Never promise anything

I learned it as a news assistant so many years ago and still stress it today: NEVER promise ANYTHING!

It's a good rule to live by, even out of a newsroom.

Today is a perfect day to exhibit this mantra.

In the afternoon meeting, the story cards were dealt out to each reporter and camera man.

What everyone started out on quickly changed when we got the call from the Chief's Office that there had been four arrested in connection with the tragic double shooting over the weekend at East 12th and Chester.

Switching gears-- and fast! We had lady luck on our side as crews were actually IN the places they needed to be without even knowing it!

The transition went off without a hitch.

A big thank you goes out to the room including, Dan Stadler, Dick Russ, Chris Tye, Chris Kunz, Dave Summers, Craig Roberson, Carl Bachtel, Dan Medsker, Julie Ocepek, intern Jeff Kinder, and editor Matt Hein for their great joint effort at getting this breaking news on the air.


Earlier in the day, a local restaurateur contacted the news desk about coming out to his Mardi Gras party being held during Downtown Dining week. I cover it every Shrove Tuesday. However, I knew better not to promise anything. I put it on my agenda and hoped to have a crew eventually to send over there...


A little dicier situation lay ahead. One of my managers pulled some strings for us to go live at 6pm and 7pm at another downtown locale. Breaking news blew those plans out of the water.

In fairness to the business who welcomed us with open arms, we still wanted to shoot video of their establishment for their accommodating nature. After the craziness died down, I sent a free cameraman back over there to shoot video for the 11pm show. There are times we can't even do this much for stories we must vacate.


I've said it before and I'll say it again, NEVER PROMISE ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!


Now, before the next emergency hits, I'm gonna get back to my peas in a bag, salad in a Styrofoam cup, and fettuccini alfredo with 0g Trans fat in a cardboard vessel.

History-making Election Day, 2008

We are in the midst of a history-making election day, whatever the outcome.

In fact, it's been a long time since I have seen so many people occupying the newsroom. It's a great sight!

For me as the assignment editor, the bulk of my duties today consist of fielding calls, dealing with the phones and our customers....along with manning the news desk, scanners, and everything that goes with that!

We have extra programming today beginning at 5pm. I need to make sure that everyone is in place for all of our live shots and our live cut-ins throughout the evening......I also need to make sure the necessary information is passed along to our morning producers for their continuing election coverage on Channel 3 News Today, which begins at 430am Wednesday morning.

Leading up to these big events, we have a number of planning meetings where we decide:

1. What we are covering, the bulk of the content
2. Reporter assignments
3. Who is working with whom (reporters & camera crews & truck operators)
4. Live truck assignments
5. Signal tests & logistics at each location
6. Making graphics
7. Compiling lower thirds
8. Dividing up the races, issues, election info
9. Assigning remote designations
10. Doing all of the above for our web coverage, blogging, & mobile phone coverage
11. Making sure we have ample staff in all departments to cover all of the above
12. Assembling our bloggers
13. Getting appropriate credentialing
14. Obtaining parking passes
15. Assigning our student helpers
16. Ordering food--top of mind for everyone!

Well, you get the idea....the list is endless! There is a lot of hard work and planning that goes into an election night and it is truly a full team effort!

There are always unexpected issues that arise every election day. However, if everything is properly planned and done just right, then honestly, there is not much left to do on election day except EXECUTE!

When I walked in today, I thought I would get inundated with viewers having various election issues, complaints, problems....

Believe it or not, I only got a handful of election snafus complaints....

I AM getting inundated with calls, but it has absolutely nothing to do voting problems.

Apparently, Channel 3 is having audio issues. The calls started coming in shortly after 5pm and continue as of this writing. I was told our HD channel is having transmission problems. The viewers I have spoken with have various stories: some have HD, some do not, some have been experiencing this problem for the last week, some just today....

An awful predicament to be in on one of the most important nights of the entire year.

Rest assured, the problem is being addressed. We hope to have the problem rectified as soon as possible and everything back to normal for the rest of our extended election coverage throughout the night into tomorrow.