[BC] Making "Breaking News" Happen

Robert Meuser Robertm
Wed Dec 27 22:52:47 CST 2006


That would never fly in NYC.

R


Xen Scott wrote:

> At 12:16 PM 12/27/2006 -0500, Robert Meuser wrote:
>
>> Think about this. It is more than having a camera ready reporter 
>> available. You also need at a minimum one video technician, a camera 
>> man at least one  (probably two) audio people, a lighting director, 
>> an electrician, a producer, a director, an AD and possibly some 
>> graphics people. That is a big staff to carry for no planned show. 
>> Would you pay 12 or more people the appropriate salary to sit around 
>> all night doing nothing?  Then double that for the two shifts needed.
>
>
> Actually, with modern technology and current union contract language,
> it doesn't take that many people to put a basic news report on the air.
>
> ABC News/Wash maintains a hot control room 24/7 with a Producer,
> Director/AD, audio and a Technical Director.  The single "flash camera"
> is un-staffed and hot all the time.  Lights are a wall switch.  Talent
> puts on their own mike and IFB.  Minimal graphics can be called up
> by the Tech. Dir. from storage in the control room switcher.  
> Additionally,
> there are usually enough people in the building working on regularly
> scheduled shifts 24/7 to expand the on-air coverage by reassigning
> them from their normal duties to Special Event coverage.
>
> ABC Master Control in New York is staffed 24/7 and can control remote
> locations in Washington and probably elsewhere.
>
> Early Saturday morning is the only time when staffing is minimal, but
> it's still enough to get on the air with live coverage until more
> people can be called in.
>
> Xen Scott
> (formerly ABC News/Wash, now retired)
>
>
>
>
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