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Is this normal? Refusing to cover an event...
Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 7:24 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> I've spent the last week covering a taping of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, as we were surprised last Monday to find out that they were doing an episode about twenty minutes away from the office.
Now, we're partners with the local NBC affiliate, who even have a reporter who covers more of our specific area, and is based in our newsroom. However, she wasn't at a single day of the taping - nor was anyone else from the station - because they weren't allowed to go!
Yep, since it's an ABC show, the local NBC news guys wouldn't let the station cover the events. Is this common practice? I mean, it doesn't really surprise me these days, but come on...news is news. |
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Primoz Jeroncic, Photographer
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Kranj | SI | Slovenia | Posted: 8:07 AM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> I might be wrong, but I would hardly consider TV show as relevant news, which would need to be covered. |
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Joseph Toth, Photographer
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Cambridge | UK | United Kingdom | Posted: 8:17 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> Why not Primoz? The show itself does a good deal of community service which might be of interest to the local community. Plus the celebrity presence of the shows hosts is also a draw.
Also, he was not asking if you thought the show was newsworthy, whether competing television companies would normally allow coverage of one another events or shows.
Kevin, to answer your question or to ad my thoughts. I have seen BBC cover or mention one of the other networks shows if it is newsworthy. In fact some people who work for BBC do other work for other channels. |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 8:33 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> The show itself isn't news.
However, the family that borrowed against their EMHE house, and got it foreclosed on. That was news. And kind of funny, since they were so stupid. |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 8:37 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> There are many thing we cover as journalists that is not 'News'.
A high school theater group's dress rehearsal for example.
One could even argue that covering professional sports is not new, but commerce and entertainment.
So the human interest of 'Extreme Makeover' is not about NBC filming a TV show to entertain, but the impact the 'makeover' will have on the family whose house will be changed forever. |
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Jeff Brehm, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Charlotte | NC | USA | Posted: 8:45 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> Philosophically, I agree with Primoz -- especially because I really hate that show and its whole blatant tear-jerking agenda, and because people allow themselves to be part of it.
However ... many people like it, are familiar with it, and would consider it coming to town to be an event of significance. That makes it news, as much as it pains me to say it. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 8:49 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> Maybe I should explain for all the cynics...
The family: father was a former boxer; had to quit the sport due to an injury before going pro. Now, he leases a gym in the city and teaches at-risk youth boxing as a discipline and a way to keep them out of trouble; all for free and paid for from his own money. He's done this for years and years. The family even adopted one of the students.
A locally based company essentially donated the house. Hundreds of local people volunteered to put the house together over the course of five days.
Why wouldn't you cover that? |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 8:56 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> Because it is a made for TV event?
The family would not be getting a house if it weren't for the show. If my bosses told me to go cover it, I would. Otherwise, i wouldn't be going near the scene, which amounts to little more than a tear-jerker commercial for Sears. |
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Rainier Ehrhardt, Photographer
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Augusta | GA | USA | Posted: 9:18 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> Some could argue that sports is a made for tv event (or at least made for entertainment event).
Just playing devil's advocate here. |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 9:31 AM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> I would say that 98% of sporting events aren't televised. And sports went on before television, anyway. |
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Primoz Jeroncic, Photographer
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Kranj | SI | Slovenia | Posted: 11:46 AM on 08.26.08 |
->> I don't know this particular show. We get few of those shows on TV here, so this particular one might or it might not be run over here. But that doesn't really matter.
For me, and it's just my personal opinion nothing else, TV show is TV show, nothing more. As Jeffrey wrote, family wouldn't be getting new house, if it wouldn't be because of the show. So I don't consider this as some humanitarian act, but just fight for spectators. And from this point of view, I actually understand rival TV network, not to cover it. With reporting about something without any real news relevance, they would be just doing free commercial for rival network.
But then again, I might be totally off. :) |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:01 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> test |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 12:01 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> okay how come a test one word message goes through but a regular post won't this is getting mighty irritating |
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David Bailey, Photographer
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Flower Mound | TX | USA | Posted: 12:45 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> You guys blow me away. Absolutley this is a local news event, whether it's from the angle of the family's story or the angle of celebrities being in town. It may not by your taste of news or anything you have an interest in, but feel good, community, stories fill the pages of papers and websites around the world!
Sports shooting is what I enjoy most, but there is nothing wrong with basic community level journalism.
Give me a break, do you think that just because you don't like it, it doesn't get printed? That would lead to some pretty boring journalism.
And to answer the OP's question, it's not that way everywhere, it has more to do with the News Directors than anything. |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Toledo | OH | USA | Posted: 1:26 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> It is professional courtesy.
It is the same if NBC was taping an episode of Law and Order, the local ABC station wouldn't go over it.
Each network has spent a lot of time and money in those programs, and out of respect for that, the other networks let them have their day. |
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David Meyer, Photographer
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Orlando | FL | USA | Posted: 1:28 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> This is a good local news story -- particularly in a town the size of Geneva -- and deserved the coverage MPN gave it. Just because a competitor is involved in the event, doesn't make it any less newsworthy. The local NBC affiliate (WHEC 10) missed out in my opinion.
Are there greater issues in the region? Yes. But there's nothing wrong with working a feel-good story, no matter how contrived.
BTW - Some good photos from SS member Adrian Kraus to go along with the story:
http://www.mpnnow.com/homepage/x2045582343
Kevin and writer Margaret Poe added some multimedia as well. Good work! |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 1:55 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> david, NBC WASN'T allowed to cover it. that was the purpose of the thread |
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Jean Finley, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Iowa City | IA | USA | Posted: 1:57 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> Not allowed to go? Not even sure what that means. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:11 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> if you're not an ABC affiliate you aren't allowed access. the problem with these shows is they are all staged and they are usually on public streets. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:12 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> which mess up traffic and cause headaches thropught the neighborhood, which then IS a news event |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:16 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> that combine with off duty cops being hired as security make for some interesting first amendment conversations. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:16 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> especially when they attempt to ban you from shooting photos with your -professional looking- camera |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 2:16 PM on 08.26.08 |
| ->> wow. one sentence at a time! bring back the old server! |
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Walter Calahan, Photographer
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Westminster | MD | USA | Posted: 3:45 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> Chuck
I've have the new server reject my long winded remarks the past few days, too.
The thing is very one here has benefitted from my long winded remarks not getting through.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
Someday, everything thing with be 'Made for TV'.
Grin |
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Jeffrey Haderthauer, Photographer
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Wichita Falls | TX | USA | Posted: 4:21 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> For the people who gave me "huh's":
"'Extreme Makeover' house in foreclosure
Clayton County family may lose luxury remodeled home in Lake City
By STAFF REPORT
accessAtlanta
Published on: 07/25/2008
From extreme makeover to extreme foreclosure?
A Clayton County family that got the area's first luxury remodeling job from the television show "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" now faces foreclosure, according to television news reports.
A foreclosure notice on the home in Lake City appeared last Friday, indicating that a $450,000 second mortgage the owners took out less than 15 months ago was in default, WSB-TV reported.
Patricia Harper, the homeowner, told WSB she and her husband had struck a deal with Chase Home Finance to rescue their "extreme" home and that there will be no foreclosure auction. Chase said they couldn't confirm that claim.
Harper told WSB they invested the loan proceeds in a construction business and the business hasn't been good. She didn't say how much of the money is left.
The home at 5489 Ahyoka Dr. has 5,500 square feet after the 2005 makeover, WGCL CBS46 reported.
Lake City mayor Willie Oswalt was among the volunteers who helped build Harper's home 3 1/2 years ago, and Beazer Homes was the main sponsor. The mayor told WSB he is baffled.
"Beazer gave them $100,000 cash, paid their mortgage off and they still can't make it," said Oswalt."
http://tinyurl.com/6lpe9v |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 4:34 PM on 08.26.08 |
->> "the local NBC news guys wouldn't let the station cover the events"
Who isn't allowing the coverage? From the way I'm reading the post, NBC doesn't want to give ABC a free plug for a made for TV ABC event.
Totally understandable that the NBC doesn't want to shift viewers from their own shows to the ABC show and risk loosing viewers to ABC. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 7:58 AM on 08.27.08 |
->> Chuck -
ABC affiliation or not, everyone who wanted access was getting it. I saw no signs of anyone being banned by the show's producers for covering it.
WHEC, our local NBC affiliate, told the reporter who covers that area not to go. Just plain stupid, in my opinion. Eric, you think "NBC doesn't want to shift viewers"? I'm going to go out on a limb and say that it's pretty unlikely that someone will find out from NBC, and only NBC, that "hey, this Extreme show sounds neat. Never heard of it before." Now, in the meantime, NBC is refusing to cover the week's biggest news story. Like it or not, it was the event that everyone wanted to know about. So if NBC doesn't cover it, then their regular viewers are going to - you guessed it - tune into ABC instead to see the coverage! *Viola*, viewers lost. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 8:19 AM on 08.27.08 |
| ->> Oh, and a disclaimer in case anyone actually watches that youtube video on our website - that's shot entirely with those little Canon TX1 point & shoot cameras. Gatehouse Corporate policy: quantity over quality. Sweet. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 8:39 AM on 08.27.08 |
| ->> kevin, I agree with you. stupid move on the local afiliate's part. if it caused the problems it did here in raleigh, it's news. |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 11:04 AM on 08.27.08 |
| ->> tooooo funny.... a governor on Chuck's post.....ROTFLMAO |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:07 PM on 08.27.08 |
->> Kevin I don't think that anyone in the area will be left in the dark based on the NBC blackout. It's a clash of corporations.
Sort of like the recipes on soup can labels. You will never see another brand listed in the recipe. Like a recipe calling for 'crisped rice' on a bag of marshmallows instead of Rice Krispies.
The lines between editorial, advitorial, and entertainment are getting so blurred that this will only get worse as more 'reality' shows focus on smaller regions. What happens when channel 7 creates a talent show and some kid has a tear jerker performance and wins. Will channel 8 9 and 10 want to cover the 'event'?
As for sporting events. Yes most pro league sporting events are held for entertainment purposes. The fact that editorial outlets seek to report on them not withstanding.
Then again EVERYTHING is news to someone. I'm sure that somewhere someone would read a story reporting on Britney's toilet paper preference. Even worse some editor would browbeat his staff for not being the first with the copy. |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 3:10 PM on 08.27.08 |
->> Seems pretty hard to go cover the event without it basically coming down to being an ABC promo, which I'm sure their own location station is all over.
I mean what can you say except something along the lines of the "the ABC program EMHE is in town" or "and that episode will be airing on ABC at such and such date and time" etc etc.
The story would as much be a commerical for a rival networks program as it would be a community news story.
I guess the bigger question is was the local FOX or CBS stations there covering the event ? How about the local newspapers ?
Was this a specific issue of NBC being the only one who provide coverage or did the local media as a whole, with the obvious exception of the ABC not care ? |
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Jeff Mills, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Columbus | OH | USA | Posted: 3:12 PM on 08.27.08 |
| ->> Correction to my last post, which I half expected not to show up, should of said "Was this a specific issue of NBC being the only one who DID NOT provide coverage or did the local media as a whole, with the obvious exception of the ABC not care ? |
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Jesse Beals, Photographer
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Silverdale | WA | USA | Posted: 3:24 AM on 08.28.08 |
->> Hey Kevin,
Just a heads up. I have covered two of these Extreme Home makeovers. One in Kingston, Washington and one in Port Orchard, Washington. If you cover this your going to be treated worse by the ABC crews then any other photo shoot of your life. They the ABC TV people make it a point to not allow you any good shots, any access to the actors or the family being helped out.
The first year they made all the media stand behind the cheering fans with a tree and shed in are view of site. We asked why the fans are closer then the media and the TV producers said because we don't want you getting the money shot.
The second year they came to town, I thought different town, maybe it will be better. This time around they had all the media stand down the road behind the production tent.
It took just about ever thing I had for a week to get any shots. They block off the road, bus people in and out and make you walk miles on miles to these sites. If they spot you in the crowed with a professional camera they have security move you way way way out of site. They will tell you oh, come over here and we will have one of the shows actors come talk to you. You wait 1-2 hours and nobody comes over. In the 10 years I have worked in journalism I have never been treated worse. The first year I watched probably 10-25 contractors walk off the job sites in discussed by the way they were treated. I thought man these guys have issues. The second year I watched close to 30 contractors and crew walk off from the job sites because ABC and the directors were treating everybody like crap.
Good luck my friend, you will never in my life ever see me cover one of these again. The show is a joke, the families get these great new homes and with in 6 months they have to sell them because they can't afford the taxes on them. 95% of what you see on TV is not what happens at these sites. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 7:24 AM on 08.28.08 |
->> Jesse - the shooting is already over. It wasn't the quite as horrific as the experiences you had, but it certainly could have been better. For the final "move that bus" day, while we had one photographer in the designated media position, I took a small consumer camera and just dove right into the mob to shoot from their perspective. Pulitzer quality it isn't, but it didn't look half-bad either.
Jeff - I'm not positive about our CBS/Fox station (same owner), but all print media was there, our Time Warner owned RNews channel was there (along with their news channel from Syracuse), and I saw a couple of radio guys there (not sure who owned them). So no, ABC's local affiliate was not the only group covering it. |
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Clark Brooks, Photo Editor, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 11:05 AM on 08.28.08 |
->> "It took just about ever thing I had for a week to get any shots. "
Next time ask the publisher to allow you to 'rent' a neighboring house in exchange for a six month or year subscription. Then stand on the 'rent' property and shoot away. If the security comes on 'your' property have them cited for trespassing. Go up stairs w/500mm and shoot from one of the bedrooms or from the roof :) There is more than one way to skin a cat if you really need the images. |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 1:48 PM on 08.28.08 |
->> Clark,
I was thinking the same thing. Heck before you go and rent just knock and ask. I've done that in the past to get shots 'behind' a police line.
For that matter rent a driveway and 2 or 3 lifts and setup your own media area. Split the cost between the outlets looking to cover the event.
Then again this was a post about an outlet that DIDN'T want to cover it in the first place ;) |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 2:12 PM on 08.28.08 |
->> Clark;
I had a similar thought. On my last day there, I saw someone watching from a very high second floor balcony directly across the street. I was close to knocking on their door to see if they'd let me up, but after studying the area carefully I realized that the view wouldn't be that much better; if at all. But at other times, that could be just the way to do it. |
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Jesse Beals, Photographer
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Silverdale | WA | USA | Posted: 2:36 AM on 08.29.08 |
->> Tried that in the past. The first year we couldn't get down the driveway to the home owners house because ABC had paid to have the all access to the street and only ABC / the local home owners and the local sheriffs on guard were allowed to use the street
As for the second year, the only neighbor that was near by left because ABC paid to use his property as a staging area. Can't do much when the big boys have bought all other options with there money. By far the worse photo shoot ever. And to think had they allowed the media to come in it could of been a great feel good story both times for the community. |
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Erik Markov, Photographer
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Kokomo | IN | | Posted: 9:39 PM on 10.23.09 |
| ->> Just wanted to add my name to those who have had to endure Extreme Home Fakeover. |
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