How are the news ratings for WANF and WUPA

[ShawtyBlack_ATL]

Supposedly this set of graphics is at all the CBS O&Os. I can only guess building a giant green screen room is the future. Some of the movie studios use them. Also in the long run it will be cheaper, no furniture to replace when you get a "new set".

As best as I can tell both 46 and 69 make the studio anchors stand up all the time. I don't watch either newcast enough to verify so I might have missed a segment where the studio person actually sits behind a desk. I worked two "stand up" operations on the 1970's. There was a stool available but usually I stood up for 4 to 6 hours.

Since the accessibility laws started to really take effect in the late 1980's, I haven't seen a "stand up" radio studio. The way things are going I might not see a new radio studio in the future.

I will state the obvious again. It's not fancy sets or graphics, IT IS CONTENT.

IMHO: 69 or any new news department needs at least a couple of years to develop local contacts. I will wait at least 2 or 3 years before I criticize. Even if you start grabbing talent (on or off camera) for the other ATL stations, I believe the existing news operations have lengthy non competitive clauses in their contracts so it will take time if you went that route.

WANF in Atlanta and WCSC in Charleston both have news studios that have anchors standing the entire newscast.

 

[IM42A]

WANF in Atlanta and WCSC in Charleston both have news studios that have anchors standing the entire newscast.

Which I find ridiculous. What would they do about someone who can't stand, such as Susan Aude or Bill Cullen?

 

[secondchoice]

Which I find ridiculous. What would they do about someone who can't stand, such as Susan Aude or Bill Cullen?

Most workplaces are supposed to be ADA accessable. That being said most of the anchors start out a field reporters, which the job description most likely requires the ability to walk on uneven surfaces and stand for extended time periods. Also pre 1980 government buildings (Courthouses) did not have to be totally assessable unless they have a major remodel. It would be difficult to get a reporter job without the ability to stand for an extended period.

If you are able to physically and talent wise and make anchor then become disabled it could get tricky legally. A lot depends on the person's contract, labor laws, and if the employee's departure will hurt revenue. I doubt CBS would have made.Walter Cronkite "stand up" on the set unless he wanted to.

 

[IM42A]

Most workplaces are supposed to be ADA accessable. That being said most of the anchors start out a field reporters, which the job description most likely requires the ability to walk on uneven surfaces and stand for extended time periods. Also pre 1980 government buildings (Courthouses) did not have to be totally assessable unless they have a major remodel. It would be difficult to get a reporter job without the ability to stand for an extended period.

If you are able to physically and talent wise and make anchor then become disabled it could get tricky legally. A lot depends on the person's contract, labor laws, and if the employee's departure will hurt revenue. I doubt CBS would have made.Walter Cronkite "stand up" on the set unless he wanted to.

I would be interested to know whether, in recent years, someone unable to walk or stand has been hired as a television journalist, and if not, whether someone tried to obtain such a position and could not get it due to that disability. Sounds as though there might be an ADA-based challenge waiting to happen. Being able to report the news, in and of itself, does not require a journalist to be able to stand up, except of course with the advent of this "new thing" of having reporters standing throughout large portions of the newscast.

So far as I am aware, Mr Cullen never worked as a television journalist (he was a radio sports commentator, which would not involve any expectation of being able to stand). His disability was hidden from viewers of his game shows by allowing him to stand behind a podium.

 

[secondchoice]

Being able to report the news, in and of itself, does not require a journalist to be able to stand up

Current TV almost always has the reporter standing in front of disaster, White House or in a war zone. With the recent shootings in Washington DC, I wouldn't send someone that could not run to a safe place to do reporting anywhere US or Abroad.

Now writers who edit and write content have to be able to sit for extended periods and sooner or later one of these folks will make it to the anchor chair which could be a good thing.

There are examples of folks "hiding" their disabilities like FDR. If you are having trouble standing Jerpody will provide a stool.

 

[IM42A]

Current TV almost always has the reporter standing in front of disaster, White House or in a war zone. With the recent shootings in Washington DC, I wouldn't send someone that could not run to a safe place to do reporting anywhere US or Abroad.

Now writers who edit and write content have to be able to sit for extended periods and sooner or later one of these folks will make it to the anchor chair which could be a good thing.

There are examples of folks "hiding" their disabilities like FDR. If you are having trouble standing Jerpody will provide a stool.

Then I suppose the question then becomes "is news reporting, with the versatility it requires, an occupation which intrinsically requires someone to be able to walk and stand?". Not all occupations can be adapted for the disabled. Firefighting and other first responder occupations immediately come to mind.

 

[PTBoardOp93]

I would be interested to know whether, in recent years, someone unable to walk or stand has been hired as a television journalist, and if not, whether someone tried to obtain such a position and could not get it due to that disability. Sounds as though there might be an ADA-based challenge waiting to happen. Being able to report the news, in and of itself, does not require a journalist to be able to stand up, except of course with the advent of this "new thing" of having reporters standing throughout large portions of the newscast.

It's hardly a "new thing." Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw stood behind a podium for a portion of their shows 20+ years ago. TV meteorologists stand in front of a green screen (or now, sometimes an actual screen), and have done so for several decades.

Since the advent of flat screens many years ago, reporters often stand in front of a screen so over-the-shoulder graphics look more natural.

If there was someone on staff who needed accommodation, the station would have to devise something, but the accommodation would vary with the ability of the employee and the possibilities of the facility. Most likely that would involve placing a chair or stool at one of these stand-up locations on the set, or allowing the employee to use their wheelchair in that area (assuming it is wheelchair accessible).

BTW, TV reporters are generally MMJs today. That means they are expected to be their own cameraperson, among other things. Years ago I saw a local TV reporter carrying her camera and tripod, while wearing heels. I'm a dude, so not much experience wearing heels, but ... I'll pass on that.

 

[secondchoice]

Of course with the decline of news organizations there aren't many folks going into Journalism these days. Content editors editing cell phone videos summited by common folks will replace reporters. Just a screen for background. No need for a news sets or news vehicles. Weather people standing in front of maps will replaced by AI generated images.

 

[IM42A]

It's hardly a "new thing." Dan Rather and Tom Brokaw stood behind a podium for a portion of their shows 20+ years ago.

I wasn't aware of that.

If there was someone on staff who needed accommodation, the station would have to devise something, but the accommodation would vary with the ability of the employee and the possibilities of the facility. Most likely that would involve placing a chair or stool at one of these stand-up locations on the set, or allowing the employee to use their wheelchair in that area (assuming it is wheelchair accessible).

When Susan Aude did the weather in Columbia, she reported from her wheelchair. She was (and is) deeply admired in South Carolina.