Contract Trouble in St louis

[Signature on File]

The IBEW union photographers at Channel 5 are up in arms about a series of slaps from management. First, photographers' names were intentionally left off this year's Emmy nominations so the station would not have to pay for them. Now, the station is examining the use of "one man bands" or "backpack journalists" -- reporters who shoot and edit their own stories. The union photogs are refusing management's attempt to hand their jobs off. The KDSK-IBEW contract expires in the middle of the crucial November ratings period and there is talk the photographers may walk out right in the middle of sweeps.

[photog78]

They're Gannett aren't they? They are doing this at all of their stations.

[ November 02, 2006, 06:41 AM: Message edited by: photog78 ]

[The Mockingbird]

From what I've heard, KSDK had about the most militant union shop on the planet. God forbid you have breaking news when someone was on a break, cause it wasn't getting on the air.

[309]

Originally posted by H R Puff&Stuff:
The IBEW union photographers at Channel 5 are up in arms about a series of slaps from management. First, photographers' names were intentionally left off this year's Emmy nominations so the station would not have to pay for them. Now, the station is examining the use of "one man bands" or "backpack journalists" -- reporters who shoot and edit their own stories. The union photogs are refusing management's attempt to hand their jobs off. The KDSK-IBEW contract expires in the middle of the crucial November ratings period and there is talk the photographers may walk out right in the middle of sweeps.what's the latest on this situation?

[Roy Hobbs]

Everything's up to date in Kansas City!

[Seraph]

They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
They went and built a skyscraper seven stories high

[LENSCRAFTER]

...about as high a buildin' ought to grow!

[CleanBreeze]

One man bands are bad for the product.

If you need to cut money, cut the GM's salary!

[AnchorsAway]

Gannett management is off their rockers if they want to implement one man bands in St. Louis. They are BARELY hanging on to the #1 overall rating, losing barely to KMOV at 10, KTVI is on their tail in the a.m. The St Louis market is used to great photography because of its "union militant" market, one man bands and second rate reporters won't cut it.

KSDK is on the verge of a meltdown as it is. You might criticize St. Louis for being a union-militant market, but that's why some of the best photogs in the country work there. They make GREAT money, and earn it. KSDK has great people and photogs, I hope Gannett realizes what they still have and don't blow what small margin of victory they are hanging on to. They've been capitalizing on the side of viewing habits, NOT news product.. and that's not a knock on the talent or photogs, just management.

[Eeps Snorps Now]

Originally posted by Seraph:
They've gone about as fur as they c'n go!
They went and built a skyscraper seven stories highJust in...got blown to Omaha by one of KC's semi-weekly F4's.

http://www.woodsoncounty.net/ep/tornado%205-8-03.JPG

[ December 19, 2006, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Gravefully Sinful ]

[Fake Post]

The absolute WORST thing an anchor can do is to give somebody else a shot at doing one of the highest paid and easiest jobs to do on this planet.

TV News is so fickle nowdays that a substitute anchor can now get promoted because the decision maker hates the main anchor and the price is right.

[CKMD]

Or cut Karen Foss's salary...oh, wait... it just happened!
Yay! Photogs are saved! :rolleyes:

[Eeps Snorps Now]

Originally posted by Fake Post:


TV News is so fickle nowdays that a substitute anchor can now get promoted because the decision maker hates the main anchor and the price is right.Not necessarily. Some of the best anchors I know started out as reporters (or producers or photogs) who were called on to substitute and did a great job. They wound up replacing anchors who had become more trouble than they were worth.

In that respect, anchors are no different than any other vocation, though a greater percentage of anchors probably tend to see themselves as invincible.

[Signature on File]

KSDK is in an emergency PR move to convince it's veiwers that Foss resigned at her own accord and doesn't want to let the public know it was over a contract issue.

[Quincy Adams Wagstaff]

Hmm. In light of Karen's impending retirement and KSDK's 10 pm woes, let's all jump in the Wayback Machine for a moment. Let's say Gannett (and Multimedia before them) chose to value and keep the following people, rather than alienate or get rid of them:

Jeff Fowler
Jean Jackson
Rick Edlund
Huel Perkins
Paul Goodloe
Jody Davis
Ruth Ezell
Dick Ford (listed last only because he's now retired)

Nothing is forever, but let's imagine at least some of that group still in the Ch. 5 lineup. Would they be in a better position today? I'll cast a "yes" vote.

[Signature on File]

They are leaving in droves at the former number one powerhouse. Gannett is squeezing too hard on reporter/anchor contract re-newals and is causing mass exodus of veteran broadcasters. They are hiring folks at the same wage as McDonalds.

[ December 27, 2006, 12:26 PM: Message edited by: H R Puff&Stuff ]

[Steve Mizeraney]

Originally posted by Quincy Adams Wagstaff:
Hmm. In light of Karen's impending retirement and KSDK's 10 pm woes, let's all jump in the Wayback Machine for a moment. Let's say Gannett (and Multimedia before them) chose to value and keep the following people, rather than alienate or get rid of them:

Jeff Fowler
Jean Jackson
Rick Edlund
Huel Perkins
Paul Goodloe
Jody Davis
Ruth Ezell
Dick Ford (listed last only because he's now retired)

Nothing is forever, but let's imagine at least some of that group still in the Ch. 5 lineup. Would they be in a better position today? I'll cast a "yes" vote.Other than Ford, I gotta ask what your "wayback" machine is set for.

Mine, set to KSDK, keeps dropping that last "K" and brings up names like:

Stan Stovall
Jay Randolph
Cliff St. James
Chris Condon
John Auble
Christy Ferer
Kathy Leonard
Paula Tesky
Cynthia Allison
John Roedel

All from a simpler time, way before Gannett, when the letters "NPPA" had never been uttered by the photog staff and golden retrievers in Kirkwood could shoot better footage than appeared on the airwaves of Channel Five. My how things have changed. There are some great people there now--but it was an entire market of big-money hacks behind the news cameras just a few years ago.

One thing that hasn't changed--labor issues. KSD was always in bitter feuds with IBEW and, before that, IATSE and even the Musicians Union.

From someone who was there...

Thank you and here's my address. Ooops, wrong pitchman.

[ December 27, 2006, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: Steve Mizeraney ]