Ch-ch-ch-changes in Memphis?
Wow. I hear changes are being made or considered in the local TV news business in Memphis. First, I had heard there’s a change in the ND post at WPTY but haven’t been able to get anything more on that. Don’t know what the reason for that would be since it seems they have become more agressive over there.
I read a posting by Jamey Tucker that WMC may be considering going partial VJ. I don’t have anything more than what I read on his blog but what I read there was interesting. You can just about bet that if the folks on Union go partial VJ that the rest of the shops in town will not be far behind. I know Jamey has been at WKRN in Nashville since the first of the year and has seen the advantages and disadvantages of VJs. He says he believes in the system and says he’s having the time of his life as the Religion VJ in Nashville. Perhaps someone on Union could shed some light on what’s going on in their shop.
At this point, I wouldn’t expect to see major changes with the folks down on the river. This, in light of the fact that they won the morning and late evening newscasts. Other than a few people leaving or considering leaving down there, I’m sure the thinking is that whatever they are doing is working and they don’t want to screw things up.
joelarkins 
May 31, 2006 at 4:38 pm
Every year,several Clear Channel ND’s switch stations to see how other shops are run. it’s just for a week.
May 31, 2006 at 4:41 pm
Thanks for the heads up on the ND swap. I’m curious from the standpoint of the NDs. Does the swap help? Does it provide a new perspective. From the standpoint of the folks in the newsroom, do you like this? Does it make you appreciate your ND or perhaps make you want to see a new person take over the reins in your shop?
June 1, 2006 at 5:11 am
Who is leaving on the river, Joe? I heard that Tara is going back to her hometown of Cincy.
June 1, 2006 at 8:28 am
I had heard of some behind the scenes folks departing or planning to and I’ve heard that several on-air people are looking hard for another job. At least one of those is expected to leave this summer.
June 1, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Instead of WMC going partial VJ, the station should first work on getting BRAND new graphics and a NEW news environment. Even though TV 5 is in a larger city, it’s sister station KAIT 8 (to the NW) looks waaaay more modern. And WPTY has a very good ND.
June 2, 2006 at 4:51 am
for real, wmc’s set and graphics are ancient, maybe if that would change it so that it didnt look set in the 90s things would be a little better, and the folks on the river leaving..are they anchors?
June 2, 2006 at 5:59 am
I think it’s safe to say that most of the anchors down on the river aren’t planning to go anywhere with the emphasis on “most’. The rumblings I hear about involve mainly reporters and some behind the scenes folks.
June 2, 2006 at 8:18 am
WMC is launching new graphics soon. we’ll see how they measure up.
June 2, 2006 at 9:18 am
I know of one very overworked morning news producer down on the river who says he will be looking soon. He’s a hard worker and likes to produce, but producing 3 hours of morning news without any help is a difficult, if not impossible task, but that’s what he’s expected to do everyday.
It’s just more of the same…news directors take advantage of producers until they wise up and leave. Then news directors complain that they can’t find producers. I wonder why?
June 2, 2006 at 9:24 am
I’ve said it before and I will say it again. IMHO the line producers in a newsroom are the most under-appreciated people in the operation and have the most thankless job. It’s been argued that the ND has the worst job, but most times the ND has a decent amount of compensation for the grief they get. Most news producers I’ve known are underpaid and over-worked. If you are not on the “A” list then you really get abused, getting moved to all shifts to pinch hit when somebody is out. The only upside is that being a producer puts you on the track to management if you can do the job without burning out.
June 2, 2006 at 7:12 pm
When WMC TV release their new graphics, I hope the station does away with that broke-back “5”. If not, then the graphics aren’t new. And I am glad the anchors are staying put at NC3.
June 2, 2006 at 8:59 pm
It will be interesting to see if the former “Blog Star of Union Av” really has the leadership skills/news savvy to rally the troops.
Two bad books are nothing to panic about, but 3 is a trend, as you said,Joe.
I just have a feeling “Blog Star” doesn’t have the “chops” to pull this off.
June 3, 2006 at 4:55 pm
Looks like panic right now.
June 3, 2006 at 5:50 pm
I’ve gotta totally disagree with the poster above about KAIT… the station is still using the same set it had almost a decade ago — and even THAT set was used when they got it. They may have thrown a couple of coats of paint on the thing, but there are still signs that the entire setup is overdue for a makeover. I’m surprised the monitors are still working — although some have burn-in, and others have (visible) duct tape covering the little panel on the front.
The station’s graphics are new because they were the standard Liberty pkg before they were bought out. I’m not crazy about the way talent names animate on (it’s kinda distracting) and the really wide topline font is kinda screwy.
Just my .02 there.
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