Reproters and cell phones

[Egbert Roscoe Murrow]

Lately, I've had trouble reaching my reporters on their cell phones to discuss what they are doing for my show. Sometimes they don't call back for 5 or 10 minutes. How can I get them to answer their phones more frequently? Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

[TVNewsSpy]

Lately, I've had trouble reaching my reporters on their cell phones to discuss what they are doing for my show. Sometimes they don't call back for 5 or 10 minutes. How can I get them to answer their phones more frequently? Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

You are NOT having trouble if they call back within 5-10 minutes. That is a perfectly acceptable response time. Chill, you can wait 5 minutes. Spend the time calling another reporter.

Reporters cell phones ring constantly... usually in the middle of interviews. If I'm shooting something (which usually I am when someone calls between 10a and 2p) I will call you right back as soon as the camera is off.

[!]

You are NOT having trouble if they call back within 5-10 minutes. That is a perfectly acceptable response time. Chill, you can wait 5 minutes. Spend the time calling another reporter.

Reporters cell phones ring constantly... usually in the middle of interviews. If I'm shooting something (which usually I am when someone calls between 10a and 2p) I will call you right back as soon as the camera is off.

http://www.frontiertravel.co.nz/images/Fishing%20Vanuatu.JPG

[HolyToledo]

I serve as agency representation for a number of "independent pleasure contractors."

As such, I have to make sure I get my "cut" before they spend it all on the rock or the pipe.

You'll find that that "side business" and the station's reimbursement of the cell phone bills to monitor same, are covered in my contract.

Move along, please.

[Ping-Pong Ball]

Lately, I've had trouble reaching my reporters on their cell phones to discuss what they are doing for my show. Sometimes they don't call back for 5 or 10 minutes. How can I get them to answer their phones more frequently? Thoughts? Thanks in advance.

ERM,

Wow, have you been taking stoopid pills lately, because I have seen a giant lack of focus & fortitude in your recent posts!?!

There is a very simple remedy for you communication quandary:

http://www.phonesonline.ie/img/mobile_phone_accessories/motorola_hs820_bluetooth_headset.jpg


Let me break this down into terms you can understand.

Make all your reporters buy a Blue-Tooth Wireless Head Set. Since TV budgets are tight, tell the reporters that they will need to spend their own money on the devices. If they complain, tell them they will get a deduction on their taxes since this is a business expense so it really won't cost the reporters any money at all.
Your station should have several phone lines. Anytime a reporter goes on a story, have them call the station from their cell phone before they leave. Then put the reporter on hold. Anytime you need to talk to a reporter, all you have to do is pick-up the line they are holding on and you can speak directly to them through their blue-tooth headset. If anyone complains about using up all their cellphone minutes or roaming charges/fees, again tell them they will get a deduction on their taxes since this is a business expense so it really won't cost the reporters any money at all. If they still complain, tell them they are not team players and recommend they be terminated for subordination. I am sure your reporters have signed a contract with a clause requiring them to do "other duties as defined or determined by management."
If a reporter complains about missing any phone calls while on hold with you, tell them, "That is what voicemail is for, and people can leave you a message." The reporter can then check their messages when they are not working.
What if someone from the story the reporter is working on tries to call the reporter? First, a reporter should never give a person they are interviewing their cell phone number. Instead, give the interview subject the photographer's cell phone number. Since photographers don't really do anything important, they can act as a receptionist during all their down time and take any incoming calls on their phone for the reporter.PM me if you would like me to type this up in a memo, so you can send out this new policy to those who work for you. ;)

[Clever Login Name]

^^^ this is the equivalent of landing a whale using minnow for bait.

[wx or not]

Ping Pong! I'm surprised at you! Is the hook still embedded?:D

[!]

^^^ this is the equivalent of landing a whale using minnow for bait.
Read the post carefully--there's no hook embedded. It's classic response to ERM.

[SamG]

Read the post carefully--there's no hook embedded. It's classic response to ERM.
Yup.

For Ping Pong Ball: :cheers::worship:

[Clever Login Name]

Read the post carefully--there's no hook embedded. It's classic response to ERM.

My bad ... I skimmed and didn't catch it. Apologies to PPB ... beers are on me!

[wx or not]

Read the post carefully--there's no hook embedded. It's classic response to ERM.
Boy, am I ashamed. Ping Pong, you ARE the man!!!:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

[Sultanosurf]

Screw you, Roscoe, I'm on a smoke break...

[s'news]

I'm inspired to put out a memo.

[McCovey Cove Returns]

I'm turning my cell phone off, I have a speaking engagement at my alma mater. I have to find it though, I think it may be in that messy break room of ours.

[Mighty Dyckerson]

Lately, I've had trouble reaching my reporters on their cell phones...

Did you try hitting the SEND button?

[WOS]

Make all your reporters buy a Blue-Tooth Wireless Head Set.

Great idea! That way they can look like even bigger jerks!!!

[Sigonfile]

Cell phone?...what's that?....all we have are voice pagers and 2-ways. I will admit tho, our live truck has a CB radio.

[The news photographer]

Sometimes they are busy doing an interview or something. Or maybe they're annoyed by you calling them all the time. I know that's the case at my station. Producers calling 2 and 3 times an hour for the smallest things that they could handle on their own.

[Produce man]

Funny. At my place, it's the other way around.

[ewink]

Does the station issue the cell phones? Otherwise I say they are in no obligation to answer their personal phones.

Ever.

[Produce man]

Does the station issue the cell phones?Ours does. There's one in each vehicle.

[NewsguyMark]

5-10 minutes is acceptable.

The reporter could be interviewing someone.

Could be in an elevator.

Could be setting up a shot.

Could be busy driving. And in a state where you're not allowed to talk on the cell and drive at the same time.

As someone said, chill out!

[ewink]

The reporter could be interviewing someone.
This reminds me of something funny that happened Thursday. My reporter and I were having difficulty finding a personalization to our story - we were also live in the 5, so that didn't help matters - and we were out really late.

7 pm rolls around and we FINALLY find someone to interview. Of course right then, the desk calls me - WHERE ARE YOU! I tell them whats up and that my reporter is doing an interview and I would have him call the producer when he was done.

Not more than a minute passes - just enough time for the desk to tell the producer that the reporter will call her - she calls and interrupts our interview. Produce Man, I hope you would never do something like that (I pick you because you are the only one here I know for a fact is a producer).

Anyway, I guess that story was neither funny nor relevant, but I am bored so I told it anyway.

[Produce man]

Produce Man, I hope you would never do something like that (I pick you because you are the only one here I know for a fact is a producer).
No, no need. Everyone here is good about keeping me informed out in the field. Besides, I've been doing this so long it takes A LOT to get me worked up. If something goes badly for a crew in the field, I can readjust quite readily.

With that being said, I also know when a crew is just screwing around out there. I used to be a photog and reporter, so I hve a good idea when they're getting lazy. That doesn't happen as much at my current shop as it did at my last 2 shops.

[markminn]

Get a partyline. It's one phone number that rings at all the producers phones, as well as the desk's phone. You can get 5 or 6 people on the line ALL AT ONCE, so those of us in the field who are doing the newsgathering don't have to get 3 or 4 calls from 3 or 4 producers. Also, it virtually eliminates misunderstandings because the 1 part-time deskie you called to update your story doesn't know a VO/SOT from a snot rag.

[ISTHISTHINGON?]

The dog ate my cell phone.