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Local newscasts on PBS stations?

As I have read about it, NewsLink Indiana's planned 30 minute newscast was not canceled due exactly to a lack of funding, at least not on an individual basis, it was more of a concern that the existing donations and underwriting that WIPB (PBS) received would be redirected toward the newscast, and that the existing local programming would then lose funding.

I think they should have tried it, because I think the newscast could have been the centerpiece to increase local ratings and audience, and could have ultimately been a tentpole that the other local programming could benefit from.

They still do 5 minute cut-ins at various points throughout the day. In prime time, IIRC, one cut-in is news, and the other is an extended weathercast. The entire package is summarized as a daily video podcast.

Find them at http://www.newslinkindiana.com/ .
 
Student operated is one thing, but an experienced news team on a local PBS is rare. Chicago's WTTW, "Chicago Tonight", comes close, but is really more of an interview program than newscast.

WHYY's Delaware Tonight newscast isn't a student run broadcast either. They are using an experienced news staff also. They do news during the first half of the broadcast and then they do interviews and features. Their newscast is a half hour from 5:30pm to 6 then WHYY airs the Jim Leheir News Hour followed by the Nightly Business Report. A solid 2 hour block of informational programming.
 
You can't forget OETA's (Oklahoma) 6:30pm Statewide newscast.

Also, I'm not sure if one of the Utah PBS stations 7/9/11 still has a student-run newscast; they did during the 90s - NPR did a story about it.

Also WUFL, Channel 5 in Gainesville, Florida also has a newscast.

Jim
 
Johnathan said:
As I have read about it, NewsLink Indiana's planned 30 minute newscast was not canceled due exactly to a lack of funding, at least not on an individual basis, it was more of a concern that the existing donations and underwriting that WIPB (PBS) received would be redirected toward the newscast, and that the existing local programming would then lose funding.

I think they should have tried it, because I think the newscast could have been the centerpiece to increase local ratings and audience, and could have ultimately been a tentpole that the other local programming could benefit from.

They still do 5 minute cut-ins at various points throughout the day. In prime time, IIRC, one cut-in is news, and the other is an extended weathercast. The entire package is summarized as a daily video podcast.

Find them at http://www.newslinkindiana.com/ .
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying the status of Newslink Indiana, Johnathan. I, too, read a newspaper article about Newslink Indiana, however, it wouldn't surprise me whether they got their facts messed up somehow. I agree with you about the newscast. They should at least attempt to do a 30 minute version of the program. The resources are certainly there. The T-Comm department at Ball State is top-notch and the students probably hunger real world experience at this point in their careers more than a paycheck. Newslink Indiana would serve as a learning tool, while at the same time, give East-central Indiana a much needed news source. Areas like Muncie, Marion, New Castle, and Richmond are often ignored by the surrounding television news operations, and WIPB could certainly cover the area much better without much effort.

I see the addition of the newscast on WIPB as a benefit for the station rather than a disadvantage. Who knows, doing so may generate more viewers who would otherwise watch the PBS stations in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, & Dayton. That would generate more contributions.
 
Additionally - I seem to recall that at some time last year, they were producing a 30 minute nightly newscast (M-F), but only airing it on a cable access station which was only available on BSU campus.

When WIPB gets the equipment, it'd be nice if they could at least put the 30 minute newscast on a digital subchannel, if it is still around.
 
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