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Is there a point to this?

T

TAWT

Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on this board explain to me what's accomplished by having Mike Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation in Louisiana and Mississippi?

One thing's for sure -- an area that doesn't need any additional people around have some, and especially in the case of 15 -- what, you don't think ABC's doing a good enough job?

Sometimes, it's forgiveable when a local station sends a reporter to a national story "just because they can". In this case, it not only makes no sense, it's thoroughly inappropriate.

If Watkiss and Bellis really want to convey what's going on there to their viewers, then they should get on one of those refugee buses when they're ready to come home, instead of tying up airline seats in first class, seats that could be given to people who desperately need to get out of there.

We all have opinions on a great many topics on this board, and I've learned more than once that few people agree with what I say. That being the case, I want someone from 3 or 15, or anybody else in the market sending reporters to a place they don't belong, to explain to the rest of us why. If there's something I'm missing, please explain it.

If you can't explain other than "we do it because we can", shame on you. Get those people out of that area. Now.
 
> Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on
> this board explain to me what's accomplished by having Mike
> Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation in
> Louisiana and Mississippi?
>
> One thing's for sure -- an area that doesn't need any
> additional people around have some, and especially in the
> case of 15 -- what, you don't think ABC's doing a good
> enough job?
>
> Sometimes, it's forgiveable when a local station sends a
> reporter to a national story "just because they can". In
> this case, it not only makes no sense, it's thoroughly
> inappropriate.
>
> If Watkiss and Bellis really want to convey what's going on
> there to their viewers, then they should get on one of those
> refugee buses when they're ready to come home, instead of
> tying up airline seats in first class, seats that could be
> given to people who desperately need to get out of there.
>
> We all have opinions on a great many topics on this board,
> and I've learned more than once that few people agree with
> what I say. That being the case, I want someone from 3 or
> 15, or anybody else in the market sending reporters to a
> place they don't belong, to explain to the rest of us why.
> If there's something I'm missing, please explain it.
>
> If you can't explain other than "we do it because we can",
> shame on you. Get those people out of that area. Now.
>

You are right -- there is no point in sending Watkiss and Bellis to Gulf Coast Ground Zero. It's stupid and they are only in the way of people who do belong there and need to be there. On ABC 15's side, this is merely the act of a station that is desperate and will stoop to anything. That's been shown time and time again. I don't know what 3's motive is other than grandstanding. There are too many media people there already. What the ___ does Bellis know about hurricanes anyway ?
 
There is a point to this

> > Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on
> > this board explain to me what's accomplished by having Mike
> > Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation in
> > Louisiana and Mississippi?
> >
> > One thing's for sure -- an area that doesn't need any
> > additional people around have some, and especially in the
> > case of 15 -- what, you don't think ABC's doing a good
> > enough job?
> >
> > Sometimes, it's forgiveable when a local station sends a
> > reporter to a national story "just because they can". In
> > this case, it not only makes no sense, it's thoroughly
> > inappropriate.
> >
> > If Watkiss and Bellis really want to convey what's going on
> > there to their viewers, then they should get on one of those
> > refugee buses when they're ready to come home, instead of
> > tying up airline seats in first class, seats that could be
> > given to people who desperately need to get out of there.
>
> >
> > We all have opinions on a great many topics on this board,
> > and I've learned more than once that few people agree with
> > what I say. That being the case, I want someone from 3 or
> > 15, or anybody else in the market sending reporters to a
> > place they don't belong, to explain to the rest of us why.
>
> > If there's something I'm missing, please explain it.
> >
> > If you can't explain other than "we do it because we can",
> > shame on you. Get those people out of that area. Now.
> >
>
> You are right -- there is no point in sending Watkiss and
> Bellis to Gulf Coast Ground Zero. It's stupid and they are
> only in the way of people who do belong there and need to be
> there. On ABC 15's side, this is merely the act of a
> station that is desperate and will stoop to anything. That's
> been shown time and time again. I don't know what 3's
> motive is other than grandstanding. There are too many
> media people there already. What the ___ does Bellis know
> about hurricanes anyway ?

They were sent there to give relief to the news crews from sister-station WWL-TV in New Orleans, who from what I understand, had been going 24/7 since the weekend from either Baton Rouge or their transmitter site, as well as having to evacuate their own studios. Crews from Belo stations WFAA-TV Dallas and KHOU-TV Houston are also there and all of them are doing reports for WWL-TV as well as their own stations, from what I've heard.

Now that the Superdome refugees are being moved to the Astrodome, I expect more folks from KHOU and the other Houston stations to be there, at least as many as the authorities there will allow.

So there's nothing sinister here, nor is Watkiss there to blow his own, or his station's, horn. So in this case the KTVK presence is entirely justified and Watkiss and his crew absolutely do belong there.
 
Re: There is a point to this

> > > Can someone among the very intelligent people who post
> on
> > > this board explain to me what's accomplished by having
> Mike
> > > Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the
> devastation in
> > > Louisiana and Mississippi?
> > >
> > > One thing's for sure -- an area that doesn't need any
> > > additional people around have some, and especially in
> the
> > > case of 15 -- what, you don't think ABC's doing a good
> > > enough job?
> > >
> > > Sometimes, it's forgiveable when a local station sends a
>
> > > reporter to a national story "just because they can". In
>
> > > this case, it not only makes no sense, it's thoroughly
> > > inappropriate.
> > >
> > > If Watkiss and Bellis really want to convey what's going
> on
> > > there to their viewers, then they should get on one of
> those
> > > refugee buses when they're ready to come home, instead
> of
> > > tying up airline seats in first class, seats that could
> be
> > > given to people who desperately need to get out of
> there.
> >
> > >
> > > We all have opinions on a great many topics on this
> board,
> > > and I've learned more than once that few people agree
> with
> > > what I say. That being the case, I want someone from 3
> or
> > > 15, or anybody else in the market sending reporters to a
>
> > > place they don't belong, to explain to the rest of us
> why.
> >
> > > If there's something I'm missing, please explain it.
> > >
> > > If you can't explain other than "we do it because we
> can",
> > > shame on you. Get those people out of that area. Now.
> > >
> >
> > You are right -- there is no point in sending Watkiss and
> > Bellis to Gulf Coast Ground Zero. It's stupid and they
> are
> > only in the way of people who do belong there and need to
> be
> > there. On ABC 15's side, this is merely the act of a
> > station that is desperate and will stoop to anything.
> That's
> > been shown time and time again. I don't know what 3's
> > motive is other than grandstanding. There are too many
> > media people there already. What the ___ does Bellis know
>
> > about hurricanes anyway ?
>
> They were sent there to give relief to the news crews from
> sister-station WWL-TV in New Orleans, who from what I
> understand, had been going 24/7 since the weekend from
> either Baton Rouge or their transmitter site, as well as
> having to evacuate their own studios. Crews from Belo
> stations WFAA-TV Dallas and KHOU-TV Houston are also there
> and all of them are doing reports for WWL-TV as well as
> their own stations, from what I've heard.
>
> Now that the Superdome refugees are being moved to the
> Astrodome, I expect more folks from KHOU and the other
> Houston stations to be there, at least as many as the
> authorities there will allow.
>
> So there's nothing sinister here, nor is Watkiss there to
> blow his own, or his station's, horn. So in this case the
> KTVK presence is entirely justified and Watkiss and his crew
> absolutely do belong there.
>
Fair enough, Keith, but to be honest, Watkiss isn't the dictionary definition of "justified journalism". Trying looking in the section marked "reporter who thinks he's bigger than the story".

You also didn't explain Bellis being down there. I'm sure 15's management is having a hard time explaining it, too. <P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by TAWT on 09/01/05 02:35 AM.</FONT></P>
 
Re: There is?

> You also didn't explain Bellis being down there.
> I'm sure 15's management is having a hard time
> explaining it, too.

If I heard Katie Babe and Kevin O'Brien's good
buddy Jon DuPre correctly this evening, anchor
dude Elias is also on his way there.

Maybe they should send the jock to do sports
"live from the bayou" too...not!
 
Re: There is a point to this

> Fair enough, Keith, but to be honest, Watkiss isn't the
> dictionary definition of "justified journalism". Trying
> looking in the section marked "reporter who thinks he's
> bigger than the story".

You'd have to ask KTVK why they sent Watkiss. I don't work there so I have no idea.

> You also didn't explain Bellis being down there. I'm sure
> 15's management is having a hard time explaining it, too.

Scripps doesn't own stations in New Orleans, Biloxi/Gulfport, or Mobile so I have no idea why KNXV would send anyone. I only heard about the Belo stations' crews releiving WWL-TV.
 
Are you kidding???

> > You also didn't explain Bellis being down there.
> > I'm sure 15's management is having a hard time
> > explaining it, too.
>
> If I heard Katie Babe and Kevin O'Brien's good
> buddy Jon DuPre correctly this evening, anchor
> dude Elias is also on his way there.
>
> Maybe they should send the jock to do sports
> "live from the bayou" too...not!
>

No freakin' way! Both Bellis and Elias?? Maybe 15 has plans to move the whole station there -- less competition. Umm, with no power they may find their ratings even lower in N.O.
Those poor people, evidently there's no end to the flotsam washing up on their beaches.
 
Re: Are you kidding???

> > > You also didn't explain Bellis being down there.
> > > I'm sure 15's management is having a hard time
> > > explaining it, too.
> >
> > If I heard Katie Babe and Kevin O'Brien's good
> > buddy Jon DuPre correctly this evening, anchor
> > dude Elias is also on his way there.
> >
> > Maybe they should send the jock to do sports
> > "live from the bayou" too...not!
> >
>
> No freakin' way! Both Bellis and Elias?? Maybe 15 has
> plans to move the whole station there -- less competition.
> Umm, with no power they may find their ratings even lower in
> N.O.
> Those poor people, evidently there's no end to the flotsam
> washing up on their beaches.

Honestly, 15 has become the local version of MSNBC. No story is worth doing if you can't overdo it.

I know we're all making jokes about it, but really, is there someone in the business who can explain the value of this? I can't.
>
 
Re: There is a point to this

> Fair enough, Keith, but to be honest, Watkiss isn't the
> dictionary definition of "justified journalism". Trying
> looking in the section marked "reporter who thinks he's
> bigger than the story".
>
> You also didn't explain Bellis being down there. I'm sure
> 15's management is having a hard time explaining it, too.
>
KTVK sent reporter Watkiss, a cameraman (oops, photojournalist), an assignment editor and a remote truck engineer to assist the WWL-TV staff. As mentioned, Belo sent in staff from Dallas and Houston to backup the WWL crew. (I thought Watkiss interviewed someone from St. Louis who was also down there to help.)

Someone on TVSpy said that KNXV was sending two weather guessers and an anchor down to the Gulf. I saw Kaj doing weather tonight so I'm assuming he did not go so did they send Kalley down there too?
 
Yeah, ratings points

> Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on
> this board explain to me what's accomplished by having Mike
> Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation in
> Louisiana and Mississippi?

Cynical me. Ratings is the first thing I thought when I heard that KNXV was sending people to the area. They're desperate and need something to catch the attention of the Phoenix news consumer. Heck, we're talking about them now, proving that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

KTVK sending Watkiss was explained, but I have to ask...is that the best they have? Or is he just the best they have that is expendable in the home market at this time? Look for reports on polygamy among the storm survivors - coming to a TV near you.
 
I'll give it a shot...

The Bellis issue...I will get to it.

First I will say this...any time a large market TV station can find an excuse to inject their local talent into a national story...they will do it.

The theory is...hey if the folks at home are seeing their local newsperson / weatherperson covering this story then the viewers in theory will get the feeling the local newsies are on the ball...creating what is hopefully more trust.

News management hopes you will see their efforts and go to the "Water cooler" at work (or wherever the so called "water cooler" is) and tell your buddies..."did you see "X" tv station last night...the local weather dude was riding a surfboard on the storm surge...that was friggin cool."

As a rule, news will always try to "localize" any story especially the big stories...in every news meeting, every day, every station is trying to find ways to localize every story that comes across the wire. Making a story "local" is the only way news management thinks you will care about what is broadcast everyday.

Watch the news for the next week and count how many times there is a local angle on a national story. I'll bet you any amount of money you have see these stories on all the stations..local red cross helping...local military units helping...local people with family in the devistated area...a former AZ resident now living in NOLA and what they did during the storm...local animal shelter getting hurricane dogs / cats...local search and rescue going to NOLA...local biz helping...the list goes on.

There is a theory behind the sending of local talent to these "events"...the question is does the theory hold water (no pun intended).

On to Bill Bellis.

You have to follow Bill's resume to make the connection here...Bill's first TV job out of college was in Louisiana...so he has some knowledge of the area and the weather there including hurricanes. Bill's second job was in Houston...not far from Louisiana and still in a region prone to tropical systems. Bill's next job was in Phoenix.

OK...the short of it is that Bill is a local weatherperson with firsthand knowledge of the area that was just hammered by one of the biggest hurricanes to hit that area...Ch 15 must think he should be able to bring some kind of perspective to the table while bringing that local connection to AZ and ch 15 viewers.

Let us not forget Ch 15 sent Ed Phillips to Louisiana to cover a hurricane (the hurricane season before he left the station) and Ch 15 sent Kaley O'Kelly to Florida during last hurricane season so they have a track record there at Ch 15. In addition, this is not confined to Ch 15, many other stations have send crews to other natural disasters such as CA for earthquakes etc.

One final thing...natural disasters are ratings goldmines...people will watch coverage for hours on end...so...the potential to connect with viewers on a different, more emotional level is never higher.

Hope this helps a little...
TVGuru
 
Re: I'll give it a shot...

> The Bellis issue...I will get to it.
>
> First I will say this...any time a large market TV station
> can find an excuse to inject their local talent into a
> national story...they will do it.
>
> The theory is...hey if the folks at home are seeing their
> local newsperson / weatherperson covering this story then
> the viewers in theory will get the feeling the local newsies
> are on the ball...creating what is hopefully more trust.
>
> News management hopes you will see their efforts and go to
> the "Water cooler" at work (or wherever the so called "water
> cooler" is) and tell your buddies..."did you see "X" tv
> station last night...the local weather dude was riding a
> surfboard on the storm surge...that was friggin cool."
>
> As a rule, news will always try to "localize" any story
> especially the big stories...in every news meeting, every
> day, every station is trying to find ways to localize every
> story that comes across the wire. Making a story "local" is
> the only way news management thinks you will care about what
> is broadcast everyday.
>
> Watch the news for the next week and count how many times
> there is a local angle on a national story. I'll bet you
> any amount of money you have see these stories on all the
> stations..local red cross helping...local military units
> helping...local people with family in the devistated
> area...a former AZ resident now living in NOLA and what they
> did during the storm...local animal shelter getting
> hurricane dogs / cats...local search and rescue going to
> NOLA...local biz helping...the list goes on.
>
> There is a theory behind the sending of local talent to
> these "events"...the question is does the theory hold water
> (no pun intended).
>
> On to Bill Bellis.
>
> You have to follow Bill's resume to make the connection
> here...Bill's first TV job out of college was in
> Louisiana...so he has some knowledge of the area and the
> weather there including hurricanes. Bill's second job was
> in Houston...not far from Louisiana and still in a region
> prone to tropical systems. Bill's next job was in Phoenix.
>
> OK...the short of it is that Bill is a local weatherperson
> with firsthand knowledge of the area that was just hammered
> by one of the biggest hurricanes to hit that area...Ch 15
> must think he should be able to bring some kind of
> perspective to the table while bringing that local
> connection to AZ and ch 15 viewers.
>
> Let us not forget Ch 15 sent Ed Phillips to Louisiana to
> cover a hurricane (the hurricane season before he left the
> station) and Ch 15 sent Kaley O'Kelly to Florida during last
> hurricane season so they have a track record there at Ch 15.
> In addition, this is not confined to Ch 15, many other
> stations have send crews to other natural disasters such as
> CA for earthquakes etc.
>
> One final thing...natural disasters are ratings
> goldmines...people will watch coverage for hours on
> end...so...the potential to connect with viewers on a
> different, more emotional level is never higher.
>
> Hope this helps a little...
> TVGuru

It does, and thanks.

However, I'm going to maintain my position that there are some instances when media people are just getting in the way, and this is one of them.

One note on 15 -- their promo touting that Bellis is there has him simply saying "It's a mess down here". I don't care where you're from, you can figure that out on the other side of the planet.

Nevertheless, I appreciate your explanation.
>
 
Re: I'll give it a shot...

I completely agree with you...

And as to the promo...stating the obvious...as in "it's a mess here"...well if that is the most compelling thing Bill has said while in the midst of the devistation then the trip was a waste of time. The promo needs to capture the emotion of the event in order to be effective...otherwise the promo is a "hey we went to Louisiana and you didn't"...a promo to rub in the faces of the other stations.

The promo would be better if a few seconds of an interview with a hurricane victim was played...one that had Bill in the shot...and the victim is saying something like..."I've lost everything" or "I wish I would have evacuated."

BTW, in the interest of disclosure...I DO NOT work for Ch 15.

TVGuru
 
KNXV -- Tawdry Ambulance Chasing

> > Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on
> > this board explain to me what's accomplished by having
> Mike
> > Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation
> in
> > Louisiana and Mississippi?
>
> Cynical me. Ratings is the first thing I thought when I
> heard that KNXV was sending people to the area. They're
> desperate and need something to catch the attention of the
> Phoenix news consumer. Heck, we're talking about them now,
> proving that there is no such thing as bad publicity.
>
> KTVK sending Watkiss was explained, but I have to ask...is
> that the best they have? Or is he just the best they have
> that is expendable in the home market at this time? Look
> for reports on polygamy among the storm survivors - coming
> to a TV near you.
>

I find zero excuse for KNXV sending ANYONE to the Gulf Coast unless they are there and trained to keep order, handout medical supplies, food, etc. It is a serious situation of life and death and not a ratings opportunity for a very desperate Arizona station seeking ratings. From some observations in N.O. there are already areas where the reporters outnumber the rescuers. Regarding Bellis, the weather event is over even if he did become an expert in a year or two working in Louisiana just out of college. Right...
Anyway, why would Valley viewers suddenly flock to ABC 15 to get their news on Gulf Coast disasters when they don't even watch them for coverage on LOCAL events like fires? In my view this is just pure exploitation and more sleaze from the sleaziest station in Phoenix. I believe it'll backfire on them and will be seen by the public for what it really is.
 
Re: There is a point to this

> KTVK sent reporter Watkiss, a cameraman (oops,
> photojournalist), an assignment editor and a remote truck
> engineer to assist the WWL-TV staff. As mentioned, Belo
> sent in staff from Dallas and Houston to backup the WWL
> crew. (I thought Watkiss interviewed someone from St. Louis
> who was also down there to help.)
>
KTVK had explained this on the air too when they were sending him to WWL. He has actually done several reports for WWL as I have seen his reporting on their station. So appears he is there to report for WWL & KTVK.
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1377931&segment=152389
 
Re: There is a point to this

> > KTVK sent reporter Watkiss, a cameraman (oops,
> > photojournalist), an assignment editor and a remote truck
> > engineer to assist the WWL-TV staff. As mentioned, Belo
> > sent in staff from Dallas and Houston to backup the WWL
> > crew. (I thought Watkiss interviewed someone from St.
> Louis
> > who was also down there to help.)
> >
> KTVK had explained this on the air too when they were
> sending him to WWL. He has actually done several reports
> for WWL as I have seen his reporting on their station. So
> appears he is there to report for WWL & KTVK.
http://p> laylist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1377931&segment=152389

Fine, send a reporter to help, but Watkiss?

See the part of the broadcasters' encyclopedia entitled "reporter who thinks he's bigger than the story". It's Watkiss' bio.
>
 
KTVK has also sent Suzanne Bissett

Suzanne Bissett is also down there. I saw here doing reports for The Weather Channel this weekend.
 
> Can someone among the very intelligent people who post on
> this board explain to me what's accomplished by having Mike
> Watkiss and Bill Bellis wandering through the devastation in
> Louisiana and Mississippi?
>
> One thing's for sure -- an area that doesn't need any
> additional people around have some, and especially in the
> case of 15 -- what, you don't think ABC's doing a good
> enough job?
>
> Sometimes, it's forgiveable when a local station sends a
> reporter to a national story "just because they can". In
> this case, it not only makes no sense, it's thoroughly
> inappropriate.
>
> If Watkiss and Bellis really want to convey what's going on
> there to their viewers, then they should get on one of those
> refugee buses when they're ready to come home, instead of
> tying up airline seats in first class, seats that could be
> given to people who desperately need to get out of there.
>
> We all have opinions on a great many topics on this board,
> and I've learned more than once that few people agree with
> what I say. That being the case, I want someone from 3 or
> 15, or anybody else in the market sending reporters to a
> place they don't belong, to explain to the rest of us why.
> If there's something I'm missing, please explain it.
>
> If you can't explain other than "we do it because we can",
> shame on you. Get those people out of that area. Now.
>
Any sophisticated news watcher is NOT going to tune into Channel 15 for coverage of the disaster. Channel 15 is wasting their time trying to gain ratings by sending their local reporters down there. If anything it's a complete joke. But the stations will do what they're going to do to think they are being the best local news station. LMAO.
 
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