Mobile/Pensacola

[skiblp]

Whats the lowdown on Mobile/Pensacola market...which station has the best product and which is best to work for?

[CKMD]

Do you want to live in Pensacola and work at the ABC there or do you want to live in Mobile and work at the other affiliates?
Makes a big difference.

[foxravens]

Sure does...
You'll make more $$$ in Mobile, but it's a LOT further to the beach from there.

[RollTide98]

I know a couple folks at the CBS in Mobile (WKRG), and they're all happy. Each of them, in fact, stepped down in market size to work there.

WEAR, the ABC in Pensacola, is often #1 overall in the ratings. This is due to them being the only station with its main operations in northwest Florida. The ownership is Sinclair, so beware.

The other three stations are based in Mobile. Each Mobile station has its virtues. I don't know anyone from WALA (FOX). I just know their product looks decent, and their facilities are relatively new. People I know who came from WPMI (NBC) had good things to say about the station, but they recall looking at WKRG's equipment and staffing with envy.

As for WKRG, it's tops in viewership in Mobile and dedicates time to big stories. One of their crews recently followed local leaders on a European tour to lure business to the city. There's no "live for the sake of live," and they have serious tenure and tradition on the anchor desk. It's one of few Media General stations where I would consider a job.

If you're a reporter and want to be near the beach, the Baldwin County bureaus are your best bet.

[CKMD]

Originally posted by foxravens:
Sure does...
You'll make more $$$ in Mobile, but it's a LOT further to the beach from there.I took the beach...Florida - pay in sunshine!
ALthough, the panhandle is more Southern Alabama than anything else.

[sonorandesert]

I did some time at WEAR (pre-Sinclair) and look back at it as a learning experience. I was new to the business and some of what I learned, I still practice to this day.

I'm not saying that WEAR was a fun place to work. Sure some good times come to mind, but under then ND Peter Neumann, TV news is a serious bidness and he taught me well.
I learned a lot in production and news gathering.

Ironically, I'm working with some reporters and anchors here that I watched there at the other affiliates.
Gawd, it's a small world!

[DoneThatToo]

Living in Mobile ain't bad. You can be at a 'bama beach or a Florida beach in 45 min to an hour. Glad to hear that PMI is finally producing people who have good things to say about that place . . . wasn't always like that.

And if you can live on the Eastern Shore do it. The only down side is that drive across the Causeway every day. Some years ago there was what, a 200 plus car pile-up in the fog??

[CKMD]

Originally posted by sonorandesert:
I did some time at WEAR (pre-Sinclair) and look back at it as a learning experience. I was new to the business and some of what I learned, I still practice to this day.

I'm not saying that WEAR was a fun place to work. Sure some good times come to mind, but under then ND Peter Neumann, TV news is a serious bidness and he taught me well.
I learned a lot in production and news gathering.

Ironically, I'm working with some reporters and anchors here that I watched there at the other affiliates.
Gawd, it's a small world!Agreed....Peter was an awesome teacher. My time there was some of the best I've had in my 15 years.

[cloudman]

Whats the 411 on WPMI ? Thanks

[LENSCRAFTER]

Originally posted by cloudman:
Whats the 411 on WPMI ? ThanksTo be honest... I know NO ONE who works there, but I came to "know" the station during their coverage of Hurrican Ivan. They streamed their newscasts live and I would watch them.

Check out their website at www.nbc15online.com (http://www.nbc15online.com)

You will learn a lot about the station and the way it operates. The morning show appears to be top-notch and there are some blogs you can read.

Of course visiting a website won't give you the whole story of a station... but with all the video content they have available... you may get a good idea of what it's like.

BEst of luck.

[DoneThatToo]

Originally posted by cloudman:
Whats the 411 on WPMI ? ThanksI don't think they would buy your way out of that non-compete.

[Flash Frame]

Originally posted by RollTide98:
I know a couple folks at the CBS in Mobile (WKRG), and they're all happy. Each of them, in fact, stepped down in market size to work there.

WEAR, the ABC in Pensacola, is often #1 overall in the ratings. This is due to them being the only station with its main operations in northwest Florida. The ownership is Sinclair, so beware.

The other three stations are based in Mobile. Each Mobile station has its virtues. I don't know anyone from WALA (FOX). I just know their product looks decent, and their facilities are relatively new. People I know who came from WPMI (NBC) had good things to say about the station, but they recall looking at WKRG's equipment and staffing with envy.

As for WKRG, it's tops in viewership in Mobile and dedicates time to big stories. One of their crews recently followed local leaders on a European tour to lure business to the city. There's no "live for the sake of live," and they have serious tenure and tradition on the anchor desk. It's one of few Media General stations where I would consider a job.

If you're a reporter and want to be near the beach, the Baldwin County bureaus are your best bet.What he said.

[Flash Frame]

Originally posted by cloudman:
Whats the 411 on WPMI ? ThanksOwned by Clear Channel, and is being sold off, along with the rest of the empire. Everyone's nervous.

They're looking for a new main wx anchor, and have advertised for a news anchor...not sure which one is leaving. Word has it, it might be the former KRG female anchor.

Speaking of KRG...half the on-air talent used to work at the competition.

[DoneThatToo]

Originally posted by Flash Frame:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by cloudman:
Whats the 411 on WPMI ? ThanksOwned by Clear Channel, and is being sold off, along with the rest of the empire. Everyone's nervous.

They're looking for a new main wx anchor, and have advertised for a news anchor...not sure which one is leaving. Word has it, it might be the former KRG female anchor.

Speaking of KRG...half the on-air talent used to work at the competition.</font>[/QUOTE]Just to make sure things are Clear you mean half of the PMI talent used to work at the competition??

[Flash Frame]

QUOTE]Just to make sure things are Clear you mean half of the PMI talent used to work at the competition??[/QB][/QUOTE]

Yes....Drexel, Peter, Darwin, Sandra, Leon...

[stuckinmidwest]

This market was my first TV gig, I was at WKRG. It was a wonderful place to work. Worked at five stations since, none have added up in terms of newsroom camraderie and weather conditions. Miss it a lot.

[sonorandesert]

Originally posted by Flash Frame:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Just to make sure things are Clear you mean half of the PMI talent used to work at the competition??Yes....Drexel, Peter, Darwin, Sandra, Leon...[/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]Peter...WKRG
Drexel...WEAR
Darwin...WKRG
Sandra...WKRG
Leon...WKRG

Checking WPMI's news bio's, I think management is allergic to the letters WKRG except for WEAR.
"Local CBS affiliate".
That phrase must be the antidote.

[ December 01, 2006, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: sonorandesert ]

[DoneThatToo]

Originally posted by sonorandesert:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Flash Frame:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Just to make sure things are Clear you mean half of the PMI talent used to work at the competition??Yes....Drexel, Peter, Darwin, Sandra, Leon...</font>[/QUOTE]Peter...WKRG
Drexel...WEAR
Darwin...WKRG
Sandra...WKRG
Leon...WKRG

Checking WPMI's news bio's, I think management is allergic to the letters WKRG except for WEAR.
"Local CBS affiliate".
That phrase must be the antidote.[/QB]</font>[/QUOTE]Drexel did work at KRG prior to PMI.

[RollTide98]

I'll add that WKRG has some great photographers. One of them I recall as a good coach to young reporters in the field. Another was known to bring together compelling shots with excellent editing. And there's a third photog whose boisterous laugh can still be heard back here in Birmingham.

[Signature on File]

I once saw Kurt Fonger streak in the Mardi Gras parade.