Chicago College Student is Also Ohio Anchor

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Many college students hoping to go into TV news are worried about landing that first job after graduation.

But Roosevelt University Journalism major Giacomo Luca is scared, he already has an anchor job before he graduates in May. 

Robert Feder says that Luca, 21, commutes four hours each way between Chicago and Lima, Ohio (population 40,000), where he’s been anchoring and producing the 6 and 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday newscasts on NBC affiliate WLIO-TV since March 9.

“Journalism isn’t a career, it’s a lifestyle,” Luca declares on his bio. “I’ve decided to dedicate my life to seeking truth and reporting it.”

The Cincinnati native most recently held a morning news internship at Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9, where his mentor was news anchor Larry Potash. “Giacomo has a passion for broadcast journalism that, in my experience, most interns don’t have,” Potash said in a statement. “Because of his knowledge of technology and his work ethic, I gave him the freedom to coordinate segments and stories. He gained valuable experience in writing and producing that many interns miss.”

Luca has been honing his skills since high school when he worked as a reporter, editor and videographer for the student-run television station while doubling as editor-in-chief of the student newspaper. He later landed college internship at stations in Jacksonville, Florida, and Cincinnati.

Roosevelt doesn’t even offer a broadcast major, making Luca’s achievements all the more remarkable. He’ll begin working full-time at WLIO right after he graduates.

“Once I figured out that TV was what I wanted to do, it’s been full steam ahead,” he said. “It’s a bit overwhelming for me to not only be graduating but also to be achieving my career dream.”

I'm Depressed Because it's all over the News

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I'm Depressed Because it's all over the News

Some people get depressed watching the news, others because they are on the news.

Kevin Hughes was busted in a South Carolina Walmart for walking around the in the middle of the night wearing only black shoes. Which sadly is not the strangest thing that happens in Walmart. 

WSOC Reporter Trish Wilford confronted Hughes in front of his sister’s house. After saying that he didn't want to comment, he then told Wilford the reason he was buck naked in the big box store.

He says he got his drugs mixed up. 

“I’ve had a problem with drugs in the past, I still like to do some Ecstasy once in a while; the only drug I ever thought I’d do again. And I accidentally got methamphetamine instead, and it really made me crazy.”

He told Wilford that he was depressed because it's all over the news and now says he's going to have to move.

We suggest he move to a place that's not close to a Walmart.

Just saying.....

The video of the story is up after the jump. 

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Things Going From Bad to Worse at Al Jazeera

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As we predicted, Al Jazeera is dying in the ratings and the cable news channel is already making cuts.

Last week we told you that Al Jazeera America's flagship show, "America Tonight," was being pre-empted on Wednesdays for the next few months in favor of a reality show. 

Now there's more bad news.

Sources tell FTVLive that the  Friday broadcast has now been turned into a half hour "special." These specials are pre-recorded and contain little news. Also, insiders say, on other days of the week the show has begun to rerun pieces that aired weeks earlier. These pieces are often outdated and have not been updated. 

Insiders believe that the end is near for "America Tonight," especially in comparison to the channel's two other programs, the business shows anchored by Ali Velshi, which expanded to an hour this week and the one anchored by John Siegenthaler, which is at least has some viewers. 

AJA has only been averaging 15,000 total viewers in primetime, and about 5,000 viewers in the target 25-to-54-year-old demo, according to Nielsen which is considered nothing more than hash marks.

The deathwatch for the entire network has been kicked up a few notches.

Not to say we told you so..... 

ESPN Analyst Arrested for Spousal Battery

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Another ESPN Analyst has been arrested for and assault on his significant other.

Former NFL wide receiver and current ESPN analyst Keyshawn Johnson was busted by cops at his California home on a misdemeanor spousal battery charge.

Johnson, 40, was taken into custody shortly before 1 a.m. on Monday when Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies responded to an assault call.

Deputies "determined that the resident and his ex-girlfriend were involved in a domestic dispute," sheriff's officials said in a statement.

Johnson, 41, was released on $20,000 bond. ESPN is looking into the incident, a spokesman said.

"I would like to apologize to my family, friends, fans, colleagues and, of course, to Jennifer for what happened last night at my home in Calabasas," Johnson said in a statement. "Though the true facts will come out as part of the legal process, I can say now, without hesitation, that I did not hit, grab or strike Jennifer, nor would I ever touch her or any woman in anger. I am cooperating with the authorities and will continue to do so to ensure that this personal matter is fairly and expediently resolved."

Johnson has worked as an analyst at ESPN since 2007 and appears on "NFL Countdown" on Sundays and Mondays.

May 16th is Barbara Walters Day

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Tell your boss that you are taking off on May 16th, because it is Barbara Walters Day.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio is proclaiming May 16 as "Barbara Walters Day." 

That's the day that Walters is retiring from appearing on on TV doing so for five decades.

De Blasio made the announcement Monday when he appeared on "The View," the daytime talk show that Walters co-hosts.

He gave her an official city proclamation.

No word yet if Barbara Walters Day will become a national holiday.

Aaron Sorkin Wants to Apologize for "The Newsroom"

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The Newsroom’s third and final seasn is debuting this fall on HBO, but creator Aaron Sorkin told the crowd at a Tribeca Film Festival discussion on Monday that he’s just starting to learn how to write the often critically maligned series. And that he’s sorry.

“I’m going to let you all stand in for everyone in the world, if you don’t mind. I think you and I got off on the wrong foot with The Newsroom and I apologize and I’d like to start over,” Sorkin told the audience after interviewer (and former President Obama speech writer) Jon Favreau asked about what he’s learned about the media doing the series. “I think that there’s been a terrible misunderstanding. I did not set the show in the recent past in order to show the pros how it should have been done. That was and remains the furthest thing from my mind. I set the show in the recent past because I didn’t want to make up fake news. It was going to be weird if the world that these people were living in did not in any way resemble the world that you were living in… Also, I wanted the option of having a terrific dynamic that you can get when the audience knows more than the characters do… So, I wasn’t trying to and I’m not capable of teaching a professional journalist a lesson. That wasn’t my intent and it’s never my intent to teach you a lesson or try to persuade you or anything.”

He went on to explain, “I like writing romantically and idealistically. I try to balance that with just enough realism so that it feels like whatever romantic ideal is in there is somewhat attainable. It’s not a cartoon. It’s not animated… These are people who are trying to do the news well when market forces work against them.”

Buzzfeed

Union Asking Viewers to Turn Off St. Louis Station

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FTVLive has always found it strange when a union that reps workers inside a TV station asks viewers to stop watching said station.

That is what is going down in St. Louis. 

Today IBEW Local 4 that represents broadcast engineers, photographers and editors in every station in St. Louis, is asking viewers to stop watching KSDK the Gannett owned station in the city.

The union says that during the first contract negotiation, Gannett informed the Local 4 that it was going to refuse talking unless the men and women of KSDK agree to giving up all rights to their jobs.  In other words, allow KSDK to hire anybody at any pay-rate to come in and do the job of a photographer/editor/engineer.  

IBEW says that what's worse is that during the economic downturn, Gannett asked these same men and women to take a 10% cut in pay and agree to furloughs.  This was agreed to by those men and women in order to be team players and help the company.  Now that we are a few years into a great economy and with growth on the books, Gannett refuses to give back and wants to get rid of them all together.  

IBEW Local 4 has launched a campaign to "Turn Off KSDK" saying that they hope to get the station's attention and back to negotiations.

Here's the union's website asking viewers to not watch the station. 

NBC Seeks Help for Meet The Press

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As FTVLive has reported many times, NBC's Meet The Press has fallen to the bottom of the ratings.

NBC has gotten so desperate, that according to the Washington Post, NBC commissioned a psychological consultant to interview David Gregory's friends and even his wife. 

The idea, according to a network spokeswoman, Meghan Pianta, was “to get perspective and insight from people who know him best.” 

But the research project struck some at NBC as odd, given that Gregory has been employed there for nearly 20 years.

BC has released a statement saying that the Washington Post story was not quite accurate. The network says “Last year Meet the Press brought in a brand consultant—not, as reported, a psychological one—to better understand how its anchor connects,” NBC News says. “This is certainly not unusual for any television program, especially one that’s driven so heavily by one person.”

No matter what they person's label is, NBC was worried enough to bring in someone.

And when you start interviewing and Anchor's wife, you have reached full on desperation mode.

Stay tuned.... 

Memphis Station to Give Viewers Cash to Watch During Sweeps

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Obviously WREG in Memphis doesn't have full faith in their news product and is resorting to cold hard cash to try and get viewers to watch in the upcoming May book.

The station is running an on air contest during it's morning and late newscasts dubbed as "Krush It!"

The rules state that the viewer will see an identified cue with a phone number and an invitation to “Call Now.”  The third person who calls (WRED is Channel 3.... oh so clever) after the cue to “Call Now” will get a chance to win the money.

After the viewers calls in, one of the WREG anchors will do their best Vanna White impression and will according to the station "search the board for three (3) matched ‘treats’ in a row."

WREG newscast member will touch or ‘click’ the matched treats, clearing them from the board. A dollar amount will appear on-screen, ranging from $300-$5000.

The matched treat played by the WREG talent will indicate the prize amount.

On rare occasions, the ‘3’ logo may appear on top of a treat.  When clicked, this treat may deliver a larger dollar amount. Oh Boy!

What happened to the days of just doing good hard hitting news to get viewers?

Shame on WREG for resorting to this crap. 

 

Drones To Replace News Choppers?

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The attack of the drone on news helicopters?

Arkansas Business says that drones are the future for TV news.

During the last two months, both Facebook and Google have acquired companies that manufacture remote aircraft. Machines that resemble tiny, lithe airplanes or spider-like helicopters can be seen buzzing through hundreds of YouTube videos, and Amazon is known to be developing tech that would use the aircraft to deliver packages.

All that to say: The drones are here, and they’re here to stay.

So how is the technology being used in Arkansas? One area: TV news. The days of the humble news chopper are waning. It’s now cheaper, easier and more effective to shoot stories with drones.

News stations are adapting to this change in different ways. Some are hiring freelancers with access to the technology.

For example, Tim Trieschmann of Little Rock owns three remote helicopters. Through his company, The Shot Above, he has shot videos for most of the city’s news stations, including KARK-TV, Channel 4; KTHV-TV, Channel 11; and KLRT-TV, Channel 16. Other local aerial photographers, such as Robert Davis, have done similar jobs.

“It’s really a replacement to when news agencies all had helicopters … they don’t have helicopters anymore,” Trieschmann said. “So any event that would justify a full-size helicopter, they’d call me.”

In February, Trieschmann shot video for KARK of the Majestic Hotel burning in Hot Springs.

“Obviously, from the ground, you could see the flames and smoke, but you couldn’t see the impact,” said Austin Kellerman, news director of KARK. “What he was able to do was fly the machine up above. That gave you a first look at how much the inside had burned and the extent of the damage. From a news content-gathering perspective, that was pretty valuable.”

The stability afforded by the modern multi rotor drones can supply video that’s actually better than what a regular news chopper might shoot (FTVLive is not quite sure we buy that line). 

In a manned helicopter, “sometimes the quality of video and perspective isn’t all that great. It can be almost distracting; depending on the setup, the camera might shake and the video would not necessarily be that clean,” Kellerman said.

The cost of hiring an aerial photographer, he noted, tends to be about half that of hiring a helicopter pilot.