had obviously been photoshopped.  With "other woman" and author Paula Broadwell pictured beside it, the title had been altered to "All Up In My Snatch."
How could this happen? Easy!  More than likely, someone in the graphics department decided to have a little fun, and whoops, the next thing you know, the wrong graphic gets on the air.  It happens.  

No comment from KMGH, on what happened, or if someone's head rolled over this for violating a sacred rule of broadcasting: Never make any graphic or say anything near a microphone that you don't want on the air!  Somehow, they always manage to find their way there....

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

(VIDEO) Olympic Coverage Goes Long, Local Sportscaster Goes OFF!

WTLV Sportscaster Dan Hicken in Jacksonville, FL goes off on a rant against Bob Costas after NBC's Olympic Coverage runs over the scheduled time. ....by 7 minutes.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Journalistic Taunting: The Social Media World In Which We Live

Social Media, especially Twitter is both the greatest thing there's ever been for breaking news, and the worst.  The upside is there is the ultimate in immediacy.  Everyone is a "reporter."  The downside is there is no filter, and little if any responsibility.  Another interesting aspect is it allows instant reactions from people, sometimes in high places, which gives a glimpse into their personalities.

Case in point, the recent Supreme Court ruling on ObamaCare. The law itself was very complex, more than 2,000 pages.  Although there may have been more, I only know of one local reporter/anchor/host in the Paducah/Western Kentucky are, who actually read the entire 2,000+ page manuscript, Greg Dunker at WKYX-FM/AM.  I'm sure there were also plenty of reporters on the national level who never actually read for themselves the entire document for themselves.  That might be part of the reason two major news outlets, CNN and Fox News got it WRONG in originally reporting the individual mandate was struck down.  Both later issued statements, CNN in regretting the error and Fox, that it simply "reported the facts," although FOX,  in fact, misinterpreted the facts.

So they blew it.  In the meantime, Associated Press and other journalist, took to twitter, to taunt FOX and CNN.  So much so, David Scott, Regional Editor for AP, sent a memo ordering AP Journalist to stop taunting CNN and FOX on social media.  Kudos to Scott, even though he shouldn't have had to issue an order for his journalists to take the high road.

Also in the meantime, there was some official taunting.  Patrick Gaspard, the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee gloated in a crude tweet, "Take THAT Motherfu*kers!"  He later deleted the tweet and replaced it with a slightly less crude, but equally gloating, sophomoric tweet, "It's Constitutional, Bitches!"

Both examples show us it's important to THINK before we REPORT, TWEET or EMAIL.  Sadly though, it seems many media outlets, in their race to be first with breaking news have cut corners and long standing journalistic prodeedures and adapted the philosophy of the fictional Ricky Bobby, of "Talladega Nights, "If you ain't first, you're last!"  If you're wrong.....well at least you were first!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Meteorologist Sues Alleging Gender Discrimination (It's a guy!)

Leave it to California for a male meteorologist to sue a station because he was passed over for a job, saying it was because he was not an attractive, young woman.  Kyle Hunter, represented by uber-attorney Gloria Allred,  is suing KCBS-KCAL in Los Angeles.  According to the Hollywood Reporter, "Hunter says he later asked a manager at KCAL why he hadn't been considered for the job and he was told that the station aired a lot of sports broadcasts aimed at male viewers and "You wouldn't be the type men would want to look at," the complaint alleges."

Video: Meteorologist Curses On The Air! (Caution for Language)

I guess the wrong video came up as Colorado Springs' KRDO meteorologist Rachel Plath exclaimed "son of a b*tch" on the air!  As you might guess, since she's hot, there was an outpouring of public support for her cursing on the air.  
 

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Reporter Gets Into Cuss Fight With Occupy Protesters (Caution for Language in Video)

When Occupy Protestors displayed obscene signs behind WDVR Reporter Eli Stokol doing a "live shot",  he shot back, “When I’m live on f-cking television — and you can film this — when I’m live on television, you don’t come up and f-ck us up,” he said. The photojournalist puts in his 2 cents to the protesters, "You f_cked yourself!" I don't think either side comes across looking particularly well  or mature here.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Could This Be The Problem With Local TV News?

This is a great video which appeared on Conan O'Brien Show.  This is NOT a scripted video.  This is actual video from local TV news broadcasts.  In this "copy and paste scripts" day in newsrooms, this points out several things: 1. The lack of creativity in writing in many TV markets. (laziness)  2. Just how many local TV newsrooms simply "copy and paste scripts" from their newsfeed services (laziness)  & 3. The struggle many local newsrooms face in seeking simply to fill their expanding newscasts and the resulting demand for content.  Anything to fill the time.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Kentucky and Indiana Tornado Video, March 2, 2012

Video from the  Kentucky and Indiana Tornadoes, March 2, 2012

 Near Somerset, Kentucky

Borden, Indiana
Funnel Cloud in Southern Indiana
Near Evansville, Indiana
Henryville, Indiana

Videos From Today's Tornado Outbreak: Friday March 2, 2012

Here are some videos from today's deadly tornado outbreak.
From Henryville, Indiana

From Nashville, Tennessee
Depauw, Indiana
New Pekin, Indiana
Memphis, Indiana

Monday, February 27, 2012

Threat For Severe Storms Tuesday Night Into Wednesday Morning.

There continues to be a threat for Severe Storms Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning.  Be Alert! (Click on images for larger picture)




Mayor Talks TV Station Out of Airing Video of Him Spanking Woman at Bowling Alley


According to a Philadelphia Columnist, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter successfully talked a local TV Station, FOX 29, WTXF-TV , into NOT airing video of him allegedly spanking a woman at 2AM during a night last summer at a local bowling alley.

After receiving the cellphone video, according to the column, "Fox 29 began to work on a story about the mayor's late-night activities and the footage was screened at the station by Nutter's communications director Desiree Peterkin Bell and press secretary Mark McDonald.
Soon after that, we're told, Nutter summoned Fox 29 news director Steve Schwaid to City Hall for a meeting. After the meeting Schwaid informed his news staff that the footage would not run unless he decided that it would.
Some journalists at Fox 29 were upset that Schwaid decided to kill, or at least sit on, the story."

Detroit News Director Fired On First Day of Work



On his first day of work, new WADL news director Matt Stevens was met by station security and informed that per direct instructions from CEO Kevin Adell, his services would no longer be needed at WADL TV Detroit. Stevens was escorted from the station property by security.

According to a news release, Stevens was selected by the station's now also fired consultant, Kevin  O'Brien to serve as the station's News Director. O'Brien was terminated on February 23rd by CEO Kevin Adell for inappropriate conduct. No official word on exactly what that conduct was.  Sure was a short tenure, though!

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Video: Confrontation With Police At Occupy Louisville (Warning for Language)

Police had an altercation with Occupy protesters at Occupy Louisville Yesterday.  Here is raw video shot by the protesters. Five Occupy protesters were arrested after police said they were blocking the entrance to the Chase bank and trying to get inside the bank.  Here is raw video shot by one of the protesters. The altercation happened as police were asking one woman to come inside the bank for questioning.

HERE is a link to the story in the Louisville Courier Journal. 

Friday, February 24, 2012

Reporter Says Gary Carter Will Be Remembered As One of Baseball's Elite Pitchers...Whuh?

Where's the producer when they're needed to obviously fill in a not so bright reporter??? (For non baseball fans, Gary Carter was a Hall of Fame catcher and never threw a single pitch).  I guess it's a compliment to his legacy than even though he was one of the greatest catchers, he will also be remembered as one of the greatest pitchers!

Reporter Congratulates Anchor On Her Big Hooters, uh, I Mean Hoosiers, oh no...

Nothing like LIVE TV.  Reporter doing a live report congratulates the female anchor on her....what did he say??? uh oh...

Dan Rather Invents Severe Weather Coverage?

Dan Rather interview in which he talks about his coverage of Hurricane Carla in 1961.  The coverage turned out to be his big break, as he and a cameraman headed to Galveston near where the hurricane was forecast to hit.  During the coverage, he did NOT strap himself to a tree, but he THOUGHT about it....

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Fox Business Channel Cancels Entire Prime Time Lineup & Revamps


According to the New York Times, with declining ratings, the Fox Business Channel has canceled it's entire prime time lineup and made it over.
" In place of the political talk shows that are currently shown from 8 to 11 p.m., Fox Business will replay its programming shown from 5 to 8 p.m., giving more exposure to three of its best-known anchors.
The changes called attention to the poor ratings performance of Fox Business, a four- and a half-year-old spinoff of the hugely popular Fox News Channel. Both channels are owned by News Corporation."

Gannet to Employees 56 Years old With 20 Years Experience: "We want you GONE!"


Gannett continues cutting their most experienced newspaper workers.  According to a report on the Gannett blog:

"Gannett Co. Inc. today began offering voluntary buyouts to more than 660 employees in its U.S. Community Publishing newspaper group, according to a report on Gannett Blog.
The buyout is being extended to those staffers — attached to "certain departments and/or job categories" — who are age 56 with at least 20 years of service, as of March 31, 2012.
The offer provides for salary continuation of two weeks’ pay for each complete year of service, capped at 52 weeks, and ongoing health, dental and vision coverage during this period, the letter from USCP President Bob Dickey said.
Employees who are eligible will have 45 days to accept."  The buyouts were only offered for workers in the newspaper division, according to the Poynter Institute.

This comes 1 day after the Washington Post offered buyouts to their newsroom.