Your Assignment Desk.......

[Fnj]

These are some topics/questions me and my colleagues frequently discuss, whats your take???

What do you think of your Assignment Desk??? Why does it seem that so many people don't like Assignment Editors/Assignment Managers??? Also, I was interested in how your station Assignment Desk is set up?

Thanks!!:thumbsup:

[FrontierMan]

I'll preface this by saying I'm speaking from my experience ONLY, and do not speak of all assignment desk folks.

Here's a piece of my mind about assignment desks:

1. They make sh!t up.
2. They say "everybody's talking about..." when nobody's talking about the issue or even cares. I know because I've been door-to-door to prove it.
3. They say "everybody's angry/complaining about..." when nobody is complaining about whatever they want us to do a story on.
4. Did I mention they make sh!t up?
5. They want us to do stories about stupid rumors their neighbor's cousin heard. The rumors sound absurd from the beginning, but the reporters get screwed. You know, since the reporters spend hours chasing these "stories" and they turn out to be garbage.
6. They lie. They say everything takes 10 minutes to get to when it doesn't. They mislead their crews about how long something will take.

The list goes on and on and on...

[Barnburner]

Our Assignment Desk is great (I'm not on it).
Frontier Man sounds like a few reporters and photogs I've been around.

They didn't last too long.

[Produce man]

I'm not EVEN going to touch this one...

[Sigonfile]

They are Democrats and assign crews to cover Obama stories over McCain stories 3 to 1.

[Bureau Chief]

Well speaking as a former AE, if reporters would come to work with some ideas of their own, take time to get to know the issues in their new towns they are living in and do their jobs as opposed to expecting the desk to do half their job for them, maybe all would be a little happier.

[adam & doctor drew]

it's the hardest job in any newsroom.
it should pay the most.
you get all the s-- when things go wrong.
you get none of the credit when things go right.

that said, I've always been curious how a newsroom would work if it was eliminated.
force reporters to set up their own stories.
eliminate sending crews to shoot the useless VO of an abandoned warehouse fire that affects no one.

[ISTHISTHINGON?]

Reporters here come in with ideas and have to set them up as well. No assignment desk, though do wish there was one or too!

[Fnj]

Glad to hear some views, hope more keep coming....:o

Still wondering, How is your Assignment Desk set up? (Number of stations,etc).... Also, Is your station Assignment Manager office behind the desk in a office room or else where???


Thanks All!!!!:thumbsup:

[FrontierMan]

if reporters would come to work with some ideas of their own, take time to get to know the issues in their new towns they are living in and do their jobs as opposed to expecting the desk to do half their job for them, maybe all would be a little happier.

Maybe our ideas get shot down because the desk swears up and down that there's a big conspiracy that doesn't exist, a top city official that's about to get overthrown, a neighborhood full of angey people, or a "blackout" that never happened.

I said I wasn't speaking of all assignment desks, but desks have screwed me over.

I've noticed that people at the desk have time to check their MySpace pages, watch Food Network or read novels all day long. Reporters don't get that luxury and your folks don't seem to realize that.

[Bureau Chief]

Our desk does NOT call the shots as far as what will be covered. Being a small newsroom, our ND, for better or worse, makes the call as to how the major stories gets covered, the AE decides how to handle the assignments with the available assets.

Our desk sets at the head of the newsroom where the AE can see all the goof offs, err I mean reporters and photographers who are hiding behind their computer monitors, hoping no one notices them.

If I was ND, I would move the AE off into a small room off to the side so that the #@*! scanners dont drown out everything else.

[Sigonfile]

Our assignment desk people are always rifling through all the free stuff that comes through the mail or even requesting more over the phone. We often have celebrities that come through promoting various events. The AD people are always getting autographs and selling them on eBay.

[Bureau Chief]

The only free stuff thats arrived in recent history is that damn yellow boot that Verizon sent out to promote that new phone. We now use it for another purpose.

If you come in to work and find it on your desk, you've been laid off.

[Clever Login Name]

This, and other Fnj threads, have a decidedly Egbert Roscoe Murrow feel to them.

[Fnj]

This, and other Fnj threads, have a decidedly Egbert Roscoe Murrow feel to them.

Is that a good thing or bad thing you tell me. If it's bad you take a look at this:
Historians consider him among journalism's greatest figures; and rethink that thought, if it is not you can disregard.

[Produce man]

I've noticed that people at the desk have time to check their MySpace pages, watch Food Network or read novels all day long. Reporters don't get that luxury and your folks don't seem to realize that.How can you possibly know this, running around town at the mall, picking up the drycleaning that was given to you in your clothing allowance, getting your free haircut (and product) and eating out all day?

[Ralphie the buffalo]

This, and other Fnj threads, have a decidedly Egbert Roscoe Murrow feel to them.

Or Dyckerson, Shak Attack, Mr Peterson, Stan Bull, etc....

[FrontierMan]

How can you possibly know this, running around town at the mall, picking up the drycleaning that was given to you in your clothing allowance, getting your free haircut (and product) and eating out all day?

You're so full of crap. Desk people are always checking their MySpace or are shopping online when I pass their desks. They have time to chit-chat with editors and engineers. I don't.

I don't run around the mall or spend hours eating out because there's NO TIME! You have it so messed up. I see desk people get to leave for an hour each day. I don't have the same luxury.

[RollTide98]

I feel there is a fundamental flaw when people who cover the news are directed by people who have never covered the news.

[adam & doctor drew]

probably true.
and take it a step further...... many people covering news today have no interest in covering news, they just wanna be on TV.

[SamG]

I feel there is a fundamental flaw when people who cover the news are directed by people who have never covered the news.
FWIW, our AE used to be a reporter and our EP & ND both used to be photographers. I don't know if that's the exception or the rule.

But hey, if you don't like what your AE does, why don't you volunteer to sit the desk for a couple days while they're on vacation?

[wx or not]

This, and other Fnj threads, have a decidedly Egbert Roscoe Murrow feel to them.
Agreed. Question everything; answer very little.

[Produce man]

You're so full of crap. Desk people are always checking their MySpace or are shopping online when I pass their desks.

I see desk people get to leave for an hour each day. I don't have the same luxury.

1.) If they're on myspace, then they're kids, so nothing they do would surprise me.

2.) OH yeah, I get to leave each day, usually for the ten minutes it takes to get to Taco Bell and back. Most of my time is used cleaning up the crap reporters like to call scripts.

(Not all of the reporters, mind you)

[Mighty Dyckerson]

I get to leave each day, usually for the ten minutes it takes to get to Taco Bell and back. Most of my time is used cleaning up the crap reporters like to call scripts.

If you eat at Taco Bell every day, the only crap you ever clean up is your own.

[cameragod]

A lot of assignment desks are staffed by very junior people. They have the power to make your life a living hell without even realizing it. You can spend all day *****ing about how ignorant and inexperienced the desk is or you can invite them to ride along on slow days so they can see what it’s like out there. Instead of hiding in the crew room hang around the desk and help with some problem solving logic when they can’t see how to juggle the board.
Inexperience can be fixed… of course if they are just incompetent you are stuffed, the hopeless ones never leave.

[Clever Login Name]

Is that a good thing or bad thing you tell me. If it's bad you take a look at this:
Historians consider him among journalism's greatest figures; and rethink that thought, if it is not you can disregard.

I rest my case. 100% clueless.

[AEnVA]

These are some topics/questions me and my colleagues frequently discuss, whats your take???

What do you think of your Assignment Desk??? Why does it seem that so many people don't like Assignment Editors/Assignment Managers??? Also, I was interested in how your station Assignment Desk is set up?

Thanks!!:thumbsup:

Here is how our desk is set up:

Managing Editor M-F 8-5
#2 Editor Tues - Thurs 10-7, Fri 2-11, Sat 9-5
#3 Editor Mon-Thurs 2-11, Sun 9-5

We are toward the back corner of the newsroom next to the ND's office and a raised platform.

[mrgrknewz]

Overnight AE from 3am - 11am
Morning AE from 7am-3pm
Midday AE from 9am - 5pm
Early nightside AE from 2:30-10:30pm - Two of those who also work weekends
Late Nightside AE from 3:30pm - 11:30pm
Managing Editor M-F 9am-6pm


On raised platform overlooking the whole newsroom.
6 Scanners covering the region
2 twoway nextel radios for communicating with photogs
chopper twoway communnications
pager for all photogs and reportes
6 computer terminals
usually we have 1-2 interns for help with the phones
Small Tvs in each PC station


I think that covers it!

[Produce man]

Overnight AE from 3am - 11am
Morning AE from 7am-3pm
Midday AE from 9am - 5pm
Early nightside AE from 2:30-10:30pm - Two of those who also work weekends
Late Nightside AE from 3:30pm - 11:30pm
Managing Editor M-F 9am-6pm


On raised platform overlooking the whole newsroom.
6 Scanners covering the region
2 twoway nextel radios for communicating with photogs
chopper twoway communnications
pager for all photogs and reportes
6 computer terminals
usually we have 1-2 interns for help with the phones
Small Tvs in each PC station


I think that covers it!Looks like you've got it covered. Pagers are kind of a surprise. I thought most people now were just issued cell phones.

[JoshNYNews]

Well, I am essentially the epitome of some discussion in this thread. . .I am a 22 year old assignment editor (technically I am listed as an "assistant assignment editor," so Time Warner can pay me less. ha!)

(and yes, its a Saturday morning, so I have time to post this...although I just got a call from someone telling me that she loves what our anchor is wearing...oh boy...is that what I signed up for?!)

My desk here in Syracuse has 4 scanners covering the northern tip of PA up to the Watertown area, I also have 4 additional scanners on a computer. Needless to say, its a challenge to keep track of everything. We essentially cover everything in the state except the Buffalo, NYC and Rochester markets. Although we have a sister station in Rochester (RNews) and NYC (NY1)...

I graduated from college just this year, so I am still getting used to things at the desk. But because I have all but named my station, I won't be too specific with my feelings...other than to say I agree with those who say folks never give the desk credit and reporters sometimes rely too much on us to feed them ideas. I set up interviews and only get comments when something goes wrong...I would love to not have to answer 10000 phone calls an hour and listen to the scanners, and plan weekend coverage and dispatch crews to 34 car accidents and fires...Its tough, but I realize I have to pay my dues...although sometimes I think folks here think I was born yesterday, simply because I just graduated from college. Thats to be expected, although I've been doing radio news since I was 16 and the like...but its not like every reporter/producer here in market 80 has been doing news for 30 years either...


My hours suck for the most part, as expected in my position...

M-5a-2p
T-5a-2p
W-off
Th-off
F-8a-5p
S-6a-3p
S-6a-3p

[wx or not]

Hang in there, Josh. It only gets worse. Then it gets better. Then worse again. But the ride is worth it!!!

[s'news]

Yes, hang in there Josh. I bet you're actually learning lots of worthwhile stuff.

Encourage reporters, if you can, to set up their own interviews. Your own environment may be such that they expect you to do that for them. But if they set up their own interviews, they'll gather information on the way and be better prepared for the interview. It'll also take some work off of you.

I'd try to nudge them in that direction. You can start by setting up an interview and then giving the reporter a contact number, so that they might get some more information in transit. Then, later, you give them the number in the first place, saying that you've made this contact for them and -- since they know their schedule better than you do, depending on where they are and where the interview is -- you wanted to let them follow up and make arrangements that'll work best for them.

Again, your environment may be such that it's just expected that the desk sets things up all the time. That leads to lazy reporters, in my opinion. If you're stuck, you're stuck. But if you can work out of that, do so. It lets you focus on other things and gets reporters more into the editorial process, where they should be.

[adam & doctor drew]

I would love to not have to answer 10000 phone calls an hour and listen to the scanners, and plan weekend coverage and dispatch crews to 34 car accidents and fires...

there's one of your problems.
that stuff's not news.
(or at least it shouldn't be).

[JoshNYNews]

I certainly appreciate all of your comments, they are encouraging! I am learning a lot...what a jump this is from doing the news at college. Ha! Despite all the stress of the desk, I am enjoying it quite a bit (but I know the days are coming where I will dread coming in...). Its a bit harder here because not only do we deal with the 3 other network affils. in the city, but the affiliates in Watertown and Elmira, because we have bureaus there, too...so a lot of time I have to find out info from those places and make sure that we arent missing anything.

[Sigonfile]

Elevated glass booth overlooking the sprawling 52 desk newsroom.
12 scanners for "Breaking News"
4 multi-bank phone systems
5 Internet linked computers
15 monitors for signal aquisition, net feeds, off-air monitors, wx radar, studio feeds,
4 closed circuit internal camera monitors for ENG, Photo, and break room.
2 paging and GPS sytems
3 Motorola 2-way systems
3-D story assignment board with assignment count-downs and staff assignments.

[tvchick5]

it's the hardest job in any newsroom.
it should pay the most.
you get all the s-- when things go wrong.
you get none of the credit when things go right.


Having worked the desk, I do agree it's the hardest job in the newsroom. However, as a producer, we're the ones who get blamed when things get screwed up, and get no credit when it goes right. (But my ND is good about patting you on the back when the show is good. Nobody else does though.)

Another point: Sounds to me like in some newsrooms the desk runs everything. Not in my shop. Our desk keeps up with court dates and events, assigns live and sng trucks, and moves crews when we ask. Mostly though I'd say I'm in a reporter and producer driven shop.

[Clubbeat]

Well, I am essentially the epitome of some discussion in this thread. . .I am a 22 year old assignment editor (technically I am listed as an "assistant assignment editor," so Time Warner can pay me less. ha!)

(and yes, its a Saturday morning, so I have time to post this...although I just got a call from someone telling me that she loves what our anchor is wearing...oh boy...is that what I signed up for?!)

My desk here in Syracuse has 4 scanners covering the northern tip of PA up to the Watertown area, I also have 4 additional scanners on a computer. Needless to say, its a challenge to keep track of everything. We essentially cover everything in the state except the Buffalo, NYC and Rochester markets. Although we have a sister station in Rochester (RNews) and NYC (NY1)...

I graduated from college just this year, so I am still getting used to things at the desk. But because I have all but named my station, I won't be too specific with my feelings...other than to say I agree with those who say folks never give the desk credit and reporters sometimes rely too much on us to feed them ideas. I set up interviews and only get comments when something goes wrong...I would love to not have to answer 10000 phone calls an hour and listen to the scanners, and plan weekend coverage and dispatch crews to 34 car accidents and fires...Its tough, but I realize I have to pay my dues...although sometimes I think folks here think I was born yesterday, simply because I just graduated from college. Thats to be expected, although I've been doing radio news since I was 16 and the like...but its not like every reporter/producer here in market 80 has been doing news for 30 years either...


My hours suck for the most part, as expected in my position...

M-5a-2p
T-5a-2p
W-off
Th-off
F-8a-5p
S-6a-3p
S-6a-3p

Not sure what property you're at in Central New York, but I too paid my dues in one of the most cloudiest cities in the world following college many, many moons ago.

My time there included working as a shooter/editor, reporter and producer.

S'news and others here have some great advice. The thing I did while working in that region was to learn from the best in the room. I was fortunate to work with some real originals who knew the market, the people and what makes em' tick (or what ticks em' off). The toughest part of the gig was the wx (it's a snowbelt market as you know and unfortunately stations in markets where wx is king always keep you busy).

Covering fires, car crashes and other daily b.s. that passed as news was a real pain at times. But I also got to do some real cool stuff that's helped me throughout my career and still works for me today.

Hang in there. Believe it or not it eventually does better depending on where you see yourself in about 15-20 years.

[Fishwife]

Our assignment desk people are always rifling through all the free stuff that comes through the mail or even requesting more over the phone. We often have celebrities that come through promoting various events. The AD people are always getting autographs and selling them on eBay.

Sigongfile - that post is right on! My last assignment editor constantly rifled through packages and pilfered stuff. A personal package that was addressed to me was intercepted by the assignment guy. I saw my gear sitting on his desk beside the unwrapped package. Of course it was a "mistake". He's still working there. I'm not.