How the Media Works Miguel Navrot, Tierna Unruh-Enos & Rick DeReyes

Local Media Five Television Stations –KRQE/KASA (CBS) – 13/2 –KOB (NBC) – 4 –KOAT (ABC) – 7 –KNME (PBS) -5 –KLUZ (Spanish Univision) – 41 Two Daily Newspapers –Albuquerque Journal –Daily Lobo Several Weekly Newspapers –The Alibi –El Semenario –New Mexico Business Weekly Several News Radio Stations –KKOB –KUNM One Monthly Magazine –Albuquerque the Magazine

Television Organization Each newsroom is managed by a news director The assignment editor controls the stories and who covers what. Each station has about 5-10 reporters. The majority of reporters are general assignment reporters.

The “Desk” The Desk is manned about 24/7 by an assignment editor or a producer. Majority of calls go through the Desk. The desk has: –Three police scanners –Several televisions to watch the other stations –Assignment Board

Newscasts All Stations have a morning, evening and late night newscast Two stations have a noon newscast. Scripts are supposed to be written about an hour before the newscast. But breaking news, late reporters, inexperience, etc. can factor in.

Anchors Anchors sometimes work on stories or write copy. Often work on something called an “anchor package,” shot solo by a photographer or a sweeps piece Anchors are among the most well paid people in the news organization Some can make more than $100,000 a yr.

Television Reporters Along with videographers are the workhorses of the organization Are required to come up with at least one story a day Some are required to have as many as three stories a day. Have very little time to do their stories. Average life span is 2 to 3 years In Albuquerque, almost all are working to get to a larger market (i.e., Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, etc.)

Television Investigative Reporters Sometimes can have several days or weeks to work on a story…often, pressured to produce a story in a day or two Can be more experienced or have been in the market longer Are looking for: –Scandal –Waste –Abuse –Corruption Rarely do positive/”fluff” stories.

TV Brass Two of the three stations are owned by a national corporation such as Hearst and Emmis. Goal: Turn A Profit. General Manager is the top local official. News Director runs the newsroom Assistant News Director makes details happen Executive Producers run the shows. Assignment Editors manage the daily content. –Make sure everyone is doing what they are suppose to do.

Resources Local television stations have bureaus in Santa Fe and Roswell (frequently, one-man band) Trucks that can broadcast live by being able to point a microwave antenna at the top of Sandia Have at least one satellite truck that can go live anywhere in the world One station has a helicopter on site and a full time pilot. KOB & KRQE share a helicopter based at Double Eagle.

Nielsen Ratings Occur four times a year Referred to as “the book” or “sweeps” Determines how much television stations can charge for advertising Are monitored on a daily basis Television news is extremely competitive. Month long investigations are rolled out. Every one in the organization is expected to have a good “sweeps story” Ratings mean everything – Jobs depend on it. Crime/Fire drives 80 percent of the news coverage (stories easiest to get to/require little research/more visually interesting than meetings –“If it bleeds it leads”

Meetings/Deadlines There are two meetings a day –(9:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) - attended by assignment editor, news director, executive producers, show producers and reporters Meetings determine what stories they are going to run with and for what newscast

Checks Reporters are given several areas or beats to check. They call PIOs and sources every day before the afternoon or morning meeting Every morning all television stations send someone to Metro Court and they read the criminal complaints of everyone who was arrested the day before on felony charges. Every afternoon they check search warrants at District Court.

Access All media has access to: –Jail Mugs –Criminal Complaints –Court Files –Police Reports –Business License –Tax records –Professional License –Salaries of public employees –Citizen Complaints filed with the IRO –Personnel Files

Daily Newspaper Organization Each newspaper is managed by an executive editor Paper is divided into desks and each desk has an editor –City Desk –State Desk –Business Desk –Sports Desk Papers have several Bureaus that are also considered Desks. The Journal Has –Santa Fe –Rio Rancho –West Side –Las Cruces –State Capitol –Washington D.C.

Newspaper Reporters Unlike television, newspapers are very reporter driven Journal has 40 reporters. Newspaper reporters average lifespan is 10 years. –Half stay in one market for their entire career Strict beats are adhered to. Average about three stories a week Have more time to do stories and do more in-depth work. They cover big crimes or events, issues and features, in depth work

Editorial Board Every newspaper has an editorial board Every day there is a staff editorial that is published. Editorials are the newspaper’s opinion. They take a position on controversial issues Every day the board meets to discuss what they are going to editorialize Most of the time editorials are written without any chance for one side to comment. Editorial boards make political endorsements

Deadlines Every morning, reporters are expected to notify their editors about potential stories. Desk editors go to a meeting and talk. Reporters are not allowed. By 4 p.m. reporters put what stories they have on a “budget.” Editors meet at 4 p.m. to go over their budgets and determine what stories are going to go into the newspaper and where. Stories will hold. Reporters must make these deadlines to meet the following editions: 6 p.m. – Statewide 11 p.m. – City/Final

Newspaper Business Model Newspapers don’t have ratings Ad rates are determined by circulation Papers do not make money off of the sale of the newspaper. Sale covers cost of the paper Money is made off of advertisements Most papers in the country are owned by a large corporation like Gannett, Knight Rider, Times Tribune Journal is one of the largest locally owned paper in the country Journal has an owner who is from Albuquerque and is involved in the operation.

Newspaper Resources Have the staff and money to send reporters to national events Most newspapers have a Television partner in which they share photos, videos, resources and stories. Journal partners with KOAT

Newspaper Brass Executive Editor is top decision maker. Editorial Page editor holds a lot of power. Desk editors make sure the beat reporters are doing their work. Senior reporters have a lot of say and influence with the editors.

What Makes a Story Timeliness –Did it happen recently Proximity –Are readers/viewers effected Significance –Are a lot of people effected Prominence –Are famous people, politicians or people who hold the public trust involved Human Interest –Is it different. Have you heard of anything like this before? Television Key Demographic –Does it effect the people who are likely watching the news i.e. Hispanic women 35 to 49 Newspaper Agenda –Some newspapers have agendas that are priorities. The Journal has made DWI its top agenda.

Ethics-Newspapers All Journalists are supposed to adhere to a set of ethics Newspaper reporters say ethics are much more strict than in other mediums Newspaper reporters get in serious trouble when there is a “correction” in one of their stories Most newspapers have an ethics guide journalists are supposed to sign.

Ethics-Broadcast News Broadcasters have “Payola” clauses in their contracts Broadcasters can do corrections during newscasts (placement of correction is very important) Journalists are supposed to be fence walkers Reporters are required to remove themselves from any conflict of interests