Live Apt Fire
See update below.
Live Apartment Fire is managed and written by ex-WAGA reporter Doug Richards, a 27 year veteran of the TV news biz, 21 of it in Atlanta. The writer is now co-owner (with the writer of the blog called the Daly Briefing) of a kickass video production company called TomorrowVision Media. Feel free to hire us.
“Live Apartment Fire” refers to the brightest, most incendiary cliche in Atlanta TV news. When an apartment building catches fire– especially close to news time– it doesn’t matter what good work a reporter has developed during the day. Nor does it matter if nobody is injured by the fire. The apartment fire will get top priority and will be treated like Armageddon, especially if the flames can be broadcast live during a newscast.
The writer is also available for freelance writing projects. He can apply his patented snark filter, resulting in crisp, clean corporate-style copy.
The writer is uncomfortable referring to himself in the third person as LAF (or the first person plural as “we”), but is getting used to it.
Once, at the end of a TV news workday, my teenage son asked me: So, dad– cover any apartment fires today?
The writer left the news biz voluntarily, with no bitterness or animosity, in July 2007. The writer retains affection and reverence for the good work that TV news can do, and horror at how often that opportunity is squandered. The blog is intended to be a constructive critique. Often it merely states publicly sentiments that are routinely expressed behind-the-scenes within the news biz.
Update: The writer, as of August 10, 2009, is a reporter at WXIA-TV.
Doug,
I learned about your blog from Rodney Ho’s tv/radio blog at AJC.com. I have always respected your work at Fox 5, and was lucky enough to get a peek “behind the curtain” several years back when you visited the “Lucky Yates Show” at Dads Garage. I have just read every post of your blog over my lunch break, and I am going to need more. Can you post more than once a day?
Seriously, it is well written and a great observation of the media from someone who has served in the trenches and knows what they are talking about. You are all dead on (like your takes on Monica Pearson, the Hullman, Patty Pan, etc.) and are a pleasure to read. Please keep up the great work!
I have two simple questions. 1) During the coverage of the missing Brookhaven couple in SC.. who’s fault is it when an anchor or reporter pronounces the name of a town/county incorrectly? Hilton Head is in Beaufort County, and Beaufort is pronounced BEW-furt.. not BOW-fort. Yet, I maybe have seen one anchor/reporter get it correct in the two weeks this story has been covered by the major news outlets (I think it was Fox 5).
Speaking of Fox 5 – 2) What are your thoughts (if you have any at all) about the presentation of local newscasts? Or do you even pay attention to stuff like graphics, sets, voiceovers, etc? While I like the FOx 5 airstaff, I simply cannot watch the telecasts anymore. The garish set they are forced to inhabit twice an evening is ridiculous. 46′ news looks like ametuer hour anytime I happen to tune in. 11 is a little better, and they are in HD, but their graphics bug me to no end. That leaves me with WSB. They LOOK professional. The voiceover guy demands your attention. The set looks clean and simple. Yes, at the center of it all is usually Monica – but I can at least watch when (the great and lovely) Jovita Moore is at the helm. I cannot wait for her to take over – in 2020 or whenever Monica steps down.
I realize 5 is your former employer, but do you ever watch the 6pm newscast and ask yourself.. “How many times must the have the words ‘Fox 5′ on the screen at one time anyway?”.
thanks again,
Kit Baty
(part time local media junkie)
Marietta
Kit- Thanks for the post. You’re very kind. My Lucky Yates appearance was a career highlight. Which says something about my career, I’m sure. The short answers to your questions are:
- I struggle as it is to post once a day. I don’t intend to become a full-time blogger unless somebody throws me enough ad revenue to pay my mortgage and bar tab.
- Most broadcasters I’ve met are very meticulous about pronouncing words and locations correctly– even anchors. They almost always check. However, sometimes the folks with whom they check are plain wrong.
Q- “Anybody know how to pronounce Beaufort?”
A- (from newsroom secretary) “I think its Boo-fert”
Q “You sure?”
A- “Think so”
Q- “Thanks.”
- I’ve spent most of my career ignoring the graphic look of TV news. I can’t explain why, and I’ve never let a graphic look sway which newscast I like.
Yes, they do like to splash their logo as often as possible. Last spring, 5 changed their mic flags. The new flags were so large, the reporters were unable to grasp the mics with their hands– they had to grasp the flags instead. 5 ordered smaller flags, but they’re still too large. And I think one or two of the super-sized flags make rogue appearances on TV.
You’ve read every word of LAF? That’s breathtaking, and humbling.
Doug,
What ever happened to the freelance reporter, Danielle Reese? She was only on a little while then went over to 11. Do you know if she is still working in the Atlanta market?
Danielle was with child when she left WAGA. Haven’t heard from her since. She was cool to work with, though. I don’t know her current whereabouts.
Thanks for the update. I worked with her at WAGT in Augusta, GA a few years ago and recently saw that she was in Atlanta for a short time. I was wondering if she got out of the biz or moved somewhere else. Since I am not longer in television, I like to keep up with former co-workers.
Thanks for the info and keep up the good work on this site.
Doug,
You totally come across as someone yearning to be back on the air. You consume your free time by watching news so you can mock it.
How sad!
Dear Saddened-
I know Doug personally– let me stress in all CAPS:
DOUG IS HAPPY AS A PIG IN SHIT that he’s not having to shave and have “TV hair”, listen to management and stand in front of “cold fires” day to day. Local tv news is terrible. I can’t believe Doug was the first one to think about taking it on.
skillet
Doug:
Didn’t realize you had left TV til I found your blog today. Worked with you numerous times when I was with the DA and you always seemed slightly embarrassed by what you were being asked to do and extremely bored with it. But I always welcomed your calls because I knew I could talk you out of doing a story pretty easily.
Best of luck in your new life!
Doug – Where in your archives can I find out what happened to Cari Champion after she returned to 46 following her on-air fauz pas? Was she canned? Is she working elsewhere? Did she get out of the news business altogether? Thanks.
McYaggy– I would be the first to admit this blog isn’t what you’d call comprehensive. My archives, such as they are, don’t have that info. Another reader says she’s working in LA.
Erik– Who knew I was such a pushover as a TV reporter? Actually, I kinda knew. I believed too many people. Especially the charmers, such as yourself.
Nice to hear from ya.
I just wanted to write and say how much I enjoy reading your blog. I’m a recovering newsie who spent many years working in the Atlanta news market. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one who thinks the way some of Atlanta’s local stations present/report the news is nuts!
Doug – Long time no talk! I’m better known as Lisa Clark’s husband. We always loved you on TV, and Lisa and I (and our good friend and your former colleague) are really enjoying reading this. Hope all is well with you and your family!
All the best!
Kris Bagwell
Doug-the former colleague I omitted is Don Smith, former head of Local Programming.
Best,
Kris
“You totally come across as someone yearning to be back on the air. You consume your free time by watching news so you can mock it.
How sad! ”
I love this post! Sad is right! Doug needs to be toting a Mini Cam around Atlanta coming up with stories that make focus groups smile in between pizza bites and picking out free T shirts.
Look at it like this… Trust someone who can speak from experience… not someone who speaks from the inner office memo.
Hey. I just recently posted on my blog about the morals in covering a story like the pregnancy of Sarah palin’s daughter. With your experience, I’d love to see your opinion on the obligations of the news media to report such a sensitive story…
http://leftonlanier.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/morality-questions/
what happened to Patty Pan and Charles Molineaux at Fox?