Challenging news norms

I’m not one who challenges authority often, but in the newsroom I'm a different creature.

I’m always thinking, questioning and wondering “why?”

The phrase “that’s the way we’ve always done it” gets under my skin and brings out my inner news beast.

I loved working for TCU 360 in college because we started from the ground up. We questioned traditional news standards and tried to make every “rule” fluid and purposeful.

At TCU 360, we posted a mug shot on the front page of our website and students cried out that we were insensitive. Instead of ignoring the comments, like some steady news orgs may, we asked ourselves why. We decided that mug shots and criminal records are public information, the news we were reporting is important to our audience and we also set standards to make sure everyone we reported was given equal treatment.  We kept coming back to this standard and questioned every report after that.

I don’t think conversations like these are happening as often in local and national news organizations. It’s easy to get into a rut or routine when you’ve been in the industry for so long. If you’re not in tune to concerns or questions, you may tend to see things a little too methodically.

For example, fires. Some television stations will head over to a brush or house fire without any second guess. Why are smaller fires worth reporting? Because they’re visual? Because that’s what we do? I know huge fires and specifically where the fires are may affect more people which would add more newsworthiness. Are small, bright flames worth 20 seconds in a newscast? I think talking to the people affected by the blaze could be a great alternative.

Print folks usually leave me hanging when we get some reporters’ paper thin philosophies. I can see the black ink pumping through their veins when the word “smartphone” is uttered. “Try live blogging!” “I don’t trust devices that may fail on me. I’ll stick with my trusty pen and notepad.” Going out on a limb to use social media will only make a print reporter more adaptable, but there will be some who will never change. A big h/t and applause to the reporters out there who are fearlessly diving into social media and the web.

Ruts are easy, comfortable and not unusual in a newsroom.

I believe asking (not thinking) “what makes something newsworthy” every day will put the gears in motion to create better stories and let more time and space for more news become available.

And maybe my two examples are wrong to you. Maybe you have the perfect answer for the things I question. If so, I’ve done my job. I just want to get the gears rolling because there has to be something that someone questions in every news org that is worth a second look.  

I don’t think our current audience deserves journalists who are stuck in old ways. Please stand with me and challenge the news norm.

Soaking in the Masters and visiting Augusta National

Augusta National: The only place where the men’s bathroom line is twice as long as the women’s. 

 

I had the chance to produce 5 Masters-focused shows this week and visited the course on Saturday.

 

Producing during the Masters

 

Each show this week was so exciting. It was sort of like planned breaking news. We usually had two anchors in studio who tossed to the field anchors at the top of the show. Our sports anchor would usually go on first with the latest standings. We’d then either have a package from the course or some fronted VOSOTs. The folks at the course spoke with legends and found typical patrons with amazing stories to tell.  

It’s difficult to keep in constant contact with the media in the field because Augusta National prohibits cell phones outside of the media center. We stayed in touch through hourly emails and iNews top lines.

The shows were fun and having the studio anchors and folks at the course talk with each other was a huge advantage that we often don’t get.

I’m very proud of the work I did this week and if the Masters didn’t have strict rules on course video online, I would share my finished work with you.

 

Enjoying Augusta National

As I walked in on Saturday afternoon, I felt like I was walking into an amusement park. Guards checked my purse to ensure I left my cell phone and camera in the car. My badge was checked multiple times before I got a good look at the enormous, breathtaking landscape of the course.

Once I was in, it felt as though I walked into another dimension. This place couldn’t be 10 minutes away from where I sleep every night.

The course was filled with patrons, champions, media and amazing scenery. I was lucky enough to have the best tour guide around; my friend from the station was taking photos throughout the day. She was able to lead me to all of the right holes at the perfect time and fill me in on knowledge about the course and about the sport in general.

We walked nearly the entire course and chatted with people from around the world. I’m not a golf expert, but I knew to gaze with my jaw open at the folks in green jackets. Multiple club members and champion contenders stood just feet away from me.  

I’m very, very thankful for this week.

If you love golf, beautiful scenery and a great atmosphere, visit Augusta National. You can stay at my place if you swear to bring me back a pimento cheese sandwich.