Regent Update!

Well...he changed the landscape in Kansas City...he terrorized Dallas...and now Regent Ducas has come to my own market. He's taken up roost as interim news director at the ABC affiliate here in Providence. It's a dog station mired in third place...for now. I wouldn't dare discount what Regent did at KCTV for second. He could do the same thing for ABC 6.

I did a little reporting (OK, I talked to a coworker who's husband works for ABC 6), and found out that Regent has yet to give a speech to the newsroom saying that they are changing their format to the gloom and doom, first five minutes strategy that worked so well in K.C. and blew up in his face in Dallas. That crime and car accidents formula is what my station does best in this market, so maybe he'll take another tact.

One thing I do know...he may have the label as interim news director, but the staff is not treating him as such. They assume he's staying on. There's new local ownership at ABC 6, and they may think they have just man to turn around their sinking ship. What's scary is that they could be right!

Bieke

Another Great Story

This is another really funny story from Idaho...Boise this time. Actually, it's not supposed to be funny. It's supposed to be sad...but, what can I say, I'm not easily moved. BTW, what I love most is the sappy music!

They don't have a good way to link to it, so go to their special projects page.
http://www.6onyourside.com/Global/category.asp?C=90661


And click on "The Life. The Death. The Lessons Of Bear." See...even the title is funny.

KCTV Sweeps Story Has It's Own Website!

Doug's station is at it again. If you're reading this before 11PM central on 11/1/07, this site is a crazy promotional tool for KCTV's first sweeps story.

http://thedoctorisready.com/

That's crazy in a good way! URL's are cheap nowadays and stations should be using custom ones to promote good stories. The promotion here is, as usual, over-the-top...but I'd watch, so I guess it's working!

Bieke

Director's Make Great TV

So my morning anchor has a blog...and he's been doing behind the scenes all week. It was my turn today!



But seriously, he couldn't have posted something more interesting than an Early Show weather cut-in!!

Bieke

Great story? Or, greatest story?

I leave it up to you. Don't just read the text, click on the camera.

http://www.kidk.com/news/10405117.html

Now that you've seen it, some thoughts...

1) How would you like to be the photog on that story? "Think we got enough b-roll?" "No, get some more of the crap over there."

2) Is there a better description line on a chyron than "Works at Denny's"?

3) What other alliteration phrases can you think of for "leave a log"?

Yeah, this one has Emmy winner written all over it.

Oops...wrong video

Oh, it happens all the time...the wrong video ends up on-air, but it usually doesn't occur at this bad a time...

A lesson for all the talent out there...don't piss off the people in the control room or they might post something like this on the internet.



And, by the way fellow control room people, you really shouldn't be selling out your coworkers like this!

Bieke

Yeah... that was fast...

The grand experiment in Dallas, Texas is over, rather suddenly, five months after it began.

I'm referring to the hiring of former KCTV5 News Director Regent Ducas by CBS11. Ducas was "fired" Friday evening; General Manager Steve Mauldin said that Ducas had left to “pursue other interests.”

So, less than a half a year of being hired to turn around a moribund newsroom and news operation, Regent Ducas is left looking for a new newsroom to lead, or destroy as some might believe.

I’m somewhat torn by the whole thing. First, I think Steve Mauldin deserves a fair amount of blame for the experiment. He knew what he was getting in Regent Ducas, hell; it’s why he brought Ducas in the first place. Mauldin gave every indication of wanting to re-energize CBS11, until it came to actually going through with it.

Five months is hardly enough time to engineer a complete brand overhaul, especially when there’s another station in the same market that already has that style covered (in Dallas, NBC5 is considered the “crime station”). Mauldin also put the kibosh on the “First Five Minutes” branding that Ducas implemented. Again, a move that has been successful in Kansas City, how could you not expect Ducas to try it in Dallas?

It is also fair to argue that two book ratings periods, one major and one minor are also not enough time to gauge the success of a new brand. The counter argument is quite simple; Dallas is one of the Nielsen People Meter markets. Every morning, Dallas stations receive a detailed report of TV watching from the previous night, down to the exact number of households and demos watching the nightly programs. In that sense, every single night is a “book” night for Dallas stations, so Ducas has been in a permanent ratings book since his arrival.

I understand Regent Ducas is, at best, a polarizing figure, especially within the CBS11 newsroom where reports indicate staffers were… pleased to hear of his departure. Having worked with Regent for more than two years, I can honestly say, he’s the toughest news director you could possibly ever work for, but there’s also a lot to be learned from that kind of an attitude.

Would Regent’s style have worked in Dallas? Perhaps. The style was not working in Kansas City, until the major Perverted Justice sweeps series in February of 2002. That was the splash that finally built a core audience for KCTV5, but few remember that KCTV5 did not win February ’02, but it laid the foundation for winning books in the future.

As one of my co-workers said, “Once a news director, always a news director.” For better or worse, I imagine we’ll be hearing about a new job for Regent Ducas in the not-to-distant future.

New Blood

Where did this come from? I'm not even sure how I found this but it's great. I'm working at KAKE-TV in Wichita producing the 4pm or 6 and 10pm depending on the day. I'm going to pass this on to some of the others I graduated with. And Dick if you're reading this, there's a good thing spell check is on iNews at work.

Adam Sechrist

TV People Humor

Okay, nobody but us TV news people will find this funny... but being a TV guy with a weird sense of humor... this cracked me up.

Derek

A scolding

Will you people NEVER learn how to spell?

The correct spelling of "persay" is per se.

Another mistake like that and we withdraw your diploma!

Dick

Okay, this has nothing to do with KUJH, persay...

But, it is becoming abundantly clear that sports leagues and teams are really crossing the line when it comes to limiting the access of media outlets.

I'm sure we're all well aware of the banning of local television outlets on the field of NFL games, the NCAA kicking out a Courier-Journal blogger from a post-season baseball game in Louisville and media websites banned from running more than 45 seconds of interviews with NFL players and coaches. Frankly, the list is quite long now, and there is no sign that we will not keep adding to it.

In fact, this just in from the Wall Street Journal, photographers at NFL games will now have to serve as walking billboards for the league by wearing NFL Shield and Canon logo emblazoned vests during the games. Included in the article is a bit about NASCAR trying to demand ownership of all photos taken during races.

Consider this my call to arms. I think it is high time that media outlets started standing up to the bullying tactics of sports leagues. For one thing, most professional and college teams play in tax-payer subsidized facilities. When a community shells out millions of dollars so football players can have a spacious locker room, the community should expect complete access to said locker room in the form of reporter accounts and video interviews.

Citizens pay taxes to help subsidize stadia and practice facilities that millionaire owners could easily afford to pay for out-of-pocket. If owners continue to approach communities with an open hand, the least they can do is open the door for complete coverage of their product.

And, while college sports is not exactly in the same boat, there are no millionaire owners, just millionaire programs, pretty much all on-campus facilities are provided for in some way by the government and by taxes paid to the state by the likes of you and me. Therefore, college athletic departments should be even more open about what takes place on a public school campus. Obviously, this is a flawed example, because under my guidelines, a school like Duke, could shut-off all media contact given their private school status. However, Duke has a decent basketball team (from what I hear) and occasionally plays in tax-supported arenas, generally about half the season. So, private schools should be held to the same standards that I'm demanding here.

Okay, I'm calming down now, and I realize this is probably not what Bieke had envisioned for this site, but I just had to get that off my chest. I fear that for sports minded KUJH-ers graduating in the next couple of years will find themselves even more blocked by the likes of the NFL, NCAA and the MLB. It is a slippery slope we face, and the time for an ultimate showdown may not be far away.

Another New Job

Not to spoil the fun of everyone landing new jobs, I'm happy to announce that I now have a new gig.  Last week I accepted an offer from KYTX, the CBS affiliate in Tyler, Texas.  I will be their new Weekend Sports Anchor/Weekday Sports Reporter.  I start on the 16th.

I can say that I am very excited about this opportunity.  East Texas is a very rich market as far as local sports are concernced, especially High School Football.  It is absolutely insane for what I hear.  Plus, I am only going to be an hour away from Dallas, which means I will have a chance to cover lots of Dallas Pro Sports.  The Sports and News Directors already told me to plan on being at all the Cowboys' home games on Sundays.

And this station is no joke.  http://www.cbs19.tv
Tyler is Market #111, but they play it like it's a 70-75.  They are also very serious about their sports coverage, which is something I really like.

Finally I had put my resume tape online on YouTube.  I found it to be a great marketing tool.  Though I'm sure a lot of you have probably already tried it.  Anyways, if anyone wants to check out a little bit of what I did in Abilene, Texas the last couple of years.  Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIyC7hRYIlo

Rigg, Makens, Congrats to both of you all.  You guys are making us proud to be Jayhawks.  Everyone else hit me up anytime at kumike35@hotmail.com

Rock Chalk Jayhawk
Mike Alzamora

"Makens" A Move

Hey all,
Making a move to Orlando as weekend meteorologist for WFTV.  Anyone
familiar with Orlando please write a note and help me get to know the
place - where to live, good restaurants, etc...

Matt Makens

Rigg Moves Again

After two years in OKC, it's time to hit the road (again).

This morning, I accepted a job with GameDay Productions in Ft. Worth,Texas. GameDay is a small company that specializes in the productionof nationally syndicated sports shows. I will be producing a showcalled "Future Phenoms With Pat Summerall," which is a 30-minute showthat airs on Fox Sports Net and takes an in-depth look at the futuresports stars of America.

On a side note, it's been a fun, challenging, and fast few years atKOCO. Hopefully, this will be a little bit more of a permanentsituation, as moving every two years hasn't exactly been a picnic. Five years ago, I was living in Rockford, living off hot chocolate andmac and cheese.

What a long, strange journey it's been...See you in Texas (where I guess it's a whole 'nother country, orsomething!)

Mike Rigg

Destination I do!

As we speak, the new Mr. and Mrs. Michael Bieke are honeymooning in the Dominican Republic...and finally, they're getting a chance to enjoy the first few days of married life without friends and family! They're probably sipping on pina coladas and petting dolphins.

The wedding was very beautiful--Lauren looked amazing in her dress. Mike looked rather dapper in a cream colored suit. The families were great and welcoming, and (I love this next line...) a good time was had by all.

I'm not so sure the trip home was a good time. Weather delayed several flights and I, for one, had to stay overnight in Miami. Tuesday morning was a mess. Still, it was worth every second to 1) be alive and 2) to have great memories with wonderful people.

Here are some pictures to enjoy! Please leave your comments to the new bride and groom!

Former KJHKer is on Will Ferrell's website Funny or Die

Do you recognize the woman in this video? Hint: She is a former KJHK News Director. You can vote...is it FUNNY or does it need to DIE?!

Be Back in a Little Over a Week

Hey, everyone! It's finally time for me to get hitched! I'll be the Dominican Republic for over a week. A couple people have the ability to post while I'm gone, although I'm not sure if they will or not. In any case, I'll be back to do so in 10 days, so I'll talk to you then (and I'll have pictures!). For now, I'll just leave you with this one I found online. I'm very excited!

Bieke

This is Very Interesting

Lawsuits reveal a time of turbulence at KCTV
A gain in ratings came at a high human cost in the newsroom, court filings indicate.
By AARON BARNHART
The Kansas City Star

Recent lawsuits have shed new light on the dramatic makeover that turned “KCTV-5 News at 10” into the most-watched newscast in town.
KCTV, the CBS affiliate owned by Iowa-based Meredith Corp., had long been called a “country club” both by outsiders and the veteran journalists who toiled comfortably there.
In 2001, however, sagging ratings brought new management and a bruising culture change. All but a handful of on-air talent was replaced. The unobtrusive style of KCTV newscasts was replaced with a hard-charging approach characterized by the slogan “Live. Late-Breaking. Investigative.” The makeover catapulted KCTV back into the ratings race.
Documents filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas from 2005 to 2007 allege, however, that this turnaround came at a high human cost.
Stuart A. Lebow, who directed newscasts at KCTV from 1996 to 2003, said that age discrimination and harassment were widespread inside the newsroom during this period, resulting in dozens of older staffers leaving.
According to Lebow’s lawsuit, senior employees were singled out for criticism, reassigned to less desirable shifts and generally treated differently from younger, more recent hires.

Read the rest

KUJH Awards

SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards
Winners in  broadcast and online in  the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence awards competition (Region 7) include the following from KUJH. Congratulations to all the winners.

Television General News Reporting
• Second Place: Lynzee Ford, University of Kansas, “Animal Masks”
• Third Place: Brianna Auza, University of Kansas, “Backpacks”

Television Feature
• First Place: Whitney Mathews, University of Kansas, “Competitive Eating”

Online Feature Reporting
• Second Place: Heather Brummitt and Heidi Fedak, University of Kansas, “Seniors dance to their health”

Online In-Depth Reporting
• First Place: Patrick Shehan and Matthew Goble, University of Kansas, “Drought affects Kansans”*

Online Sports Reporting
• First Place: James Pinick and Andrew Baker, University of Kansas, “Evolution of KU cheerleading"*

Online Opinion & Commentary
• Second Place: Heidi Fedak and Micahel Phillips, University of Kansas, “eHub”

Best Affiliated Web site
• Second Place: KUJH-TV Staff, University of Kansas, “tv.ku.edu”
 * Originally produced as TV packages.

Dick

Regent Has Arrived

Dick,
You were right...
CBS11 here in DFW is definately changing at the hands of its new news director - Regent Ducas.  It's crime all the time!... similar to NBC5.  Take a look at some of the local critiques...

http://www.unclebarky.com/dfw_files/62456248e4a959982a84f2d7fd6b7389-232.html

http://unclebarky.com/dfw.html

Andrea

Producing Position in KC

Hello everyone!  We have a producer position open at KCTV5.  Right now, it's listed as a part-time AP job, but I think it would be worth checking out -- to see if it might turn into a full-time position.  For what it's worth, it's a work environment that definitely allows for promotions.  I started out producing the morning show 3 years ago and am now doing the 10pm.  We're getting a new news director and we've heard nothing but good things about her.  Please contact me if you're interested!  You can e-mail me at julie.kellogg@kctv5.com or julie540@hotmail.com

Thanks guys!
Julie Kellogg

KC Shooting Coverage

I thought this Barnhart article from the KC Star was interesting...Bieke.

Shooting in Kansas City: Getting the facts

Terrible news — not long after after Kansas City police exchanged shots with a man in south Kansas City, a man fitting the same description walked into a nearby mall in south Kansas City and opened fire.

I was watching WDAF, Fox 4, the Fox-owned affiliate, at 4:42 p.m. when it broke into NASCAR race coverage to cut to its live reporter with the news that five people were shot and two people dead. In the background, a grisly image of the Starbucks' plate glass windows all shot out.

Anchor Tom Lawrence added a detail that revealed the kinds of choices news producers must make when news breaks: The station had waited until Jeff Gordon could safely be declared the win of that afternoon's NASCAR race before they broke in with the news. (In fairness to Fox 4, there was several minutes of mostly waiting around for the race to restart, during which one must assume they would've interrupted had the reporter been on the scene.)

(read the rest of the article)

No News is Good News...

No one's had any news recently, I guess. Not big enough to share anyway. I guess that means everyone is doing well.

I did just want to mention that my contract is up in June. I don't know what I'm going to be doing yet, but I'm certainly open to anything, so if anyone knows anything...drop me a line.

Thanks,
Bieke

Hey Hey!

In the words of the immortal Krusty the Klown, I bid you "Hey Hey!"

Haven't really seen anyone since the post-Donahoo wedding Molly McGee's dinner a couple years ago.  Bieke's site probably still say I'm working at Hy-Vee, but I left that crap-hole 3 years ago...Currently sitting in my cube (hopefully soon to be office pending an upcoming job interview) at Yellow Transportation in OP counting down the minutes until we face the Salukis.  It is because of this match-up that I have no motivation to work and decided to Google KUJH.  It's come a long way!!!

I was also very happy to scroll down to see a pic of my son from right after he was born  :)   The "lobster" as we call him is now a holy terrorist at 9 months old, but he's the greatest thing ever  :) 

Just wanted to give a resounding "what's up" to everyone and I hope you are all doing well!

Dale Ziegler - aka, the short guy who mooched off of Doug's talents...

Mike From West Texas...you're on the air...

What up? How's everybody doing?

I'm still in Abilene, TX but working hard to move on to the next level. Nothing against the Big Country and West Texas. I've had a great time here for the past year and a half+. It's just time to go somewhere bigger and better.

On that note, I've had 4 interviews within the past five weeks but no job offer yet.So if anybody knows of any good sports jobs out there, gimme a holla.

My e-mail is kumike35@hotmail.com

By the way Bieke, can you please fix that in the Alumni Contact List? You've had that wrong for years :-) LOL.

Holla at yo boy and Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

Mike Alzamora
Sports Anchor/Senior Reporter
KTAB-TV

Another Country Heard From!

I just stumbled across this site today while I was at work, and thought it only fair that I leave an update on myself as well. 

When last Rigg updated my whereabouts, I was interning with the Chiefs as part of my masters program through the School of Education.  I completed my second degree in August of 2005, and am now working as an Advertising Account Manager with Cumulus Media Partners in Kansas City.  Specifically, I sell for KCJK 105.1 JACK FM, and I work closely with another J-School alum, Elaine Lyons.  I've only been in advertising for six months, but I am enjoying it, bumps in the road included.

Like a few other recent visitors, I too am recently engaged.  December 9th, I proposed to my financee, Erika Ketterman, in Irvine, California.  We are set for a small ceremony on July 7, 2007 at The Pilgrim Chapel in Kansas City.  All in all, things are great, and we are very excited about the wedding.

Randy Withers

I miss Megahn!

I miss Megahn! She left me this weekend to go back to work at KWCH. Her first day is Tuesday the 20th. Bye Megahn! Miss you soooo much!! It won't be the same!

Michelle

KCTV News

BREAKING NEWS!

Regent Ducas, will no longer be terrorizing Kansas City and environs with his unique brand of yellow journalism at KCTV.  Watch out, Dallas!  He's headed your way to be n.d. at KTVT.

Dick Nelson

Where Are They Now Updated!

Hey,

The first Where Are They Now update of 2007 is now complete.

Check it out!

Bieke

Seeking a Producer

I am the overnight producer at KAKE in Wichita and we are looking to fill that position so I can move to the six. I'm writing to see if you know of anyone interested. My news director is looking for someone that has at least six months of experience...that's about what I had when I came. If you do, have them email me: morgan.smith@kake.com or send a tape to:

ATTN: Dave Grant
KAKE-TV
1500 N. West St.
Wichita, KS 67203

They could always send me the tape, too...if they want to contact me first.

Morgan Smith

Hello everyone!

Big changes to report.  After only a week of unemployment (gotta love layoffs!), I have started a new job at a public relations firm in Dallas.  Getting out of the business is something I thought about for months.  I am one of those people who loves news, loves telling a great story and meeting people... but I am a mother and I don't want to miss every soccer game or be so tired from working a morning or evening shift that I can't enjoy the time I am home.  I have covered more murders, stabbings, shootings and fires in the last year than I care to count.  Along the way, the work became less meaningful.  So... on to something new.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Andrea

Job Tip from Dick

WBAY in Green Bay is looking for a reporter. Tom McCarey is the News Director-

WBAY
115 South Jefferson St.
Green Bay, WI  54301

Dick Nelson

Theresa Update

I always forget to check in on this. Nice to see everyone here.
A little update...Chris and I are living in Fresno now. I work at the NBC affiliate as the court reporter and fill-in anchor.
I've really enjoyed it. Everyone is very nice and helpful. I've been here since October. Hope everyone is well. Keep in touch.
Theresa Freed

DVD Emergency

i know how to transfer video from beta to dvd...but what i want is to make a dvd menu--like how bieke did with our kujh video...can i just get software to do that?  does anyone know?  bieke?  help?

Michelle

Bieke says:  You do need software.  I use my Mac and iDVD, but I don't have the slightest idea what works well on the PC.  Anybody else with suggestions????