Morning News Promotion - Hold the Toast

If I see one more morning local news promo with close-ups of coffee and toast (or eggs and orange juice for that matter)... I think I'll scream. Well, at least sigh in exasperation anyway. You've seen them. And may have even done them (a long time ago, of course). But these days breakfast food and morning cliches aren't going to cut it - at least not as the central focus. Surely there's something more/better to say about morning news than "it's on in the morning." Instead of food, make viewers hungry for what you have to offer. Perhaps with an appetizing sample of your product.

Besides, I don't think most people can relate to a relaxing breakfast in the morning; they're stuffing a granola bar in their pocket and grabbing coffee at the drive-thru on their way to work. So promote your morning news -- it's more important than ever to viewers. But hold the toast.

- Donna Petersen

What Does Fed's Broadband Plan Mean for Local TV?

I would love a broadband connection at my house that pumps out 100 mbps.  (My cable connection is now 8.26 mbps and I think it's pretty fast.) 

This week the federal government will announce a plan to make the information highway the autobahn in the next few years - in part by taking spectrum space away from broadcasters and using it to beef up the internet.  It's a bitter pill for broadcasters, who have been favored in the regulatory world for the past 60 years.  Is the FCC about to shunt over-the-air television to the spectrum sideline and diminish it as a medium forever?

I don't think so. The value of broadcast TV is just too high. I have a hard time believing this is as simple as the bureaucrats wheeling out a new plan for the future and everyone applauding because they can download movies more quickly.  It comes down to two key groups:  consumers and politicians. 

Consumers because Americans watch more TV than any other group in the world, and the system responsible for most of that content is broadcasting.  The audience has even confirmed that choice in recent years by going out and purchasing expensive HDTV's - even in the midst of a recession - in order to see the best quality signals, whether they are delivered on cable, satellite or over-the-air. 

The spectrum required to launch mobile TV is hanging in the balance with the government's new broadband plan.  Who better than broadcasters can develop a service that would put local over-the-air television on your cellphone?

Then there are the politicians.  Overwhelmingly,  people in this country get their political info from television.  That includes finding out about candidates trying to get elected who advertise on TV.  Do politicians have the will to let down the medium that plays a key role in putting them into office?  I doubt it. The FCC's plan may have to change given the political realities. 

Sure, I want a faster, better internet and there's only so much spectrum to go around. But first, you'll have to pry the remote control out of my hand.

-- John Altenbern

Clean Delivery Isn't Enough

In my many years of coaching, too many anchors have taken any discussion about being passionate and descriptive in delivery to mean that they have carte blanche to say what they want. But I wasn't talking about crosstalk! (Especially talk that doesn't serve the viewer.) Rather, I was talking about bringing more expression and passion to the way they read a story.

Smooth, clean delivery - no mistakes, but no expression and no context - is just not enough. Viewers want and need expression and intonation that support the words, because that's what helps them hear and understand stories. It's the look on a reporter's face and the tone in their voice that helps viewers hear how urgent a fire is. It's good communication. To achieve that, it comes down to listening... truly listening.

Why does it always come down to listening? Reporters and anchors can make their delivery a lot more real by simply tuning in to - and really hearing -- the content that precedes and follows theirs. Like they do during breaking news.

Listening brings appropriate context and connection with the story. The delivery then, is descriptive and passionate. And being descriptive and passionate is compelling television.

-Laura Hernandez