Dialing for News: Redux
Rich Mates reports in Broadcasting & Cable that WYOU could have its revamped "interactive" newscast ready to go by next month. And while management isn't giving details on the call-in format you first read about here, it will be similar to "The Law and You," WYOU's monthly legal advice segment, where a lawyer answers viewer questions via e-mail.
Other interesting things to note from the article:
WYOU's 6 p.m. newscast only gets 3% of viewers in the market. Ouch!
Diane Lee will stick around, so rumors of her demise are greatly exaggerated...at least until management thinks otherwise.
News director Ron Krisulevicz promises a time-delay will be used on live calls. With Congress upping indecency fines, it's always a good idea.
Nexstar CEO Perry Sook uttered the inane phrase "Think outside of the box." Isn't that something overpaid consultants say as they systematically destroy a newsroom?
While part of me is suspicious about what seems like a gimmicky format, I'll give credit to Krisulevicz and WYOU for taking a gutsy move. It's clear WYOU's current newscasts aren't cutting it. But management better be ready to throw its weight behind the new format and promote the hell out of it, unless they want Dialing for News to be dead in the water.
Other interesting things to note from the article:
While part of me is suspicious about what seems like a gimmicky format, I'll give credit to Krisulevicz and WYOU for taking a gutsy move. It's clear WYOU's current newscasts aren't cutting it. But management better be ready to throw its weight behind the new format and promote the hell out of it, unless they want Dialing for News to be dead in the water.
posted by Howard Beale at 8:10 AM
40 Comments:
Gutsy move? Really? What do they have to lose, that whopping 3 share?
I thought Rich retired from the business?
"Think outside the box", great phrase Perry. Even consultants don't use that one anymore since it's circa "Knight Rider".
*
9:01 said: What do they have to lose, that whopping 3 share?
Yeah, exactly. Ever hear of WICC-TV? I joined the AM side in '59 just after TV went dark; it had a zero share. Zero. We put up a slide 5x/night for a week offering $100 cash for the first person to call the station. At the end of the week, we still had our $100.
A 3 share wouldn't have been bad...
Hey atleast their making a move. I'd never work at 50, but hey, their attempting here, I think...
Just as long as this means less Eric Deabill.
Anyone seen his two-packagees-a-show stunt?
WYOU is sitting on a 3, and if someone could check, it's being said that one of their evening news casts is showing as an asterisk, meaning they have no audience to measure. WBRE is running somewhere 7 to 9, not exactly way out ahead of WYOU. Does anyone out there have a clue(and I am not being facetious)just how Nexstar sells these losers? Why would a client buy those pathetic numbers? You can buy cable for next to nothing, why would you throw money at these two stations? Any takers on this?
IF any other station had 'YOU as their callsign, you better believe that they would be promoting the hell out of it. Come on, what little they have started doing doesn't come close to cutting it.
From the article RE: possible counter programming from WNEP...
“I've been here 3½ years,” says WNEP News Director Dennis Fisher, “and my bosses have said WNEP should do what WNEP does without respect to anybody else.”
What's up with that "my bosses" comment? That's odd...
The reason you are seeing Eric so often isn't by his doing. He is basically the only reporter WYOU has left in the line-up. Gabs has been off the air since January, Phil is gone. Doesn't leave too many people up there in Scranton to pump out the little news that 22 does. Oh crap, I forgot they don't want to be called 22 anymore. My bad.
Howard, clearly you know little to nothing about Ron CrispyLettuce if you're giving him credit for ANYTHING. The man makes no decisions. There never was a better puppet. Know Ronny's creds? He doesn't even have a college degree... just an associates from LCCC. Graduated with a few of the photogs and production staff. Most of them could run the joint better. They're smarter, more in-tune with the market and know how that hell hole works. OK, so after his internship at WBRE he takes his lunch pail and goes onto 11 years at some tiny station in Maryland, not even an actual market and another Nexstar (poop) nugget, as the assignment editor/6pm anchor (may be the best "slash" title ever). Then after one of Nexstar's infamous "nationwide searches" he's brought back to the valley of despair as E.P. "Local Boy Does Good!" Ron would think that is correct grammar, by the way. As executive producer, he spent most of his time hiding in his office memorizing the Dallas Cowboys website (including the cheerleaders measurements) waiting for that sad sob in the office next door to die or get fired. Then, long overdue, Paul Stueber, who spent 99.9% of his time archiving newspaper articles, replying to viewer e-mails, re-replying to viewer e-mails and eating, gets the boot. Practicaly chased out with a tire iron. Anyway, back to lil' Ron... he becomes the interim acting news director. After yet another nationwide search, he's the man! Not just of bad 'BRE, but worse 'YOU. This man has no right, education or experience to be a news director! Not in market 169, let alone a mid-sized market. He can't make a decision about what stories his more highly educated reporters should do on a daily basis. (And have you seen them... "seen" is the key word... Is the person hiring these reporters blind? {And don't get high and mighty and sit there reading and think, "Well they're reputable journalists, because talent is thin there... and this IS tv}) These stations are a mess. 'YOU is whimping out to live infomercials with only need-to-know news, wee weather and skimpy sports. I can't believe none of you have you have addressed this. This "thinking out of the box" idea of call-in shows is infomercials. The people taking the calls, at least many of them (like the lawyers of "The Law & 'YOU") are paying to be there. Come on people! Get on this. Good luck to Diane Lee making a tape for her next job... (and I'm not talking holiday favorites) I'm sure a REAL news director will enjoy seeing clips of her asking "experts" who are paying to be on a fancy new set to answer Billy in Edwardsville's question for "garden expert" Mr. Rave. Breiefly back to 'BRE. There is some talent left. Jason, you're already getting out (they did you a favor!). Amy, tone down a looks a little... softer is better, and sent out tapes. Anywhere. Last, but not least, Kerry and Candace, set the building on fire... then set the world on fire with your talent, beauty and personalities.
You people always forget Dave and Laurie. And possibly Joe B at 22/you.
Brilliant "state of the union" by 6:37, just brilliant.
I'd only argue one point. And while I would not expect much support for my position, it will ring very true with a lot of people. Paul Stueber is one of the brightest guys in the news business period. Gruff at times, stubborn, indelicate, and even downright rude, he remains one of the best. As snarly as he could be, he could also be a man of great gentility, cordiality, and generosity. Much to Paul's misfortune, his career brought him back around to Scr/W-B and Nexstar. Yeah, I know, I know, you're gonna tell me how he got what he deserved, and your argument isn't lost on me.
But it doesn't change the man's intelligence, savvy, and ability to lead. There has never been a resume like Paul's in this market, NEVER. Like a good many others, he got caught up in garbage that did him in; some he caused, some he did not.
He never wanted to be news director, he loved being EP. Corporate gave him the ultimatum - take ND or take a hike, so he did what he had to do and became news director.
His successor isn't fit to sit in that office, and he knows it, and he sweats it each and every day. Two key players fired, new formats that will be stillborn, morale that is beyond desperate, and a news room full of people who have nothing but contempt for him. Yeah, lots of fun. If they posted a memo tomorrow looking for volunteers to be "fired," the line would run around the corner to Public Square.
If anyone here wants to shake up Nexstar, or knows a group that's interested in doing so, notify them in writing that their license(s)will be challenged next renewal. God knows there are serious grounds for a challenge, all we need is someone with the balls and time to do it...
6:37pm types a lot of words but doesn't really say anything. Maybe he should have applied for the EP or ND position and show us all how it's supposed to be done.
To 5:08pm about WNEP's Dennis Fisher: Fisher's quote isn't so difficult to believe. The guy doesn't know what he thinks until the GM tells him.
Actually, let's give him credit for thinking up those Thursday dirt racing reports in sports. Let the race track owners supply you with video, sometimes no sound (at a car race!!) and call it news nearly a week after the races. What a brilliant idea. Real big market stuff at the #1 station.
7:20 PM...How could ANYONE forget Laurie, God bless her?
Or, the banjo music?
Dave and Joe B. (Joe Bu) are the only two left at WYOU worth mentioning. Both have been with WDAU/WYOU for many, many years. Both are well-respected in my book. Good luck to both of them when the Deathstar ax swings again on South Franklin Street...and up at the Lackawanna Avenue "bureau."
Who gives a rat's ass about the Stroudsburg people? Are they actually doing any work out there? Same question goes for the Williamsport "bureau."
Eric Deabill is a disaster. He's a blow-hard.
You people always forget Dave and Laurie. And possibly Joe B at 22/you.
Yeah, because a reporter who sucks off the mayor, a green reporter and a guy who thinks shooting at in angle is a 'style' really helps the numbers.
Is Candace Grossklaus prettier on t.v. or in person?
HEY 6:37 PM Anonymous poster:
KERRY SHANEN? She needs to get a personality, if she has one. I flick 28 on in the morning...she does nothing for me. No vitality, no persona, NOTHING.
"Is Candace Grossklaus prettier on t.v. or in person?"
1:48 PM
I don't know her well, but she's an absolute knockout in person. More than that, she's smart and she's nice. You can see on the weekends and when she does fill-in that everyone around her likes her and picks up on her positive energy.
In a market filled with anchor divas (including, apparently, every woman at 16) she's a refreshing exception.
Think Nexstar is smart enough to recognize/reward her?
Is Candace Grossklaus prettier on t.v. or in person?
1:48 PM
YES!!!
Think Nexstar is smart enough to recognize/reward her?
Let's hope so. I know I'd watch the 6 news if she was on rather than Lyndall. That woman gives me a headache.
And to the 3:10 pm comment on Kerry Shahen - beauty is in the eye of the beholder my friend.
1. Candace is hot in person and on screen.
2. Dave Decosmo should be respected for his experience.
3. Would you still call Laurie green? she's been at WYOU for a year now - and hasn't worked in Stroudsburg for at least six months. April A, now she's green. Hot and green.
4. Not all the 16 anchors are divas.
8:13- You're on crack is you don't think Kerry is beautiful.
Nexstar does not reward and recognize anyone for any reason, which is why most of the hottest threads on this blog are what they are.
Kerry Shahen is one of the most beautiful and charming females that has ever drawn a breath. Candace? Lovely women, but nowhere near Shahen. Just one man's opinion, of course. And can some of you female admirers just give the term "hot" a break? Use your intellect and find a few better words - try and string a sentence together. We'll all thank you for it...
What else will Sook come up with?
How about "a done deal?" Or "ball park?" Perhaps "bandwith," or benchmark, best practice, client-focused, consensus, core business decision, fast track, game plan, "we've got to go the extra mile," play hardball, keep me in the loop, lessons learned, mindset, movers and shakers?
In the end, WYOU will still have a 3 share. Or what might be worse.
Then, long overdue, Paul Stueber, who spent 99.9% of his time archiving newspaper articles, replying to viewer e-mails, re-replying to viewer e-mails and eating, gets the boot. Practicaly chased out with a tire iron. >><<
I was wondering when that parking space incident would come back to haunt him.
I'm glad Diane Lee is staying around. She is the prettiest anchor around here. How old is she and is she married?
I'm sorry, but have you seen Kerry's legs? They're even better in person!
OK. So that post left by "anonymous" at 6:37 is clearly some man on a soap box. bitter man who has an issue (or 2 or 3 or ...). Come on, that's the true voice of a hot head who wants nothing more than to think of himself as the king and the rest of the local news as his underlings, or at least the equiv. And what's with this line "Last, but not least, Kerry and Candace, set the building on fire... then set the world on fire with your talent, beauty and personalities." Ha, perhaps you should be in PR ... or, maybe you are. But come on, that's about as lame as it gets in the opinion spectrum.
To the 8:50AM poster clearly you don't currently work, nor have you ever worked at 62 South Franklin Street. The 6:37 poster is not a bitter man or WOMAN (I might add) on a rant, it's just, as you said, "...the true voice..."
As great as Shahen's legs may be, remember it's leg WORK, not legs that get you anywhere worthwhile in this business. Looks only get you so far, but they fade-- talent does not and it's talent and hard-hitting reporting that wins Emmys and Pulitzers, not looks. Hopefully she has both.
6:49 PM...thanks for the slap back to reality (or idealism, as the case may be). Talent should be the true measuring stick, but you know that ain't always the case.
Besides, no matter where you work, especialy at Deathstar where the french benefits are non-existent, doesn't it make for a more pleasurable day when you've got beautiful scenery?
The idealism is to be applauded. Sadly, it isn't the way it is. I've seen countless marginally talented people score big on looks alone. And I've seen very talented individuals fail because they lack the "look" or the "sound."
Anonymous said...
Then, long overdue, Paul Stueber, who spent 99.9% of his time archiving newspaper articles, replying to viewer e-mails, re-replying to viewer e-mails and eating, gets the boot. Practicaly chased out with a tire iron. >><<
I was wondering when that parking space incident would come back to haunt him. >> 10:58 PM
WBRE insiders would have to agree that this is one of the funnier posts we have seen.
To 10:28PM
Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry
When I take you out in the surry.
When I take you out in the surry with the french on top.
Dude, Perry ain't gonna give 'em to ya if you dunno what dere called!
i've known candice for quite a while now, and she is totally awesome!! so pretty, and funny! both on and off set ;-)
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