Jobs

Station Name and Location- SWICD-TV Champaign, IL
Job Title and Description- Reporter/videographer- at least one year experience, who is entertaining, aggressive, has a can-do attitude, can deliver stories that are memorable, is well-organized and manages time well.
Market Number-83
News Director-Deana Reece
I am willing to move here because it is still relatively close to my home. I feel that I fit the description to the tee and would be well qualified. It sounds like I can add my personality to my stories and that is what I am looking for; nothing just straight news.

Station Name and Location- KTVO Kirksville, MO
Job Title and Description- Morning anchor/reporter with at least one year on-air experience and some TV production background; must have a record of being self-directed and well-organized, will produce and anchor a one-hour early-morning newscast and do some GA reporting.
Market Number- 200
News Director- Marlene Speas
I would also move here because I am familiar with the area. Again, I feel that the qualifications they are asking for fit me and it sounds like I would be staying busy, which is fine with me.

Station Name and Location- KGAN/KFXA-TV Cedar Rapids, IA
Job Title and Description- Weekend anchor/reporter- who loves news, thrives on breaking stories, and wants to make a difference and connect with viewers, has an effective delivery, hungers for hard news and understands how to grab viewers consistently.
Market Number- 88
News Director- April Samp
I would not mover here for this job. It does sound interesting and is what I would love to do. When I have a family this is ideally what I want to do, only the weekends.

Package 2

Today I am going to shoot my stand-up at Red Robin. Yesterday, I logged my tape and wrote some of the script. The video was okay, but it was hard to adjust to the lighting in the restaurant. I have a lot of nice quotes and b-roll though. Sara is my shooter today so we are getting ready to load up and head out. I finished my binder last night and I am so proud of it. I wish I could have done more with it, but Ijust don't have time. I already know how handy this binder will be for me. I constantly am looking through it to see how to improve on things. I just can't get enough!

Helpful Info

Today Jill sat down with me and we worked on a lot of different things. To start the mornig out, Trevor brought us all coffee. Thanks, it was delicious! Jill and I talked about my career after college and what I wanted to do. I am looking into going to Quincy, IL which is close to my home. I think this is a great choice becasue I am a huge family person and this would work out well.
Then we went over makeup. LOL. Jill showed me some trick for my hair, which I want to cut! I think I may after my wedding, but for now I like it the way it is. I am going to try some volume though and play around with it. Then she showed me some makeup trick that will make my eyes brighter and just look well in general. I hate makeup, but it really is not a big deal and I'm sure I will get used to it.
After the makeup stuff, we worked on my voice. I am trying to get rid of the sing-song voice that I tend to do because I hear it constantly. Finally, I could get that under control, but then I sounded like a robot! It was funny, but will be a challange. I need to read slower and pace myself. Jill gave me some great techniques that I can't wait to work on and will be be helpful in the future.

Another manic Monday!

Yesterday we shot the news. Lets just say it was a good thing it was not live becasue we just couldn't seem to get it right. Now, I do understand we are all learning, but after three takes I would hope we had some idea of what was going on. There is always another chance! I relly had a tough time comng up with a story pitch, but I just think that I am thinking about it too hard. I finally settled on doing a Marin Luther King package that has to do with the event taking place on campus. I'm not satisfied with this idea, but it's something. A little creativity can spice it up a bit. Today, Jill is going to have one-on-one meetings with us and give us some pointers which I can't wait for.
While wathcing the news yesterday, I could tell what Jill was talking about in my voice. I have the breating thing down, but just need to work on my voice. It will come, but I have a feeling it will be a slow process.

Friday was eventful!

Friday was a very busy day. We were lucky to have Julian Grace from KMOV 4 to give us some great insight on how the reporting business is going and some great pointers. He was very entertaining and it is always nice to get some advice from an insider. I was fortunate to interview him for our show Mixed Media. It kicked butt! After that, we squeezed in a newscast and my part was the weather. I really enjoy writing for the weather and announcing it. I feel like I can add a bit of my personality when writing it. Last week of class starts today, so lets see what's in store for us.

That's a Wrap!

Yesterday was our first shot at producing a news package. I already had my story ideal and just needed to make a few phone calls. I contacted Tim Busse about the NewTown ice rink located outside. He agreed to meet with me at 10:30am and give me an interview. Chris my photographer and I, loaded up the equipment and headed on our way. When we arrived, not only was it bitterly cold, but Tim was no where to be found. So Chris began to shoot some b-roll and I made a few phone calls. Finally, Tim showed up and our interview began. Then we moved on to the ice and I did my stand-up there. This was a challenge. The rink was locked so Chris and I had to jump over the fence. That was a funny site in its self. I thought my stand-up went really well and Chris was very creative behind the camera. We managed to find a resident and I interviewed her about the ice rink. She was a big help and added some life to my package. Chris and I made it back to the school, and began to put it together. We logged our tape, wrote the script, and did a voice-over. I think the most challenging part for me will be to train my voice. I need alot of work, but I'm sure it will get better over time.

LUTV 26

Yesterday I anchored along side Daniel. I felt it was a great experience for me and I really enjoyed the extra practice. The funny part about yesterday was that I do NOT usually wear makeup. Jill found this hilarious and thought I was kidding. I did bring a makeup bag and Jill helped me apply makeup along with another student. Not only did I wait intil the last minute to apply the makeup, personallty I did not like it. I understand why it is necessary, but I feel that I am hidding behind a mask. So after a long day at work I went home and practiced applying my makeup. My younger sister just laughed because she knew this is not the typical me. So after about an hour in front of the mirror, she finally stepped in and lended me a few of her tricks. I was happy with what she had done and was convinced that I need to take some girly lessons. So needless to say, I cant wait for Jill's makeup class.

KMOV vs. KTVI

After watching both newscast and analyzing them, here is what I thought.

KMOV 10:00 PM news

I noticed that their was a preview of what stories would be in the news cast, a two shot on the anchors, the station call letter, website address, and the name of the anchors. The anchors were Vickie Newton and Russell Kinsaul. Vickie was wearing a black suit with a teal undershirt and Russell was a striped suit with a purple and black striped tie. He also was wearing glass, which was very distracting for me for some odd reason.

I saw reporter Chris Nagus live in Rock Hill and introduced his package, but no stand up. Next was mark Schnyder live in Arnold at an intersection reporting on red light cameras. He introduced his package, but no stand up. Julian Grace was live in Brentwood, threw to his package about the construction on McCutchen bridge. He then did a stand up where he stomped on the pavement and said that was the main reason why the construction was slowed. He then closed with a live shot.
There were a few different stories on KMOV.

• One was about gas prices increasing by 40 cents and stated different cause.
• Then there was the local musician that was jailed because of a joke about bombs on an airplane.
• Lastly, there was a story about how Missouri residents are unhealthy and overweight. A reporter shot a package at a gym and incorporated some nutrition advice. Here is a link to the video.

Overall, I thought that the newscast was very fast-paced. I found it hard to follow and understand all the information they were giving me. Vickie especially was a very fast talker and I found myself tuning out. The news team does seem credible, however, there is something that turns me off about them. I can’t put my finger on it though. I don’t plan on watching KMOV again, although I will give them another chance down the road.

KTVI 9:00 PM news

While tuning into the nine PM newscast, a few minutes before it started there was a preview of the top stories that would be airing in that newscast.

The first thing I noticed was that Tom O’Neal and Mandy Murphey were on air in a two-shot introducing themselves. I then noticed their names appear in the lower thirds of the screen to identify them. Tom O’Neal was wearing a pinstriped suit with a light blue shirt and a tie. Mandy Murphey was wearing a red suit coat with some huge gold hoops.

Within the first few minutes, one of the top stories involved reporter Chris Regnier who had a package about a bank robbery. He was live outside the bank and then his packaged rolled and he ended with a live shot as well. There was no stand up in his package. Sean Conroy was live outside Chesterfield mall reporting about credit card theft. His package followed him as well, but still not stand up. Then came Teresa Woodard who was live outside Pizazz furniture store and lead into her package, but she did not do a stand up either.

There were several stories that caught my ears tonight.

• One was about a women who had her credit card stolen and didn’t even know it. Police have two women on camera splurging with the stolen credit card and police hope that someone will recognize them and lead police to the $5,000 worth of goodies that they purchased. Here is a video of the women in action.
• Another story was heart aching for me because it involved a child. There was a child that suffered an eye injury due to fight with a Christmas tree. Her mother and grandmother were fighting and somehow the child was poked in the left eye with the metal stake permanently blinding her.
• One story did make me laugh. Thieves broke into a furniture store and stole flat panel TVs off the wall, little did they know they were fake. This is not the first series of crimes involving flat panel TVs and police have nothing to say, but lock your doors.

I must say that I am partial to KTVI and feel that they will deliver the most important stories to me and I can trust that their facts have been doubled checked. I feel like I can relate to them and they seem so viewer friendly. The news was delivered in a professional and credible manner. I believe their credibility is high because they are in a larger market and don’t want to make a mistake. I will continue to watch this station because I like their style and I’m obsessed with Tom O’Neal!

T-E-L-E-P-R-O-M-P-T-E-R

I was so excited to finally get into the new studio. Our class ran through some old news scripts and we got our chance to read off the teleprompter. I had done it a few times before, but not nearly enough to be good. Daniel and I were up first to anchor and I was mentally eased because I feel comfortable with Daniel.

When the script began to roll my face lighted up with a smile and the words began to flow. I do need more practice with my voice however, I wasn't intimidated and I had fun with it. I hope I progess and get where I need to be by the end of the semester. With dedication and focus I am hoping to shine!

And were off!!

No better way to start off school than on a Monday! A bitter cold Monday at that. So no more late nights at the movies or staying out late with friends, the school year is back. I am actually really excited about a few of my classes. Advanced TV Talent in particular. I am hurting for a demo tape and need some things on my reel so now is the time to do that. Our class is small in numbers, but big in talent. I can't wait to get started and give the LU some new faces to work with!