A sneak peek at Dialing for News
It looks like WYOU is giving us a sneak peek of what to expect with its Dialing for News format, scheduled to launch on Tuesday.
First, we have a revamped website, which includes previews of Tuesday's "interactive" news segments on gambling and Katie Couric. Presumably, these "interactive" topics are where viewers will call in and ask questions. (So, it's like Larry King Live?) There's also No Wait Weather, where you can have weather forecaster Scott Stuccio say hello to your aged Aunt Mary during a forecast. (Like Willard Scott, except without the Smuckers endorsement.)
Oh, and did I mention there's pictures of the revamped news set? This is the same set a tipster described as the Starship Enterprise. I don't quite see the resemblance, but perhaps you will. Note the phone bank behind the chairs, where I'm guessing people can call in to support Pennsylvania Polka...er, ask questions about the discussion topic. There's also a giant plasma screen, where the anchor will stand. And if you didn't think you were watching WYOU, that weather set will clear up any confusion!
The station's staff bios page has been appropriately updated. Well, they forgotreporter Laurie Monteforte and weekend weather forecaster Les Still.
All that's left now is to see what happens on Tuesday...
EDIT: Actually, it looks like WBRE traded Candice Grossklaus for Monteforte.
First, we have a revamped website, which includes previews of Tuesday's "interactive" news segments on gambling and Katie Couric. Presumably, these "interactive" topics are where viewers will call in and ask questions. (So, it's like Larry King Live?) There's also No Wait Weather, where you can have weather forecaster Scott Stuccio say hello to your aged Aunt Mary during a forecast. (Like Willard Scott, except without the Smuckers endorsement.)
Oh, and did I mention there's pictures of the revamped news set? This is the same set a tipster described as the Starship Enterprise. I don't quite see the resemblance, but perhaps you will. Note the phone bank behind the chairs, where I'm guessing people can call in to support Pennsylvania Polka...er, ask questions about the discussion topic. There's also a giant plasma screen, where the anchor will stand. And if you didn't think you were watching WYOU, that weather set will clear up any confusion!
The station's staff bios page has been appropriately updated. Well, they forgot
All that's left now is to see what happens on Tuesday...
EDIT: Actually, it looks like WBRE traded Candice Grossklaus for Monteforte.
posted by Howard Beale at 4:47 PM
40 Comments:
They forget to put Laurie on the website, but they didn't forget to put Gabby's picture up...and she hasn't been on the air in several months. What a joke. Thanks alot Frank.
I feel bad for Laurie. She hasn't had a bio @ WYOU for months. I wonder how long it will take now that shes baan copy-pasted to WBRE? I've just moved to Pittsburgh (have only worked near Wilkes/Scranton market), so I hope WYOU ends up putting video online, or possibly somebody putting the first show on YouTube.
It always amazes me where Channel 50's management pours it's money--Into a new set! Do you know how much a new set costs? It's mega bucks.
Why don't they spend their money on a resource thats lacking: GOOD quality people?????
Ever get the feeling that Gabby will somehow magically reappear sometime late in November?
God, how I wish we did overnight metering in this market. Does anyone here think that the new infomercial format will generate even enough curiousity to make a neglible bump in viewership for like a night or two? I don't...
Gabrielle is out on worker's comp. She was in a car accident with photog Steve Y who is still out too.
Nexstar doesn't care if the ratings go up, they get paid (from the guests) either way. That's why they are switching to this format. The found that Munley, Munley and Cartwright would pay big bucks to be on the news everyday, then why can't they do it with other businesses. It's all about the money not ratings. Smart move as a business plan, stupid move if they think it is going to last long.
As someone who is not in the biz, can someone who is, please tell me, how long until management would say this new approach is a success or failure? I understand they would want results immediately but how long realistically? Also with ratings, what is a realistic target to shoot for?
Mr. Beale, maybe you can give an approximation. How long and/or how much ratings increase does this have to improve to be considered a success?
why do you think it won't last long. if what you are saying is true, they are being paid by their guests why can't they just do this forever? And I don't think it is an infomercial format....it is a local round table disscussion, like you would see on the national news shows.
how long does it take to put together three paragraphs about who the person is, where she came from, where she went to school, her first job and who her favorite sports team is? doesn't want to seem to take long but somehow it is.
Gee, another take-off on "Dialing for Dollars."
What's next, "The World in a Trivial Minute?"
Or maybe, the Top 40-News-Stories-of-the-Day Countdown?"
Another Great Job by Monteforte in the anchor chair.She is really starting to hit her stride
She brings a nice change, and by the way
Laurie's pic is up on the WBRE site..just way down on the bottom
i agree, however the camera doesn't do her justice. when i first saw her on TV i didn't realize it was her as compared to her picture on the website.
it is a local round table disscussion, like you would see on the national news shows.
Huh? You mean that Casey and Santorum paid cash dollars to be on with Timmy Russert this week? Is that how that works? You wanna be on teevee NEWS to further your cause and/or agenda, so you just buy your way onto the program? And all these years I thought news was about news and things newsworthy.
About the new set - rumor out of the local financial community is that local lenders wanted some commitment out of corporate before they'd extend any more "courtesies" to Nexstar(their debt service is enormous). They wanted some sign of faith in this community, in Scr/W-B, so Texas bought a new set.
Uh, hello, I'll take geography for $200 Alex?
As we all wait for the debut of the next big thing in television news, I got to wondering what happened to the LAST big thing: the WBRE/WYOU Poconos Bureau.
You remember: a major commitment to Monroe County, fulltime reporters for both 28 and 22, a fancy bureau in a downtown Stroudsburg location.
Anybody recall any reporting out of the bureau lately?
WYOU's new format will last for a few weeks before it gets old and stale and the topics get boring. A new set itsn't going to bring in new viewers. You've gotta have content to go along with the flash...
As for Monteforte, she's cute. But her interaction with the weather and sports people is worse than getting your teeth drilled at the dentist. She also looks like shes afraid of the camera sometimes.
I think Howard needs better tipsters. That set looks nothing like the Enterprise. Looks like the joke is on Howard and his highly trained broadcasting experts. Should be interesting to see what else you people will be proven wrong on.
Uh, hello, I'll take geography for $200 Alex?
Yeah, see, it goes like this - follow me here; Nexstar is HQed in Texas. Simple enough?
Monroe County is back in great hands,Monteforte is back in town.She knows the Ponocos like the back of her hand.Monteforte's interaction with others is getting better.At least she can work on that.Looks is something you have or dont.
I wish WYOU would use some new graphics / open to go along with this new transition. Maybe they already do, but if they use what they have been, I doubt they will mesh.
I think Howard needs better tipsters. That set looks nothing like the Enterprise. Looks like the joke is on Howard and his highly trained broadcasting experts. Should be interesting to see what else you people will be proven wrong on.
Keep in mind I never said the new set looked like the Starship Enterprise; that's what the tipster said. And as I've previously said, I'm willing to give this new format a chance, so I'll reserve initial judgment until Tuesday. All that said, it's understandable that some would see Dialing for News as a last-ditch effort, since WYOU has been floundering for years. But who knows?
As we all wait for the debut of the next big thing in television news, I got to wondering what happened to the LAST big thing: the WBRE/WYOU Poconos Bureau.
You remember: a major commitment to Monroe County, fulltime reporters for both 28 and 22, a fancy bureau in a downtown Stroudsburg location.
Anybody recall any reporting out of the bureau lately?
It looks like WBRE will start using their fancy Stroudsburg bureau this month. The station's plan is to have their forecasters stationed throughout the market, and they'll assign someone to Stroudsburg to give the Pocono forecast. The bureau there does have a weather set, if I recall.
As someone who is not in the biz, can someone who is, please tell me, how long until management would say this new approach is a success or failure? I understand they would want results immediately but how long realistically? Also with ratings, what is a realistic target to shoot for?
Mr. Beale, maybe you can give an approximation. How long and/or how much ratings increase does this have to improve to be considered a success?
Defining whether or not Dialing for News will be successful is difficult. Obviously, it's not going to knock WNEP off its throne anytime soon, but if WYOU can gradually beef up its ratings over time, then that would be successful. The trick is to convince viewers this isn't just a flash-in-the-pan idea.
WYOU overhauled its graphics when they dropped the "22" from their name. I doubt they will go through it again this soon. However, I think the music sucks big time. It puts me to sleep, but then again they don't do hard hitting news, so why should they have a hard hitting open. YAWN!
I can tell you that I’m quite excited about this new format…I really do hope it works out. But knowing Nexstar…it probably won’t. I have to agree with people who question how many subjects they can do before it gets boring.
People are also calling this an infomercial format…well, you know that WYOU has it a new low when they have Ron Popeil and Kevin Trudeau on as guest, and you call in and ask them questions.
Sure Howard, while you never "said" that WYOU's set looked like the Enterprise, you sure were quick to blog it. Your jabs and stabs at Nexstar make your vendetta against their stations more and more clear every day. Disagree ? Why no mention of the full-page (and positive) article about the new format, which featured full-color spreads of the new set ? Too positive for you ?
Sure Howard, while you never "said" that WYOU's set looked like the Enterprise, you sure were quick to blog it.
With attribution of course. Your problem?
Your jabs and stabs at Nexstar make your vendetta against their stations more and more clear every day.
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
If I had a dollar for every time I was accused of having a vendetta against a station, I'd be rich. People have accused me of being biased against WNEP, WBRE, and WYOU. That must mean I'm doing something right.
Why no mention of the full-page (and positive) article about the new format, which featured full-color spreads of the new set ? Too positive for you ?
Because, I'm biased against Nexstar! *wink*
As I've previously said, I'm willing to give Dialing for News a chance. Hell, it could be the best thing to happen to local television news. But we won't know until Tuesday, right?
If you can't handle criticism of your station, then hop back in your cubicle.
Uhhh, who ran the full-page ad with all the positive crap about the new format? Sorry, but I didn't seen any Times-Shamrock papers the last several days. Let me take a wild guess here - it was one of their papers. The News Alliance at it's finest, objectivity be damned.
Howard said..."If you can't handle criticism of your station, then hop back in your cubicle."
H.B.,
Where do you think he's posting from?
As for his thin skin, please!!!
Most of the mud here comes from within the Deathstar ranks.
Monteforte?
Yeah, she's great..knows Poconos like back of her hand. HA!!!
As long as she is following the other local news crews around up there taking their ideas and watching their every move.
90% of the posts here, regardless of their content, are likely from Deathstar inmates. If not for them, this would be a mighty quiet place...
Les Still's bio is on the WYOU site, you just have to put Les_Still.htm at the end of the link on one of the existing bios and it will show up. No photo though.
Whatever happened to "Lackawanna County's News Source?"
There is not another News crew worth Monteforte's time to follow around.ohhh wait you mean that crack news team at Blue Ridge 13..lol
She will leave them in her wake.
To 11:41PM: Laurie is first-rate. I find nothing wrong with Laurie's anchoring skills. She hasn't anchored very long and already you people are crucifying her? As for talent and compassion, she has that and more. Give the young lady a chance for crying out loud!
To 8:34 PM - Yes, they spent so much on the new set and poor format - they didn't pay Diane Lee what she was worth. Her move to Albany proves she is the smartest one of all. She bailed at warp-speed. WYOU should go black. As for anyone having to DO with the new format, they should have their heads examined. NO ONE will watch for very long...Laurie Monteforte is better off at WBRE until she can find a real station to work for.
To 10:06 AM - Give me a break - Laurie is barely out of college for God's sake. Do you people like criticizing people. Laurie is a sweet young lady who cares about people and about the stories she covers. I know Diane Lee and you people criticized her without even knowing the REAL person she is. All you may have seen is the person "on the job." But, unless you know the REAL person "off the job," how can you portray the person accurately? The same goes for Laurie Monteforte. She is learning. I met her at the Children's Miracle Network Telethon. She is a fine young lady, with a caring attitude and very respectful of others. We need more people like that in the newsmedia - not stuck up people who THINK they HAVE talent, when all they can do is be wannabes!
To 8:23 PM - I agree. Laurie deserves more than just her name and an outdated picture. She is much prettier in person and on camera. But, when you are looking at WYOU and WBRE, what else can you expect? Nexstar is a joke!
as for Gabrielle being out on workers' comp, i hardly consider sitting behind a desk in an air conditioned studio reading from a teleprompter heavy lifting. unless i am missing something here and she was seriously injured, and if so, for that i apologize.
Yeah, Laurie is great. Where is Stroudston?
Is that halfway between Stroudsburg and Scranton? She couldn't ad-lib if it were scripted for her.
The girl is going places though.
The comment about Monteforte following other news teams around and copying them....that's sooo funny! You completely gave yourself away. Only Colleen Connolly or Rosa Yum would say that. They are the only two who are jealous of Laurie. I work in the Poconos, and I deal with the media a lot, so it's very easy for me to see what's going on here. When Connolly and Yum see each other, it's like they run through a field of daisy's in slow motion and hug. But then again I can't blame them for being jealous. Monteforte is going a lot further then they ever will.
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