Media Relations

Funny Headlines From News in Utah, California, Pennsylvania. Enjoy!

With my thanks to the Columbia Journalism Review.  The magazine collects these great bloopers from subscribers and reporters.  By the way, if you really want to see inside the news business, understand the challenges and ethical dilemmas, subscribe.

 

 

Employment Despair - When Loyal, Experience-rich Employees Get the Axe

It has happened to me and perhaps to you, or a spouse, friend, or relative.  It can mark one for a lifetime.  I decided to put my feelings on paper...yes paper.  Then the editorial board of my local daily newspaper, the Salt Lake Tribune, was kind enough to publish on paper, yes...paper and online, my thoughts. 

Pass it along to someone you know who can relate.

 Laying Off the Loyal

 

 

My September 11 "Where was I?" Story

My crossing guard, George, said, "they got us, in New York, in D.C., and who knows where else!" 

What? 

George had assumed I already knew something.  I didn't.  I was dressed in my best with a dark briefcase, headed to make an important presentation to a group of attorneys. 

Then George explained the rest. 

What should I do?  The world had stopped and asked if I wanted to get off.  Well...I should...well...I don't know.  When going into shock...stick to the schedule?  I jumped in my car and turned on a news station in Salt Lake City.  As I sped downtown towards my meeting at the top of a local skyscraper, I heard on the radio, "Senator, it sounds as if we are literally under attack!" said the morning commentator.  Utah's senator responded, "we are!" 

The World Seemed To Go On

I drove into the high-rise parking garage. I wondered if I was safe.  I thought the same thing in the elevator.  Hitting one of the top floors, I went to the reception desk of the law firm.  An attorney greeted me and gestured toward the presentation room.

"Given what has happened, why don't we do this another day?" I said.  He looked at me, puzzled.  "No problem, let's do it now," and he gathered the others.  I said, emphatically, "are you sure?"  He was firm with his, "yes."

I slammed shut that part of my brain that registers fear, sadness, mourning.  I gave the presentation of my life.  I had to.  It was the only way to stop thinking about the unthinkable.

Presentation over...the lawyers quietly thanked me and I was out the door.  Not one mention of what had happened in New York.  I have great respect for many lawyers...but I will never understand them.

The World Wasn't Going On

Rushing back to my car, I noticed the deadly calm in Salt Lake City.  No busy streets, just one woman wandering aimlessly through a not-yet-open downtown mall. No expression on her face.  It was stone cold.

That night in front of the TV, my husband blew up.  "I don't want to see yet another repeat video of those plane crashes anymore!  Can you imagine what this is doing to the families of those who were killed?"

The Halftime of a Lifetime

Months later on Superbowl Sunday.  Bono of U2 screamed out a song as the names of those killed were beamed in tribute onto a giant high-tech scroll in the background. I wept with a depth I'd never experienced at any funeral, with any death or any tragedy.  At the end of his tribute, he screamed just one word to the crowd: "America!"  He slowly opened his leather jacket, which was lined with an American flag.  

 Share your story. We all have one.

 

A Worldwide "Media Addiction" Study. This Is Getting Serious.

 

                                   Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com☆

It involved five continents and 1,000 students.  The results were quite "raw."  All participants were asked to abstain from "media" for 24 hours. 

Reaction comments were disturbing:

"I was itching like a crackhead because I could not use my phone."

"It was as if my real life and my virtual life were coexisting in different planes but in equal time."

"Sometimes I felt 'dead' ".

"Sad, lonely, depressed."

"A difficult day, a horrible day."

The study was a partnership between The International Center For Media & The Public Affairs and The Salzburg Academy On Media & Global change.

I can't encourage you enough to read on....

Head over to The World UNPLUGGED.  Don't forget to take a look at the "addiction grid" by country. 

 

Overtime Vs. Undertime...Which One Is Your M.O. ?

We constantly say we want balance in our lives.  Many of us constantly fail.  But today I ran across an interesting column on The Firm Voice that claimed:

People who don't work very hard are the biggest complainers about work-life balance!  And those who work many overtime hours just consider it "another day at the office."

Hmmm......read on.  And when you're done, if you are an overtimer, please give us advice on work/life balance.

Some of mine:

1. Turn down all offered board positions for six months.  Karma will understand if you need a rest.
2. Turn down all no-pay speeches for six months.
3. Attend only two business lunches per month.  You might have time to get some work done! And done work leads to free time.
4. Turn off your cell phone in the evening for two hours.  Same goes for the rest of the family.
5. Stay away from all electronics for eight hours every weekend. And yes, that includes TV.  Electronic can openers, microwaves, computerized washers/dryers, etc. are OK.
6. Buy a hard copy book.  Don't scan it.  READ it.
7. Ask to meet a reporter in-person.  It will be hard to get her/him to do it, but it really works well.
8. Go for a stroll.  No aerobics.  STROLL slowly.  Study flowers, dirt, rocks, urban animals.  Stand under a pine tree.  The language of nature speaks volumes of comfort to frayed nerves.
9. Stop goal setting for six months.  Let yourself fall into your own personal cycle of expectation and achievement.
10. Dismantle your ego.  Every time you catch it being offended or fluffing up, fold it up neatly like a soft down blanket and put it on a shelf.  That done....you'll start to learn who you truly are.

 

Daily News Indigestion

After a long break from blogging, I’m back.  My ideas have bubbled to the top and here I go:

This Is Not A Critique Of The Media

I dedicate the majority of my days tracking the news.  It’s part of my PR job.  I wish it weren’t.  The rapid rabid updates about every living breathing thing or issue has left me feeling a bit angry, cynical and sad.  The world seems a very mean place.   Do all the rumors, talk shows, Twitter updates, and headline mobile alerts do anything to improve my personal sensation of “well being?”

Everyone has an obligation to educate themselves about important issues.  But must I track every move in congress, reactions to every “mean spirited” quote, and every tragedy  in such detail?

I Don’t Blame The Media

If I were in a comfy leather chair at this moment and a therapist told me I was a news addict and should do something about it, I doubt I could.  I like the rush of being one of the first to know.  Perhaps it comes from a deep-seated fear that if I’m not on top of the headlines, the world might spin off its axis and we’d all die.  Now that’s arrogance.

Weak Resolve

Made to be easily broken, my personal resolution, as it has been over and over and over again for the last several years, will be to go on a news diet.  A 50 percent cutback.  Whenever you kick a habit, I’m told you must replace it with something to be successful.  What should I do?  Knit? Read novels? Take up tatting?  Take a walk?  Talk face-to-face (gasp) with friends?  Cook a great meal?  Play with my pets? Stay current with long time friends? 

Inspired By Radio

Driving slowly through rain wet streets today, I accidentally turned on NPR and heard the poetry of Rumi, a 13th century mystic, being read.  Once home, I went to the Website, anxious to download the program.  There I saw an unattributed quote that moved internal mountains:

“Time is limited and the water is flowing anyway.  Drink before you fall to pieces.”

Utah Daily Lays Off 43 Percent of Staff - What Will Be The Future At The Deseret News?

Just announced...a huge layoff hit at one of two Utah Dailies - The Deseret News.  Fifty-seven full-time and 28 part-time staff are gone.  Also announced, and this could be a big local move into "citizen journalism," is the creation of what is being called Deseret Connect.  As described by management, Deseret Connect will be a collection of people who will write and edit stories regularly.  Does this mean the use of contractors?  The articles provided by these individuals will be, "qualified, edited and peer reviewed," according to the Deseret News announcement article, which was posted about one hour ago, 10:30 a.m. MDT August 31.  Get ready for a roller coaster ride in Utah news media, my friends.  We must all be nimble and adapt to a new world.  May solid journalism survive.

Read the full announcement here.

Twitter your questions today at 3:00 p.m.....

Deseret News CEO and President Clark Gilbert will be participating in a live Q&A on Twitter at 3 p.m. MDT (August 31) through the Deseret News account (@DeseretNews). Use the hashtag #DNewsQ to submit questions and follow the discussion.

 

 

www.Examiner.com, A Salt Lake News Site With More Than 60 Local "Examiners." Are They "Reporters?"

Some people you should get to know if you're in PR.  On www.examiner.com, in the Salt Lake City section, there are a number of news beats, including Paranormal, Parenting, Horror Movies, Politics, Business, etc.  There are a total of more than 60 local "examiners" (note that the word "reporter" is not used).  One more thing...the Examiner creators are looking for local writers.  I don't know if it pays...but the site is also seeking sponsors for the writers.  Do the writer's get some of that money?  Not sure...

Featured Examiners

Salt Lake City History Examiner My Bio · Articles

Salt Lake City Political Buzz Examiner My Bio · Articles

Salt Lake City Headlines Examiner My Bio · Articles

Salt Lake City Parenting Examiner My Bio · Articles

Salt Lake City Paranormal Examiner My Bio · Articles

Funny Headlines - Laugh Away The Heat!

Why should we only have funny Friday's?  We need more humor to survive a summer Monday.  And so, the latest treat from one of my favorite magazines, The Columbia Journalism Review - I highly recommend subscribing.  It is a great "behind the scenes" read.  And from its regular feature, "The Lower Case," the latest funny headlines:

 

Salt TV: High-profile TV News Reporters Launch Utah Online News Network

Coming soon to a smartphone, iPad, or computer near you - eleven extremely familiar Utah faces will once again report and deliver news and entertainment via the new Salt TV Network.  They miss their profession and they’re going online to get it back.  Last weekend, I came across their beta site on the Internet. 

Where have they been?  Some had retired, others were downsized during this great recession and revolution in communications.  You know their names, possibly as well as you know those of your children.  KSL (NBC), KTVX (ABC), KUTV (CBS) and KSTU (FOX) once spent millions in branding dollars to showcase their faces, personalities and talents.

One Deep Bench

Here’s the lineup: Dick Nourse, Ruth Todd, Terry Wood, Susan Wood, Randall Carlisle, Kimberly Perkins, Shelley Osterloh, Craig Wirth, Kim Johnson, Reece Stein, Lisa Cline, Jill Atwood, Larry Warren…and even Tom Barberi.  Yes… a radio guy snuck in!  Will they be any competition to their former employers?  Only the future will tell. 

Salt TV Network creator, former KTVX assistant news director Pat Benedict, has a contract with United Press International for national/international news and believes his business model could be franchised in other states.

They Want You To Be Involved

Each reporter will soon have a social page with a welcome video, plus tabs you can click on for bios, their most recent news stories and their personal blogs.  You can fire off your opinions and concerns, communicate via Skype and even post your own video.  Salt TV Network promises exclusive stories, local news that isn’t covered anymore, fresh content every day, along with sports, recreation and features.  And it plans to give time and attention to the issues of every county in the State.

Their Thoughts

“On Salt TV, news and information flows both ways,” says Dick Nourse.  “You won’t have to wait until 10 p.m. to get the news,” adds Ruth Todd.   Randall Carlisle calls Salt TV, “ a bold new adventure in local news.  We are not the same old boring news you watch on your local stations.  With us, you get news from a grass roots level.”  Terry Wood laments the current economic pressure that “has forced broadcast journalism as well as the print media to cut back.  Now journalists are finding they must reinvent the form of the delivery of news.”

Beat Reporting

Some have specific beats. Susan Wood will cover medical news, Carlisle will report on downtown business, development, entertainment and the people and non-profit groups doing good things in the community.  Reece Stein will have a program called Outdoor Family Fun, including hiking, camping, fishing and hunting news.  He encourages all of us to be his field reporters. Ruth Todd plans to focus on education and family issues.  Craig Wirth, Utah’s version of the famous Charles Kuralt, will offer up his  well-loved brand of personal humor.

Then there’s this radio guy...Tom Barberi, the longtime radio Voice of Reason.  Tom will be back with his own program of rants and raves.  “Have an issue with something I said?  Who doesn’t?” he says, encouraging his audience to spar via email, Twitter or Facebook.  “This is a 21st century town hall meeting in which you are front and center.”

Household Names

These individuals were my household brands.  They’ve been in my living room for decades.  Here they are again in a colorful line-up photo.  Great genes, white teeth, clear eyes and not a hair out of place.  I’d like to see them succeed.  I’d like Salt TV to give new opportunities to citizen journalists and other print journalists who’ve lost their jobs.  I hope Salt TV has advertisers and investors who will give it the time needed to establish and strengthen its audience.

Bye Bye TV Consultants

I have but one suggestion.  Relax.  Online you don’t have to be “TV perfect.”   Soften the make-up and the broadcast voices.  No TV consultant will bug you about your wrinkles, gray hair, lack of hair, or sudden extra pounds.  Even better...no more big investments in fine clothes and dry cleaning. Be real. Just have a great time doing what you love.  www.salttvnet.com