Archive for June, 2007

The Brouha-ha Over Whether Folks in the News Business Should Contribute to Political Candidates

June 26, 2007

Wow, It’s amazing how quickly one can stir up a hornets nest by following up on a couple of tips sent to me by a couple of former co-workers. I discovered (according to one person) that I was racist and that this blog had racist overtones. Go figure.  Of course I also [...]

Can a News Person Support a Political Candidate and Still Be Objective In the News Business?

June 21, 2007

Wow, I don’t post for a week and suddenly two posts in one day.  This after I get two emails from former co-workers sharing the same tip.  It comes from MSNBC and is a list of journalists who wrote political checks.  The list shares the names and occupations of 144 news types who made campaign [...]

Even the Prettiest Garden Only Stays Pretty If You Trim It Back Each Year

June 21, 2007

First a couple of notes: I’ve been out of pocket because of some projects and because of a trip to Tulsa over the weekend. Having said that, it was a pleasant surprise to have a note waiting for me from P.L. alerting me to an article in TVNewsday that he felt would be of [...]

Okay, Another Station in Memphis Goes on the Block!

June 13, 2007

The other shoe has finally dropped.  We’ve been hearing rumors that some of the Fox O & Os would be sold and according to what I read on Shoptalk’s Watercooler  it’s happened.
Here is the release I found.
June 13, 2007 5:45 PM EST

News Corporation Announces Plan to Sell Nine Television Stations
NEW YORK, NY, June [...]

The Check is in the Mail, I Will Start on It Tomorrow and It’s NOT About the Money, We Want Our Newscast to Grow

June 11, 2007

I used to chuckle about the Three Big Lies.  You know the first two about the check and when you would start something and the third one has been interchangeable.  I’ve heard “Yes, I ‘ll respect you in the morning, I’m from the government and here to help you and I promise I won’t…..well I [...]

Has TV News Evolved to “News for Those Who Ride the Short Bus”?

June 7, 2007

As I prepare to celebrate or at least observe another birthday (July 3rd for those wanting to send gifts and money)  I’m reflecting on how my education has progressed in the now 18 years that I’ve been a home owner in Memphis.  I’ve learned some interesting tidbits and slang and I’ve learned NOT to repeat [...]

Don’t Let Those Little Details Get in the Way of a Good Story

June 4, 2007

Real estate people will tell you it’s all about location, location, location. In the TV news business, location apparently isn’t that important to some folks. I was reminded of this by a letter to the editor in the Monday morning edition of the Commercial Appeal. It seems that a person in [...]

Fool Me Once, Shame on You, Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me

June 1, 2007

If one wants to find interesting politics, live in Memphis.  My mother-in-law has told me that for years.  Few cities except for maybe New Orleans has anything to rival what Memphis has to offer in the way of politicians.  Stuff that has come out of some of the recent wire-tapping and testimony from the federal [...]