about -1 years ago - No comments
(Another classic from the mcarp archives… the prophetic genius and brilliance are his;
the ones/zeros, pixels, pictures and subheads and pull-quotes are mine.)
The ordinary viewer is just so… ordinary.
“You know what your problem is?” My news director was putting the question to me — not in an accusatory or critical tone, but with the demeanor of More >
about 2 days ago - 3 comments
(Another classic from the mcarp archives… the prophetic genius and brilliance are his;
the ones/zeros, pixels, pictures and subheads and pull-quotes are mine.)
“But I gave him a fighting chance.”
- Former television news director (1978)
I never understood why anyone wanted to be a news director, anyway. Talk about a thankless job. Now, it’s gotten to where some More >
about 3 days ago - 2 comments
Network news is being outsourced, more than you knew.
Read here about how ABC News is “transforming” itself through cuts and reorganization. At least they didn’t call it “right-sizing.”
(And bear in mind that ABC News had a larger staff than NBC News and MSNBC combined…)
But how do you do the job with fewer people? You outsource.
Check More >
about 4 days ago - 1 comment
(Another classic from the mcarp archives… the prophetic genius and brilliance are his;
the ones/zeros, pixels, pictures and subheads and pull-quotes are mine.)
“You mean it’s not in Wisconsin?”
The phone rang, and an intern picked it up. She listened for a moment, then put her hand over the receiver and looked at me.
“Where is Mount Everest?” she More >
about 1 week ago - 3 comments
(A reminder… this is a reposting from the mcarp archives… the prophetic genius and brilliance are his, the ones/zeros and pixels are mine. And the pictures. Oh, and the subheads. I added those, just to help break up the page.)
“This is a cleansing moment of clarity.”
— Howard Beale, “Network!” (1976)
Network!, in case you’ve never seen More >
about 1 week ago - 1 comment
(More old-school wisdom from the mcarp archives…)
Why don’t you make something arrogant and superficial of yourself?
I came back from a story one day to find the fortune from a Chinese cookie stuck to my computer terminal screen.
“It is not talent you lack,” the slip of paper said, “but ambition.”
Some free character analysis, courtesy of one More >
about 1 week ago - 5 comments
Ike’s final day in television…
Am I venting too hard on journalism lately? Maybe it needs a kick in the pants. I teased the other day to some people that I would share the story of my last day as a television reporter. It certainly doesn’t have the gravity of the “Day They Forced Me To More >
about 2 weeks ago - 3 comments
If we are to believe the survey results, more journalists are turning to social media for story ideas and information.
This survey published in September of 2009 shows that 70% of journalists use social networking to assist in reporting.
A Cision study of practicing journalists released in January 2010 indicates:
89% use blogs
65% use social networking sites
52% use More >
about 2 weeks ago - No comments
(I am pleased to deliver more prophecy from the mcarp archives…)
Place blame now, and avoid the rush.
Sweeps. Or, in newsroom vernacular, “Oh, shit.”
But consistent sweeps series production is easy if you plan, plan, plan.
Herewith, the mcarp guide to planning and executing ratings sweeps series.
Six months before ratings:
Key newsroom managers meet to plan sweeps ’summit.’
This preliminary More >
about 2 weeks ago - 1 comment
(I am pleased to deliver more prophecy from the mcarp archives…)
Tips from the I-Team toolbox.
A producer in my newsroom was working on one of those ‘evergreen’ investigative pieces (i.e., one of those stories whose shocking secrets you can stick in a file folder, ready and waiting to be ‘discovered’ for the next ratings period).
But, there More >
about 8 months ago
Twitter Comment
New show, B*Side w/ Alan Hunter, Dr. Josh, 6-8p Wed. Live 100.5 FM. Tonight: @ikepigott on soc media: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
about 8 months ago
Twitter Comment
@ikepigott Can’t wait to hear you!
– Posted using Chat Catcher
about 8 months ago
Twitter Comment
Back On the Air [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher