Videojournalist? [Archive] - Page 3 - MediaLine's Open Line Forum

Chicago Dog

Feb 6th 2007, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Please post links. love to see all your work.I love it!

I'd love to see some of your work from 1979. It must not have been very good, because you headed to journalism school and were stuck there until '83, according to another thread.

Speaking of hilarious, did you see your favorite analogy of newspaper-and-television went belly-up at WKRN?

Steve:

Please accept this letter as my resignation, effective today.

It's been six months now since I made the very rare move of jumping from print journalism to the world of video journalism. I thought it was a grand and bold experiment at the time--WKRN hiring journalists from newspapers, using a beat system and allowing the reporters there to craft stories from start to finish. I still believe that today.

It's just been more difficult for me to adjust than I thought it would. Maybe it's my age. Maybe it's just making such a move in the middle of my career. But I've been frozen lately, for lack of a better word: Not doing the level of work you deserve and, frankly, not doing the level of work that I'm proud of.

Please believe me when I say that I wish you and Mike Sechrist the very best. I know that the things that you are doing there are going to make the station great. I'm just sorry I was not better adjusted to the task.

Please feel free to make this note public, if you like..particularly in light of the critics that pop up on Mike's blog complaining about the VJ transition. In short, my leaving has nothing to do with the move into VJing and I did not have a single problem with the station's management.

Sincerely,

Trent SeibertFirst, let me raise the flag to that last sentence:

graemlins/bs.gif

And now, let the stream of Rosen-bee-ess begin!

[ February 06, 2007, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: Chicago Dog ]

Ralphie the buffalo

Feb 7th 2007, 08:25 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
One way that we effect savings is by getting rid of the unproductive deadwood in the newsroom. Why don't you boys forward me the contact information for your GMs and I will give you a more graphic demonstration of how to cut costs.You are nothing more than a thug on so many levels. You have given up trying to charm us and have gone into bully mode.

Your 60% savings plan is a thinly veiled scheme to run off older and more expensive workers and replace them with cheap inexperienced kids. Your VJ scheme is a convenient method a company can avoid age discrimination problems. Bottom line.

You running nothing more than a re-education camp much like PolPot did. The Rosie utopian newroom would leave a real killing field in its wake. I guess you need to break a few eggs, errrrrr, heads along the way, huh, comrade?

Com'n. Let's hear some more propoganda, Rosie. Give us some more BS. You are really good at the Bie Lie aren't you? I think that you actually might believe most of the stuff you spout off.

[ February 07, 2007, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Ralphie the buffalo ]

News Is Broken

Feb 7th 2007, 08:54 AM

If anyone has any doubts as to Rosenblum's true intentions, this thread (http://www.medialine.com/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000366;p=2) erases all doubt.

See in particular his response to me. "Cheaper is not a crime" was all he could say.

It's all about the dollars. Not better news, not taking risks, not revolution or any other buzzwordy catchphrase he hangs on his shingle. Money. That's it.

So what can you do?

If Rosenblum darkens your door, see if you can have a sit down with your ND or GM. Show them his true motive. If they are still willing to hire his services, you'll know where their true intentions lie as well. And then you'll be prepared to act accordingly based upon what you already know will happen.

Spike

Feb 7th 2007, 09:19 AM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
It's all about the dollars. Not better news, not taking risks, not revolution or any other buzzwordy catchphrase he hangs on his shingle. Money. That's it.But he still can't show us any kind of believable evidence that he is achieving the savings he claims. If he were really able to get a station a 60% savings, he would show us the numbers to prove it. He would at least be able to give us a hypothetical example to demonstrate how he derived the numbers. He can't even do that.

It's all sales and no substance. He has tried to sell it to the journalist as an improvement in journalism. He has tried to sell it to management as a way to save money. Neither appear to be true. The only person who benefits here is the salesman.

If you're going to sit down with your GM, don't talk about how all Rosenblum wants is to save money. That'll just make Rosenblum's case for him. OF COURSE a general manager is going to want to save money. And so many of them come from a sales background and don't have any concept of quality that you'll find your GM staring back at you as though you must be crazy.

Instead, talk about how the system DOESN'T appear to save money. Point out that the claims Rosenblum makes about the 60-70% savings are doubtful. Show him how the VJ system cannot possibly be more efficient than people who specialize in their respective crafts. Hell, just print out these Medialine threads and highlight the areas where Rosenblum fails to answer simple questions about unit costs. Then perhaps they'll go into the next meeting with him armed with tough questions that he'll finally have to answer.

Only then should you talk about wrecking the product in order to implement a system that doesn't appear to achieve its goal of saving money.

[ February 07, 2007, 10:20 AM: Message edited by: Spike ]

News Is Broken

Feb 7th 2007, 09:47 AM

You raise some good points but the savings he's claiming is not really a mystery if you take the time to think about it.

Imagine:

A reporter making $60,000 a year
A photog making $40,000 a year

Both become VJ's and are given a raise. $5K more a year.

But wait, you say. There's two people making a combined total of $110000 a year. That means MORE money spent, not less!

Yes you are right. That's true until the time comes to "remove the deadwood" as Rosenblum has already said.

The photog will likely make a better VJ than the reporter. That's because TV news is a visual medium, and because most news stories are day turns that don't require much investigational ability. So the reporter is let go and the position is not backfilled. Why does it need to be? The photog is already doing the reporter's job.

Do the math. Instead of spending 110K you are now only spending $45K. You just cut your costs by 60%.

And that's if the reporter sticks around in the first place. Chances are they won't when they can just go to WXYZ across the street and do the same job they used to do at your station.

It's actually very simple. Quite brilliant too, if you think about it. It beats closing your doors because you can't afford to pay your staff.

Ralphie the buffalo

Feb 7th 2007, 10:12 AM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
Do the math. Instead of spending 110K you are now only spending $45K. You just cut your costs by 60%. That is assuming the photog stay. Many will also go across the street or get out of the biz. The malleable embryo they get to replace the two seasoned pros will work for 30K and think they are getting a great deal for a first job.

Spike

Feb 7th 2007, 10:17 AM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
Do the math. Instead of spending 110K you are now only spending $45K. You just cut your costs by 60%. That's a fine example, but it has two huge problems with it.

First, it only applies to field people. It doesn't reduce the cost of your anchors, which are a large chunk of any newsroom's budget. It doesn't reduce the cost of your producers. It doesn't reduce the cost of your weather department. It doesn't reduce the cost of the desk or any of the other support positions in the newsroom. It also doesn't reduce the cost of capital expenditures, nor does it reduce the cost of non-salary expenses.

He's claiming the product itself becomes 60% cheaper to produce. That doesn't happen by eliminating 15 positions out of a 60 person operation. That doesn't even give you the 25% reduction in cost it would seem to indicate on face value, because the anchors left in the newsroom put more weight in the part of the budget that remains untouched.

The second big problem is productivity. Stations can always simply cut positions to save money, even with two person crews. Why don't they? Because then they wouldn't be able to get enough material on the air to fill a newscast.

No matter how you look at it, VJs are not as efficient as two man crews. They simply can't turn as much material in the same time frame. At most stations I worked for, a reporter/photog team would turn at least two stories a day. This seems to be pretty normal. Mike Sechrist admitted on his blog (when he talked about whether WKRN was abandoning the system) that the burnout rate is pretty high among VJs doing even ONE story a day. Rosenblum continues to claim that, to implement his system correctly, VJs can only be expected to turn 2.5 stories per week.

Most stations operate pretty lean already. They simply can't operate at 2.5 stories per week per reporter. So IF the GM insists on cutting VJ positions to save money, he puts more pressure on those remaining than they can handle. They won't be able to fill the newscast. What's more, turnover in this kind of operation will increase, further destabilizing the product and increasing recruitment and hiring costs.

There is simply no way for Rosenblum's system to save the money he pretends it will save and still get a product on the air. I'm guessing you might save 10-20% on your total news budget, AT MOST. I doubt it even went that high for WKRN or KRON. But even if you manage that kind of savings, you strangle your product so that it's nearly unwatchable.

You want to convince your GM, talk business. Give him a more convincing business argument than Rosenblum can conjure up.

News Is Broken

Feb 7th 2007, 10:35 AM

Spike, you're missing something.

Everyone becomes a VJ. The anchors, the producers, the editors, reporters, photogs... everyone. That's Rosenblum's vision.

As WKRN found out, it doesn't actually work that way. But that was what they were pitched and that is what they originally tried to do.

It failed. But by then Rosenblum had already moved on. Now he can say the reason they didn't achieve the savings he promised is because they didn't do it his way.

I just wonder how much they paid him to find this all out for us. I'd be interested in finding that out. Perhaps I can do a bit of digging to see.... that could be fun.

Ralphie the buffalo

Feb 7th 2007, 10:35 AM

This is the part of the thread where Rosie chimes in a very authoritative tone and says, "Gee, you got me all figured out, Spike. Good boy. Now give me your manager's contact information so I can make your operation more efficient."

And Another Side jumps in and says this is the best business related thread ever and we should all be hanging on every one of Rosie's words like it was gospel.

Yeah, right.

Rosenblum

Feb 7th 2007, 11:33 AM

Hoo boy. You guys have WAY too much free time on your hands. Cost efficiencies could start with you. In any event why don't you see if you two sherlocks can find out what I got paid for voice of america. That one is public record. I will pay a 100 dollar prize to the first person to get it right. (This ought to cut your newsroom productivity to next to nothing... Which I think is where it is now anyway).

Spike

Feb 7th 2007, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
In any event why don't you see if you two sherlocks can find out what I got paid for voice of america. You mean the same Voice of America where the VJs you trained were taking four months to turn a single story? Is that the same VOA that had to pull some of the regular photogs from their regular duties to help the VJ unit get those pieces on the air? You mean the same VOA where the VJs ended up having other people edit their stories for them, because they simply couldn't do it?

I worked alongside the VOA folks for four years and heard the stories directly from their own mouths. I don't need to know how much you got paid to be able to see it was a waste of money.

News Is Broken

Feb 7th 2007, 01:14 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
In any event why don't you see if you two sherlocks can find out what I got paid for voice of america.You were paid 3 million dollars for that project.

Please donate my $100 to a charity of your choosing.

Now I'm off to find out what Young paid you.

Later.

Rosenblum

Feb 7th 2007, 06:18 PM

you win. contact me offline and I will send your check.

Chicago Dog

Feb 7th 2007, 07:14 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
you win. contact me offline and I will send your check.Uh, he said:

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
Please donate my $100 to a charity of your choosing.Are you drunk, or is your reading comprehension skill ahead of its time?

cameragod

Feb 7th 2007, 09:41 PM

In the past I’ve been happy to link to storys I’ve shot but I still don’t think Michael believes how much a normal cameraman can achieve in one day compared to a VJ. Rather than me try to explain to Michael what a cameraman does with his time all day when I was at Channel 5 I had a kid ride along for work experience. He took a lot of notes and wrote “a day in the life” for his teacher. She sent it on to me... Mr Press smile.gif

A day in the life of a Cameraman

As part of my work experience I was lucky enough to spend a day with Channel 5 cameraman Stephen Press.
The day started at 7:30 am in the ITN studios at Grays Inn road. Mr. Press was removing his preferred mode of transport to work, his inline skates. Our greetings were cut short by a crisis with the live Breakfast show. The studio sound man had not turned up for work and nobody know how to do a live phone interview. Nobody it seemed but Mr. Press who rushed of to do it even though he is a cameraman.
“They had the same problem last week.” He explained after, “So when the sound guy came in I got him to show me how to do it. I believe you do whatever it takes to get the show to air. If that means me doing something extra… well that’s what it takes. Standing around saying whose fault is this fixes nothing. After the show is gone to air that’s when to ask the hard questions.”
It’s an attitude he lives by all day. While the morning meeting is going on he is answering the phone and making calls to help the reporters with their stories.
Then we are off on the first story of the day. A university has misplaced some human body parts. It is central London so we catch a cab. On the way Mr. Press and the reporter discuss the story and how they want it to look.
We go to the university mortuary which is empty of people but full of cool stuff like bone saws and axes. Mr. Press films an “IV” or interview with one of the professors and then gets some “GV’s” or General Vision. They want to do a special “P to C” or piece to camera. Mr. Press has brought his inline skates with him and uses them to do it. It was amazing. He did a practice one then they did it in one take. Zoom!
We went back and Mr. Press edited the story. Then we went out to do a live shot for the lunch time news at the High Court.
We got something to eat on the way back to the office. Mr. Press said that in News lunch is always a movable feast.
Then we had to do a story on UFO’s. It was a lot of fun. We “IV’d” the head of London UFO spotter’s office, he was very strange. The reporter did a “P to C” with foil wrapped around his head and Mr. Press did some special shots that he would use in editing to make it look like aliens were attacking.
On the way back we did a “pickup,” an “IV” for another reporter’s story.
Mr. Press left the reporter to write the UFO story and we went out to do a different story on speed cameras. We taped tots of little cameras to the car to get lots of different shots. Mr. Press said that Channel 5 had tried to do news with little cameras when it started but nobody used the little cameras anymore so there were always lots available to play with.
We went back to Channel 5 to edit both stories. Then Mr. Press had to shoot the weather show.
The Channel 5 Weather show is my favorite thing on Channel 5 it’s so funny. Mr. Glass does a different joke every day.
This time Mr. Press has an idea he wants to try. He tapes some sting to the camera lens and climbs up a ladder and Mr. Glass hold onto the strings like he is flying a kite.
Mr. Press says this is a setup for a big gag tomorrow but I’ll have to wait and see along with everyone else.
After the weather is “in the can” there is another problem. The cameraman who is supposed to use the steadi cam for the live show has been sent to cover another story.
Mr. Press is going to stay and do it but he says he is nervous because he has only just done the course and has never shot the show live with the steadi cam before.
It was very cool to sit in the studio and watch the show go out with all the stories we filmed. Mr. Press makes no mistakes I can see with the steadi cam but is so sweaty by the end of the show his t-shirt is wet all over.
It was really cool spending a day with a real cameraman and I enjoyed seeing how TV is made. But I don’t think I would like to do his job. If I worked in TV I would be a reporter they don’t seem to have to do a lot and they get to be on TV.

[ February 07, 2007, 10:42 PM: Message edited by: cameragod ]

Another side

Feb 8th 2007, 12:47 AM

Originally posted by Ralphie the buffalo:
This is the part of the thread where Rosie chimes in a very authoritative tone and says, "Gee, you got me all figured out, Spike. Good boy. Now give me your manager's contact information so I can make your operation more efficient."

And Another Side jumps in and says this is the best business related thread ever and we should all be hanging on every one of Rosie's words like it was gospel.

Yeah, right.You're out of your league, Crybaby. Go back to posting the same picture, ad nauseum, of the lady in the swimsuit.

2:30

Feb 8th 2007, 03:17 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
In any event why don't you see if you two sherlocks can find out what I got paid for voice of america.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You were paid 3 million dollars for that project.
Holy waste of tax dollars, Batman! Did the Coalition Provisional Authority have anything to do with that contract?

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 08:33 AM

Originally posted by 2:30:
Holy waste of tax dollars, Batman! Did the Coalition Provisional Authority have anything to do with that contract?Plenty of other interesting information on the page where I found out the magic number.

Here's an excerpt:

Sweethearts FOIA Information Finally Released

After more than five years, a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Union was finally answered. Way back in 1999, AFGE Local 1812 had made a request to the United States Department of State Office of Inspector General, requesting materials about an investigation into allegations about hiring Michael Rosenblum and Associates as a sole source contractor to "prepare" VOA TV video journalists. According to the report issued regarding that investigation:

The contract of $3 million granted to Michael Rosenblum and Associates was $500,000 (20 percent) above what the contracting officer concluded was fair and reasonable.
The IBB failed to prepare an independent government cost estimate prior to awarding the contract and that the procurement may have been rushed in order to expend end-of-year funds.
The IBB's sole source justifications were questionable.
And what a sweetheart contract good old Mike got: $100,000 for a "special assistant", 900 round-trip airline tickets to NY, an apartment here in Washington, overseas trips...

The Union was right all along but that's small comfort now. Although it's too late, as a U.S. taxpayer, you can weep if you want. Or get angry which is better.

A copy of the report is available for any Union member's inspection. Just stop by the Union office between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.Source: http://www.afge1812.org/index.cfm?PageToWork=Content_Page_3

Google is your friend. Digging up what Young paid will require a bit more than just Google, but don't worry, I'll find it. I love the internet... it's like a playground for smart people. Edgar.com should have a filing somewhere that has the answer I'm seeking.

As they say in tee vee.. stay tuned. :D

2:30

Feb 8th 2007, 08:45 AM

Wow, Broken.

That's awesome research. Really nice job.

One has to wonder who got snakey that deal?

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by 2:30:
Wow, Broken.

That's awesome research. Really nice job.

One has to wonder who got snakey that deal?Thanks.

Yeah I gotta hand it to ol' Snakey, 3 million dollars to train 100 VJ's?! Out freaking standing. I wish I was half the BS artist he must be. I had originally guessed 1 million or so ($5K per VJ x 100 + retainers, expenses, etc) but he got 3 times that. Do tell, Mike - how'd you do it?

Michigan J. Frog

Feb 8th 2007, 09:00 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Hoo boy. You guys have WAY too much free time on your hands.Ah, the last refuge of those running out of ammunition: suggest that posters must have "too much time," because they post.

In this case, that free time turned up some interesting facts about you, Rosenblum. Much like Gary Hart, you challenged someone to do something you were apparently sure they'd never do...and they did.

Now you look more like a scam artist than before, ripping off taxpayers, not just corporations.

[ February 08, 2007, 10:11 AM: Message edited by: Michigan J. Frog ]

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 09:40 AM

on the contrary. I offered and I am happy to pay. If he does not get in touch with me, I will pay this to any charity you guys suggest.

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 09:58 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
on the contrary. I offered and I am happy to pay. If he does not get in touch with me, I will pay this to any charity you guys suggest.Now come on Mike. I'm disappointed. Certainly you know I'm smarter than that.

You pay me $100 and in doing so get my name and address, then you start calling up stations acting as though you are "checking a reference" or something. Then you go after my job as you've done with others who dare oppose you in public forums such as this. $100 is nothing to you.

Nice try.

Here's what you can do, find a story on WKRN.com about an underprivileged family who has an account set up to pay for funeral or medical expenses. Donate the $100 to them.

When you're done with that, post the link to the story you watched and ask for an honest critique of it. Take note of what is said about it. Maybe then you will understand why just about everyone here is against you and your VJ system.

Spike

Feb 8th 2007, 10:22 AM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
Here's what you can do, find a story on WKRN.com about an underprivileged family who has an account set up to pay for funeral or medical expenses. Donate the $100 to them.Can it be any funeral, or does it have to be one where a VJ snuck a wireless microphone into the service to record the audio surreptitiously?

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Spike:
Can it be any funeral, or does it have to be one where a VJ snuck a wireless microphone into the service to record the audio surreptitiously?LOL, Spike....

If it's one that a VJ sneaked (there is no such word as snuck - I had an english teacher in high school drill that into my head repeatedly) a microphone into the funeral then I would suggest Mike double the donation to $200 and pay it in person, along with an apology to the family.

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 11:13 AM

I don't do apologies, but you decide on the video. that's fine.

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 11:25 AM

Alright Mike. See if the victim in this story is taking donations:

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/man-arrested-for-critically-shooting-girlfriend/76384.htm

I couldn't get the video to work because WKRN.com and my computer won't play nice, but I'm sure others here can give this a look.

Others, give your honest feedback on this story. What was done well and what was not?

beeb man

Feb 8th 2007, 12:20 PM

Mr Rosenblum

There are quite a few stories circulating amongst BBC staff who have been on one of your “boot camps”.
One story was of a row between you and a cameraman who turned in a pile of wobbly, out of focus, burnt out rushes after you instructed the course: “forget everything you know”. I thought this quite funny. I don’t suppose you recall the occasion? Also, is it true that you referred to cameramen as “tripod monkeys”?
Thanks.
Hugs and kisses, Beebman.

[ February 08, 2007, 01:38 PM: Message edited by: beeb man ]

Spike

Feb 8th 2007, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
(there is no such word as snuck - I had an english teacher in high school drill that into my head repeatedly) We're talking about Tennessee. It's snuck.

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by beeb man:
Mr Rosenblum

There are quite a few stories circulating amongst BBC staff who have been on one of your “boot camps”.
One story was of a row between you and a cameraman who turned in a pile of wobbly, out of focus, burnt out rushes after you instructed the course: “forget everything you know”. I thought this quite funny. I don’t suppose you recall the occasion? Also, is it true that you referred to cameramen as “tripod monkeys”?
Thanks.
Hugs and kisses, Beebman.Greetings Beebman,

Its been a long time since I heard the term PDP. That was fun. The story of the cameraman turning in the worst possible video is true. That was funny. As for Tripod Monkeys, that is not one of my phrases.
best
Rosenblum

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 01:06 PM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
Alright Mike. See if the victim in this story is taking donations:

http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/man-arrested-for-critically-shooting-girlfriend /76384.htm (http://www.wkrn.com/nashville/news/man-arrested-for-critically-shooting-girlfriend/76384.htm)

I couldn't get the video to work because WKRN.com and my computer won't play nice, but I'm sure others here can give this a look.

Others, give your honest feedback on this story. What was done well and what was not?Just to make sure we are talking about the same thing, this is the :17 v/o with the exteriors of the house? Is that the one?

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 01:15 PM

I finally got it to play (had to upgrade flash) and yeah that's the one, but you're right - not a very good example to critique VJ from. I'll find a better one for that.

Still, let's use that one as a place to send the $100 to. The victim is a single mom in critical condition at this time. I'm sure her family would appreciate the help.

And while I'm here, what's the big secret about what Young paid you anyway? Why won't you disclose the fee? Certainly such information would be relevant to future potential clients, would it not? "Messiahs don't come cheap" is all you've publicly said about it. Are you really gonna make me dig it up before you'll tell? Just curious.

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 01:29 PM

I will get the info from KRN and send them a check. I am sure they can use it. As for the fees from private clients, I am sure you will understand that that is confidential info. You may have an easier time with the BBC as that is a public corporation.

News Is Broken

Feb 8th 2007, 01:36 PM

Rosenblum

Feb 8th 2007, 01:41 PM

Have fun. I was pretty impresssed with the VOA thing.

Michigan J. Frog

Feb 8th 2007, 02:38 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Have fun. I was pretty impresssed with the VOA thing.Well, see, real journalists can do that sort of thing.

If they're not busy shooting and editing their story, that is.

Another side

Feb 8th 2007, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I will get the info from KRN and send them a check. I am sure they can use it. As for the fees from private clients, I am sure you will understand that that is confidential info. You may have an easier time with the BBC as that is a public corporation.It doesn't have to be exact. You could say " more than a million" or "a couple hundred thousand". You know, a ball park, just in case someone ever feels the need to go "Messiah shopping"....

Nonetheless I'm sure I can dig it up. I like finding hard to find information. It's sort of a hobby of mine. :D [/QUOTE]He could also tell you to stick it in your ass. I would. You don't ask people what they make -- what the hell is the matter with you?

beeb man

Feb 9th 2007, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I will get the info from KRN and send them a check. I am sure they can use it. As for the fees from private clients, I am sure you will understand that that is confidential info. You may have an easier time with the BBC as that is a public corporation.I'll give it a go, but I bet they will feign 'client confidentiality',even though it was public money. I guess the final sum would be too much of a scandal to disclose, considering the dire effect PDP had (or 'VJ' as we all knew it really was).
Just a little story: just today I was filmimg a doc in a hi-tech crime investigation office. The head of the company commented on how professional we were compared to the "previous lot". I asked him what he meant. He said " oh, it was just a bloke on his own, pointing a little had held camera everywhere".
That's VJ isn't it?

Another side

Feb 9th 2007, 09:56 AM

Who is the "us" that you're speaking for, Ralphie?

I don't know how much he can save, or how he can save it -- it's his thing, not mine ... ask him.

I'll say this in his defense though -- he treats you and Spike and a couple of the other naysayers a hell of a lot better than you treat him.

Stay tuned ... Spike should be around in a minute telling you what to say next.

News Is Broken

Feb 9th 2007, 11:33 AM

Originally posted by Another side:
He could also tell you to stick it in your ass. I would. You don't ask people what they make -- what the hell is the matter with you?You know what "Another Side" since you obviously think VJ is so fantastic why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go work for WKRN or KRON? Maybe you'll even get a chance to meet Rosenblum and kiss his ass in person, since you're so damned eager to do so here.

Those of us who actually care about quality in this business will continue doing what we are doing. That includes finding out what Rosenblum gets paid to trash a news operation. You don't like it? Too f--king bad. I've already uncovered enough info on his dealings with the US goverment to show what kind of business man he really is. If this guy were to run for public office his business dealings would become a national scandal. And the fact that you consistently take up for him in here is quite telling about you, too. Maybe you should quit while you're ahead, eh?

No. Nevermind. By all means, please continue to open mouth and insert foot. It amuses me.

Rosenblum

Feb 9th 2007, 12:06 PM

Originally posted by beeb man:
<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I will get the info from KRN and send them a check. I am sure they can use it. As for the fees from private clients, I am sure you will understand that that is confidential info. You may have an easier time with the BBC as that is a public corporation.I'll give it a go, but I bet they will feign 'client confidentiality',even though it was public money. I guess the final sum would be too much of a scandal to disclose, considering the dire effect PDP had (or 'VJ' as we all knew it really was).
Just a little story: just today I was filmimg a doc in a hi-tech crime investigation office. The head of the company commented on how professional we were compared to the "previous lot". I asked him what he meant. He said " oh, it was just a bloke on his own, pointing a little had held camera everywhere".
That's VJ isn't it?[/QUOTE]That is indeed VJ. Warms my heart to hear your story. Which centre are you with?

As for running for public office? Not a chance.

Michigan J. Frog

Feb 9th 2007, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by Another side:

I'll say this in his defense though -- he treats you and Spike and a couple of the other naysayers a hell of a lot better than you treat him.He has no choice.

The more we find out about him, the worse he looks.

He's got nothing to defend.

Rosenblum

Feb 9th 2007, 12:31 PM

please......

[ February 09, 2007, 01:35 PM: Message edited by: Rosenblum ]

Consider This

Feb 9th 2007, 12:34 PM

Originally posted by News Is Broken:

You know what "Another Side" since you obviously think VJ is so fantastic why don't you put your money where your mouth is and go work for WKRN or KRON? Maybe you'll even get a chance to meet Rosenblum and kiss his ass in person, since you're so damned eager to do so here.
AS doesn't need my defense but I don't sense that he loves VJ as much as he's interested in hearing more about it.

If you want to dig up the amount that stations have paid Rosenblum, fine. I'm as curious as the next guy. But if you think he ought to volunteer what he makes, why don't you tell us your salary first?

His consultant fees -- in fact Michael Rosenblum himself -- are irrelevent to the larger issue at hand. Stations are losing audience share and ad revenue and they're going to cut costs. OMB could be one way. It might not be a good way, but it's one.

Frankly people like you and Spike come off much less as people who care about quality television than whiny, selfish crybabies who won't draw a tear from me if they get VJ'd out of their jobs.

Rosenblum

Feb 9th 2007, 12:49 PM

My check is going out today. Here's the info if anyone else wants to send some support to this poor family.

Tony Williams
2823 Clare Avenue
Nashville, TN 37209

Ralphie the buffalo

Feb 9th 2007, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by Consider This:
Frankly people like you and Spike come off much less as people who care about quality television than whiny, selfish crybabies who won't draw a tear from me if they get VJ'd out of their jobs.Consider this, Consider This

Guys like Spike and a few other photogs on this thread would probably be stars in the VJ newsroom. We already shoot good pictures and edit well. But, we try to get to the bottom of the story. We question authority and stir the pot. Good reporters do that. They don't just accept the PR statement or the surface explanation. They dig.

That is not the issue. I prefer to specialize and work with someone who specializes.

Rosie has already said that he expects a VJ in his newsroom to turn 2.5 stories a week. That is no improvement over what I do now. With a reporter I shoot and edit 5 or 6 packages a week. That is equal to or better than the output per person of a VJ newsroom according the Rosie's expectations.

Throw in a bunch of VOSOTs and unrelated live shots assigned to me and I am a very productive person. And that is the point. By specializing, we can be more productive and provide better quality than an VJ newsroom.

So why go totally VJ? Nobody here has argued against have a couple OMB's in a newsroom. They have a place. But, total VJ? What is the big advantage? The cost savings? We have been asking and asking for some explanation and it has never come. How can 60% be saved by going total VJ? It is a dark little secret that won't be discussed.

And Another Side, you know who "us" is. I did delete that post because of some unfair remarks I made about you. My wife is a WestSider and a Terror and I do respect anyone who grew up in the shadow of the Golden Cycle mill. Really. I do.

[ February 09, 2007, 02:13 PM: Message edited by: Ralphie the buffalo ]

News Is Broken

Feb 9th 2007, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Consider This:
But if you think he ought to volunteer what he makes, why don't you tell us your salary first?

It was just a simple question. The reason for my asking will become clear once I find out how much it was.

Remember: The VOA paid 3 million for the training of 100 VJ's. Remember that fact. It will be even more eye opening later on.

[ February 09, 2007, 02:38 PM: Message edited by: News Is Broken ]

Spike

Feb 9th 2007, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by Consider This:
AS doesn't need my defense but I don't sense that he loves VJ as much as he's interested in hearing more about it.Jesus, how much more does he need to hear? This thread has been going on for a couple of months now.

Michigan J. Frog

Feb 9th 2007, 03:31 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
please......Please, what?

We've seen how you ripped off American taxpayers at VOA.

We've seen the results of your consulting at WKRN and KRON.

Your theories are great.

But they don't work in reality, and you're making big bucks promoting them.

Another side

Feb 9th 2007, 03:32 PM

First of all, Consider This: Thanks ... you're right -- I'm out of news and really don't care about the VJ issue other than as an interesting concept for discussion.

And Ralphie: Thanks, and I appreciate your thoughts. It wasn't necessary to delete your post, but I apreciate the gesture.

And I'll continue to respect Mr. Rosenblum for coming on here and taking all the shots he's taken while remaining relatively civil.

I dropped out of the discussion long ago, because it became clear it was a personal issue with Spike, and he was -- and is -- determined to do little more than riducule, criticize and (if possible) humiliate someone who thinks differently than he does.

And it sure seems to me when his groupies, with no shame whatsoever, can openly ask -- and EXPECT -- a man to tell him what he makes, we have clearly reached the bottom of the barrel.

Spike is a busted photographer, a man who gossips about what his coworker did in a car with an editor, a man who claims to have started a union in his shop, yet couldn't get his own union to keep him in the business ... a man who believes all news directors are liars and and all sales folk are leeches ... and HE's leading the charge against Mr. Rosenblum in this and two other threads???? Amazing.

My sense is Mr. Rosenblum is going easy on him. I understand why, too: This business has apparently turned Spike into a small, bitter man who now hopes only that by yelling the loudest he'll be heard the most. He deserves sympathy.

Anyway ... I bowed out because it was clearly Spike's personal war. But I came back in only when some idiot thought he was entitled to ask another man how much he makes and how often he makes -- accompanied by threats of finding out for himself if Mr. Rosenblum declines to answer. And he thinks "finding out for himself" speaks highly of himself.

Spike

Feb 9th 2007, 04:08 PM

Originally posted by Another side:
Spike is a busted photographer, a man who gossips about what his coworker did in a car with an editor, a man who claims to have started a union in his shop, yet couldn't get his own union to keep him in the business ... a man who believes all news directors are liars and and all sales folk are leeches ... and HE's leading the charge against Mr. Rosenblum in this and two other threads???? Amazing.You once again demonstrate that you're functionally illiterate and have to make things up to fill in the gaps in what you understand. Please take a remedial English course and try again later.

Chicago Dog

Feb 9th 2007, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by Another side:
First of all, Consider This: Thanks ... you're right -- I'm out of news and really don't care about the VJ issue other than as an interesting concept for discussion.That's great, but I'm sure mom and dad weren't very happy when you moved back into the basement.

[ February 09, 2007, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Chicago Dog ]

News Is Broken

Feb 12th 2007, 10:06 AM

Originally posted by Another side:
But I came back in only when some idiot thought he was entitled to ask another man how much he makes and how often he makes -- accompanied by threats of finding out for himself if Mr. Rosenblum declines to answer. And he thinks "finding out for himself" speaks highly of himself.Ha ha ha... idiot... that's funny.

You keep thinking and saying whatever you like AS. But there is nothing illegal or unethical about me finding out what Young Broadcasting paid for Mike to come ruin their news operations for them, and no amount of your childish namecalling will dissuade me from finding and posting the truth. Don't worry - no one will force you to come in here and read it when I post it. You can remain ignorant if you like.

Toodles.

Consider This

Feb 13th 2007, 04:18 AM

Originally posted by Ralphie the buffalo:

Guys like Spike and a few other photogs on this thread would probably be stars in the VJ newsroom. We already shoot good pictures and edit well. Guys like Spike would be the same complaining a-hole know-it-alls that make them unbearable in traditional newsrooms.

Though it would be entertaining to see those who so love to criticize reporting do some of it themselves.

beeb man

Feb 14th 2007, 01:45 AM

Originally posted by Another side:
First of all, Consider This: Thanks ... you're right -- I'm out of news and really don't care about the VJ issue other than as an interesting concept for discussion.

And Ralphie: Thanks, and I appreciate your thoughts. It wasn't necessary to delete your post, but I apreciate the gesture.

And I'll continue to respect Mr. Rosenblum for coming on here and taking all the shots he's taken while remaining relatively civil.

I dropped out of the discussion long ago, because it became clear it was a personal issue with Spike, and he was -- and is -- determined to do little more than riducule, criticize and (if possible) humiliate someone who thinks differently than he does.

And it sure seems to me when his groupies, with no shame whatsoever, can openly ask -- and EXPECT -- a man to tell him what he makes, we have clearly reached the bottom of the barrel.

Spike is a busted photographer, a man who gossips about what his coworker did in a car with an editor, a man who claims to have started a union in his shop, yet couldn't get his own union to keep him in the business ... a man who believes all news directors are liars and and all sales folk are leeches ... and HE's leading the charge against Mr. Rosenblum in this and two other threads???? Amazing.

My sense is Mr. Rosenblum is going easy on him. I understand why, too: This business has apparently turned Spike into a small, bitter man who now hopes only that by yelling the loudest he'll be heard the most. He deserves sympathy.

Anyway ... I bowed out because it was clearly Spike's personal war. But I came back in only when some idiot thought he was entitled to ask another man how much he makes and how often he makes -- accompanied by threats of finding out for himself if Mr. Rosenblum declines to answer. And he thinks "finding out for himself" speaks highly of himself.AS, how can you complain that Spike is "determined to do little more than riducule, criticize and (if possible) humiliate.." then in the next line refer to anyone of similar views as "groupies"?

I'm not familiar with the funding of individual TV companies in the US, I assume mostly through ads. If a private company decides to buy into MR's product, then the details of the financial settlement are entirely between the company and MR. But if public money is used then we all have a right to know if it is spent wisely. That means we nead to have details, such as consultancy fees. It is reasonable and appropriate to ask for this information. It is not about what a certain individual "makes" but how tax money is spent, here and in the US.

Another side

Feb 14th 2007, 02:55 AM

Originally posted by beeb man:
[QUOTE]AS, how can you complain that Spike is "determined to do little more than riducule, criticize and (if possible) humiliate.." then in the next line refer to anyone of similar views as "groupies"?I didn't mean to imply all those with views similar to Spike's are "groupies" -- there are some well-articulated positions that oppose Mr. Rosenblum's position on VJs that would make any thoughtful person think. But there are also two or three posters who add nothing to the conversation, other than to defend Spike or regurgitate his venom. Those folks, in my view, are "groupies."

I'm not familiar with the funding of individual TV companies in the US, I assume mostly through ads. If a private company decides to buy into MR's product, then the details of the financial settlement are entirely between the company and MR. But if public money is used then we all have a right to know if it is spent wisely. That means we nead to have details, such as consultancy fees. It is reasonable and appropriate to ask for this information. It is not about what a certain individual "makes" but how tax money is spent, here and in the US.I totally agree. If there's an indication that tax money was involved in Mr. Rosenblum's business dealings with Young Broadcasting, I haven't heard it.

News Is Broken

Feb 14th 2007, 10:36 AM

Originally posted by Another side:
I totally agree. If there's an indication that tax money was involved in Mr. Rosenblum's business dealings with Young Broadcasting, I haven't heard it.Of course not. But Young is a publicly held company, therefore there should be some accountability to shareholders as to how and where the company they've invested in is spending their money, yes? So you might find it a bit strange that even a shareholder apparently cannot find out how much of his or her money was used to pay for a (so far) failing project. I do know it was at least 6 figures, this from a quote I found from a Young Broadcasting exec during my research so far. I'm sure the actual amount is far higher, given the company's previous track record of holding itself accountable and taking shareholders into account. Check out the Yahoo Financial Messageboards for Young - those are some very unhappy shareholders in there, and there's a great multi-page posting in there called the Business Model of VJ or something along those lines. A good read... AS even you would enjoy it.

Rosenblum

Feb 14th 2007, 10:54 AM

I should think that if you put as much effort into your job as you do in this you would not find it necessary to be on this board at all. You would be...at work! And successful! What a tragic waste... for you at least.

News Is Broken

Feb 14th 2007, 11:07 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I should think that if you put as much effort into your job as you do in this you would not find it necessary to be on this board at all. You would be...at work! And successful! What a tragic waste... for you at least.Hmmm. I see.

And the reason you are always in here is exactly.... what, again?

Do tell.

Rosenblum

Feb 14th 2007, 11:14 AM

I sign my own paycheck, among others. When you sign the paychecks, you can screw around with the blackberry all day to your heart's content. What's your excuse?

News Is Broken

Feb 14th 2007, 11:26 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I sign my own paycheck, among others. When you sign the paychecks, you can screw around with the blackberry all day to your heart's content. What's your excuse?Well, to borrow a page from your playbook: When you sign mine, you'll then have a right to tell me how to spend my time. Until then....

But thanks for confirming for us that you're really just wasting everyone's time with your remarks. I kinda figured that already but it's nice to hear it from you directly.

Good day :D

Rosenblum

Feb 14th 2007, 12:38 PM

Trust me.. the day I employ you is the day I take the alzheimer's test.

News Is Broken

Feb 14th 2007, 01:59 PM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Trust me.. the day I employ you is the day I take the alzheimer's test.Aww thanks... that's sweet.

beeb man

Feb 15th 2007, 12:19 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
I should think that if you put as much effort into your job as you do in this you would not find it necessary to be on this board at all. You would be...at work! And successful! What a tragic waste... for you at least.What a shame that the BBC suits didn't get a glimpse of the real Mr Rosenblum, as revealed on this forum, before signing on the dotted.

Rosenblum

Feb 15th 2007, 04:18 AM

Come on Beeb!
I was there for Five Years! (You go spend 5 years in Newcastle...) They re-upped twice! Perhaps you should get to know me better smile.gif

Spike

Feb 15th 2007, 04:55 AM

Hey Beeb, tell us what's going on with the local TV experiment (http://www.bbc.co.uk/localtv/):

"The local TV pilot has now come to an end. We hope you enjoyed the programming and would welcome your feedback."

What are all those VJs Michael allegedly trained for that program doing now?

beeb man

Feb 15th 2007, 08:02 AM

Originally posted by Spike:
Hey Beeb, tell us what's going on with the local TV experiment (http://www.bbc.co.uk/localtv/):

"The local TV pilot has now come to an end. We hope you enjoyed the programming and would welcome your feedback."

What are all those VJs Michael allegedly trained for that program doing now?If the region I work in is anything to go by then vitually all of the staff who went to the PDP boot camp have now returned to their core skills. I do not know for certain how the local tv pilot was staffed as it took place in another region. I gather it was VJs. I know people who have seen the local tv o/p and it by all accounts it was of predictably dire quality. MR thinks that the experiment will start again as VOD, now that Broadcast TV is dead.
Of course it is Mike.

The Mockingbird

Feb 15th 2007, 09:47 AM

Now for the latest thought about spending and profit in journalism:

NEW YORK, Feb 14 (Reuters) - U.S. newspapers that spend more money on their newsrooms will make more money, according to a study released on Wednesday, which questioned the wisdom of the media industry's trend of cutting jobs to save costs.

The authors of the University of Missouri-Columbia study, which was based on 10 years of financial data, said news quality affects profit more than spending on circulation, advertising and other parts of the business.

"If you invest in the newsroom, do you make more money? The answer is yes," Esther Thorson, an advertising professor and associate dean for graduate studies at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism, said in a statement.

Reuters Pictures

Editors Choice: Best pictures
from the last 24 hours.
View Slideshow

"If you lower the amount of money spent in the newsroom, then pretty soon the news product becomes so bad that you begin to lose money," she said.

The researchers developed a mathematical model that showed how newspapers could rearrange their spending on distribution and circulation, advertising and newsrooms to achieve a higher profit, Thorson said in an interview.

U.S. publishers have been eliminating jobs at many newspapers as part of larger efforts to trim expenses amid falling profit margins and, in the case of publicly traded chains, declining stock prices.
Full Story Here, thanks Reuters! (http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articlehybrid.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com: 20070215:MTFH96447_2007-02-15_00-34-20_N14387026&type=comktNews&rpc=92)

beeb man

Feb 16th 2007, 12:32 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Come on Beeb!
I was there for Five Years! (You go spend 5 years in Newcastle...) They re-upped twice! Perhaps you should get to know me better smile.gif Like I said Mike, I met you some years ago at a PDP presentation. I will admit that I thought you quite funny and a natural communicator. Unfortunately though, this business has more than its fair share of bull, and good communicators go a long way. Very soon, I concluded that what you had to say, though said eloquently, was nonsense. Your line about the audience not being able to tell the difference between your product and conventional cameras did it for me. I'm not about to re-run all the theory about VJ. In the end, the theory doesn't matter; the on-air results proved you wrong.
What I don't get is: do you genuinly believe in what you do or, can you see the damage it has caused but continue because you have made such a lot of money out of it?
A close disciple of yours told me that you joked that in a few years you will probably start a new model along the lines of "specialisms" where each member of the newsroom had a specialist skill. Perhaps I'll get to know you better then.

[ February 16, 2007, 03:41 AM: Message edited by: beeb man ]

Rosenblum

Feb 16th 2007, 03:16 PM

Beeb
I would PM you but you don't seem to be registered for that. Since you are the real deal at the beeb and you attended one of the sessions (I don't think you did the 3-week bootcamp), you are entitled to an answer.

I really believe in what I am doing. If I were just in this for the money, I would stick to the production business. As you can imagine, it is easier, I make more and I don't have to live on airplanes or endure all the abuse. Also, the production business is a repeat business. Consulting, no matter the results (and I dont want to get into that either), is by definition short lived. It is tiring, emotionally wearing and involves living on a plane. If you aren't driven by a greater vision for this or anything else, you would not do this.

News Is Broken

Feb 19th 2007, 10:31 AM

Mike, you don't have to endure all the abuse. I can't speak for the others, but believe it or not, I am not bashing you - I'm bashing your system because it is flawed. Severely flawed.

As has been stated by others here, today's newsrooms are already highly efficient operations. While your VJ's are loafing along for 2.5 days to turn one story by themselves, today's traditional crews and even some OMB's are turning 2 and sometimes 3 stories A DAY. That is because the workload is divided up among the various members of the staff, with each one contributing to the finished product.

Think "automotive assembly line". Far more efficient than a group of craftsmen each building an entire car by themselves. In addition to higher overall output there is also more consistent levels of quality. You don't have one car built great and another built poorly. They are all built the same. But to hear you tell it, Henry Ford was an idiot for building his cars this way, and we are idiots for doing the news this way. Small wonder that you don't have many friends on this board and are subject to constant "abuse"... :rolleyes:

Discuss.

beeb man

Feb 19th 2007, 11:55 AM

Originally posted by Rosenblum:
Beeb
I would PM you but you don't seem to be registered for that. Since you are the real deal at the beeb and you attended one of the sessions (I don't think you did the 3-week bootcamp), you are entitled to an answer.

I really believe in what I am doing. If I were just in this for the money, I would stick to the production business. As you can imagine, it is easier, I make more and I don't have to live on airplanes or endure all the abuse. Also, the production business is a repeat business. Consulting, no matter the results (and I dont want to get into that either), is by definition short lived. It is tiring, emotionally wearing and involves living on a plane. If you aren't driven by a greater vision for this or anything else, you would not do this.Well if nothing else, you show a huge amount of faith in what you do in the face of so much adversity. Abuse is a strong word. It's a shame if that is really what you get. I've seen a lot of strongly held convictions on this forum, not much is what I would call abuse, a lot of the excess is from frustration, though quite a lot of cheap one-liners..on both sides.
What do you mean by "production"? CEOs aside,I can't think of anything in TV news/doc production that pays more than what you are doing. Also, production has to be one of the most stressful jobs in the business, planes or not.
I'd like to think that you really do believe in what you do, but for me, it just doesn't add up. How can you go on after viewing TX-ed material produced in the name of VJ? The cynic in me says "don't be such a muppet, it's the money!" Unfortunatley, I have seen nothing, in theory or practice, that persuades me that VJ is anything other than misdirected attempts at cost-cutting.
It's a pity, and I really do not mean to patronise, that you could not have directed your undeniable communication skills and tenacity into something that would have actually improved the tv-news product.
Iv'e been lucky in this job to go to some pretty remote places in the world. In my experience only two brands can claim to be global, one of them is "BBC". So I'm afraid Mike that you'll have to bear the attacks when something comes along that threatens to degrade what we do.

[ February 19, 2007, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: beeb man ]

Spike

Feb 19th 2007, 12:18 PM

Originally posted by beeb man:
Well if nothing else, you show a huge amount of faith in what you do in the face of so much adversity. Having conversed with him on and off over a period of years now, I'm convinced that it is not faith in what he's doing that keeps him from admitting the failure of it. I think it's fear of liability. Consider what you asked him:

Originally posted by beeb man:
What I don't get is: do you genuinly believe in what you do or, can you see the damage it has caused but continue because you have made such a lot of money out of it? If he ever once says, "Yes, you're all right, this system IS causing damage and I'm only doing it to make money," then he immediately opens himself up to all sorts of claims of fraud. His clients can then come back and say, "Wait, we spent millions of dollars on this clown, and now he's saying he knew it wouldn't work all along? He should pay us back!" I think he IS a fraud, but as long as he maintains this seemingly ridiculous adherence to "faith" in the VJ system, he thinks he has a defense. If anybody sues him, he'll simply say that he really believed that it would work, and therefore there was no intent to defraud anyone.

Again, that's why he won't reveal how he calculated the 60-70% savings. He's afraid of getting into claims that he knows can be disproved, because those can be used to demonstrate that he does know he's misrepresenting his system and that he does know it won't do what he says in the sales pitch that it will.

Rosenblum

Feb 19th 2007, 12:36 PM

Dear Beeb
As my wife is both a 17 year BBC veteran and a former on air BBC journalist, I have nothing but respect for The BBC and the work that they do; and a great deal of familiarity with the Corporation and the people who work there. During the 5 years I spent there I encountered some of the brightest, most dedicated and finest people in the industry. We all worked together trying to incorporate new technologies to try and create a better product. Mark Thompson's decision to try and create a BBC 'google', for 'digital Britain' is part and parcel of this search.

My experience with US local news stations, has alas, for the most part, been something of a different animal, so far.

In so far as production paying more than consulting, I have produced hundreds of hours of 'reality shows' for cable in the US, and that overall pays far better than consulting, when you own the production company.

As far as Spike's comments, he is, of course, an idiot.

best

[ February 19, 2007, 01:46 PM: Message edited by: Rosenblum ]