here's a good idea...

[adam & doctor drew]

link (http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=2&aid=128783)

[Sir Dropham Pants]

I agree. Certainly an idea worth exploring. But most newsrooms will never look at doing something like that because of the time and manpower involved. It would be a very useful exercise.

[DoneThatToo]

Very cool. Even without the role reverse it would be a good exercise for any station.

[Consider This]

I'm sorry but if doing the job every day doesn't hone the skills you need to react to disaster, one day of practice is not going to save you from tripping all over yourself when big news breaks.

[CKMD]

Gee...yet another loser who think Al Tompkins morning meeting is a good idea.

Can't think of things for yourself, huh?

Like the kids that come into the morning meeting with "ideas" for stories from Tompkins.

Give me a break.

[adam & doctor drew]

Originally posted by CKMD:
Gee...yet another loser who think Al Tompkins morning meeting is a good idea.

Can't think of things for yourself, huh?

Like the kids that come into the morning meeting with "ideas" for stories from Tompkins.

Give me a break.yes, I thought it was good.
apparently you didn't, which is fine.

the difference is: I don't call people who disagree with me "loser."

[sports_hustler]

I agree making time for this ain't easy...and maybe we shouldn't need an Institute to feed us ideas (sometimes obvious ones).

But then I remember that my newsroom melts everytime there's a heavy rain that causes street flooding and other headaches.

[ August 28, 2007, 11:22 PM: Message edited by: sports_hustler ]

[DoneThatToo]

So, because you do it often you don't benefit from practice. Hmmm.. tell that to pro sports teams.

This isn't doing what you do everyday. It isn't anything like covering extended weather events that start slow and build up.

It is checking your plan, you do have a plan don't you, and fine tuning said plan. It is helping staff understand the stress and difficulties of other staffer’s jobs.

We have a plan cobbled together from past events. Managers review it maybe once a year and remind staff that they should review and be familiar with the plan. We don't rehearse it though. We should and I'm pushing that we do.

Sorry if you think it is a waste of time. Your attitude and your performance will be noted.

[Consider This]

Originally posted by DoneThatToo:
So, because you do it often you don't benefit from practice. Hmmm.. tell that to pro sports teams.A one-time pretend event isn't practice. Practice is something you do regularly and repeatedly. Ask any pro sports team.


This isn't doing what you do everyday. Then you aren't doing the right things everyday. When disaster strikes, you're going to have crews in the field, anchors on the set, producers in the booth and assignment editors on the desk. You're going to be doing the same things you always do, only more of it and at higher speed. If your staff doesn't already understand each other's jobs, forget major breaking news; you have trouble getting your regular newscasts on the air.


We have a plan cobbled together from past events. Managers review it maybe once a year and remind staff that they should review and be familiar with the plan.Having a plan is great. But no plan will account for every contingency. You need people who know how to react to things NOT planned for by adapting skills they have developed though consistent use, preferably every day.


We don't rehearse it though. We should and I'm pushing that we do. Sorry if you think it is a waste of time. Your attitude and your performance will be noted.I know my performance will be noted. It always is. I'm the one on camera. I'm the one who will be left to fill airtime with useful and pertinent information with only my knowledge, experience and wits to guide me when the plan falls apart and you need time to figure out what to do next. So don't worry about my attitude. I'm curious to know how things work and who makes things happen. I pay attention and I listen. When big news breaks, I'll be ready. I'll know who to ask. I'll know what to ask them. And I'll look like I have been preparing for this day for months.

Because I have.

[DoneThatToo]

Well CT I guess you just don't want to participate. Did you even bother to read the article, the entire article? If you think covering a fast paced disaster event where conditions change is the same as reading the scripts everyday I feel we have a major disagreement and as such neither will change the others' mind. So be it.

[ August 29, 2007, 11:59 AM: Message edited by: DoneThatToo ]