Sometime during the final years of the Reagan administration, WAGA installed into its newsroom a computer system called Basys. It enabled anybody looking at a computer monitor to look at newsroom rundowns, read assignment ques, read updated wire copy, and write stories that could be read by everybody and go straight into the newscast, among [...]
Archive for August, 2010
23 Aug
Not balanced
The concept of “balance” in a TV news story is tricky. When people act a fool, odds are they’ll get coverage that highlights their foolishness. When people in government do wrong or commit egregious mistakes, the coverage will reflect that newsworthy fact. By definition, it will be unbalanced. And it can still be good [...]
17 Aug
Dammit, Janet
Top Ten Reasons Reporters Should Not Profess Devotion to their Significant Others in TV Stories: 10. After the break-up, it will still live forever on the web. 9. You’re not likely to do it as stylishly and amiably as John Gerard did. 8. Odds are, your significant other isn’t as absurdly adorable as Janet, nor [...]
13 Aug
Trampling the flag
Update: This is video of WXIA’s coverage. The flag topples at 1:52. Runoff night got really weird at the Nathan Deal celebratory party Tuesday. It was a low moment for Atlanta TV news. Deal was unexpectedly eking out a victory for the Republican nomination for Governor. He ascended to the podium to address his supporters. [...]
11 Aug
Transmission chip
“Sir, is this your vehicle?” “Yes, ma’am.” “May I come in?” “Please do.” “Sir, I’ve gotten a complaint that you’re using this vehicle to send messages to microchips implanted in the brains of residents around here. Got any ID?” “Ma’am, I work at an Atlanta TV station. This is a satellite truck.” “Satellite truck? What’s [...]
9 Aug
Water torture
Based on a detailed email from a tipster, we set out for Dahlonega last week to produce a story on the stink in the city’s water supply. The tipster was very detailed: The city had built a new reservoir, changed the intake for its water system, and the result was lousy-tasting water. The city was [...]
2 Aug
Friend of the devil
Though I’m not a Jehovah’s Witness, I may have knocked on as many doors as the average JW. Most of them were the doors of folks whose neighbors were mired in some kind of terrible tragedy, a story-type covered with gusto at my previous, crime-obsessed workplace. It ain’t rocket science: You get an address. You [...]
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