Web Chick's Blog

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Many people do not realize what a small world broadcast journalism is.  Many of the people have worked with each other over the years as they worked they way up through the industry.

 

At large events like this debate, crews, reporters and even politicians run into people they haven’t seen in sometimes years.  It’s a really neat undercurrent that always runs under the surface here.

 

It doesn’t matter who you work for now … you were good friends in another life, as we say.

 

Hugs and cries of “How you doing?!” can always be heard.  Questions about the spouse and children, how are the old co-workers, have you seen so-and-so lately run rampant.

 

If you ever thought we hate each other when we get together … guess again.  We generally all share space well, help each other out, and without compromising your own product, work together rather well … there are a lot of us in a small space … we have to.

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A quiet hush settles on the room as Spin Alley turns into reporter central … all we can hear is the speaker booming throughout the room.

Everyone settles in around the little TVs in the booths … and in front of the large TVs on the tables on the floor.

A window right above our booth is filled with people looking down and watching the action down here.

It’s rather amazing to understand the next Vice President of the United States is about 100’ away from across the hall and talking to a group of my colleagues, college students and members of the public.

The rows of tables and TVs are full of people concentrating so hard and listening to every word … the view from the back of the room is amazing as you see an ocean of huge blue screens and every one of them has the candidates speaking.

9:10 … the crews are starting to get restless.  Reporters are still listening intently, but the photogs and engineers have mostly tuned out.

We grab something to eat in the hospitality tent ... thanks A-B! Then we head back inside to get the last interviews and get ready for the live stream.  We were on air from 5-7, then live streaming from 7-8.  We git a little break between the last on air hit at 6:30 and the live stream at 7 ...

We got Russ Carnahan ... saw Lacy Clay ... but most of the politicians have become scarce ...

The room is busy and excited ... but it's going to quiet down while the debate is on ...


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

The Internet connection is working and the walk across campus was fun.

One area was set aside for students. A large stage had a speaker talking and students carrying an array signs, including the standard candidate saigns ... my favorite was the guy carrying the "No Snakes On Planes" sign ... ah humor!

Two security checkpoints were not bad ... just a little more than at the airport if you have to hand check there.  The girls at the table I went to were very nice.  They let me keep my apples.

Katie Couric was doing an interview outside when we walked in ... Claire McCaskill was just doing an interview two booths down, here in Spin Alley.

I'll upload some photos in a bit ...


-- Jill --
The We Chick

Wednesday afternoon and evening Washington University was buzzing with activity as the Vice Presidential debate neared the t minus 24 hours mark.  Lights were still being hoisted to the ceiling and sound checks were being performed in the debate hall.  Crews were either putting finishing touches on their booths in spin alley, or just setting up their few computers and monitors.

Spin Alley is surprisingly quiet. The thing that shocks you when you look a the room are all the huge TVs set every table or so.  These will be showing every move Thursday night.  He empty row upon row of tables and plastic folding chairs will be full of talking, writing, phoning, scribbling reporters from every state and from around the world.

Looking over the room, there is already a buzz, but you know the air will be thick in less than a day.  The wide open space at the front of the room, right in front of our little pipe and drape booth will be jammed full of people running back and forth, being interviewed and talking on the phone.

The debate room is across the hallway.  It’s dark, very dark.  There are fewer chairs than I expected.  No wonder it’s hard to get a ticket to attend!  Two students stand at the podiums and a woman is positioned at the moderator stand.  The students are running through the sound check with a discussion of the finer points of fajitas (guacamole or no guacamole), extreme sports (base jumping), and dorm room decorating (Home Depot interior design anyone?).

A wall of booths towers above everything at the back, with black cloth curtains hiding the supports for the network booths lined up facing the stage.  The CNN booth already has people in it and lights at full glare.

We get our web cam set up and running and I get a tour of the facility from Planning Manager Chris Smith.  We see the FOX News area and CNN; over in another corner is ABC News.

I spend the next hour following reporter Charles Jaco and photographer Wade Smith as they interview a Wash U professor and I go explore sat truck row.  Quite a site to see so many huge trucks lined up, but not as many as I had expected.  CNN has an entire motor home – a class a with a pop-out!  Wow!

Back to the station to make some last-minute changes on the debate page, tweak the web cams page and make the photo gallery.

Thursday is going to be long … and quite exciting!

-- Jill --
The Web Chick

How do you decide you believe one source over another?  Is it simply that some people appear to be more honest?  Or is it that working for a company you consider reputable demonstrates to you that person must know what they are talking about?

Print, TV and radio – do you believe one of these more than the others?

How much do you believe on the Internet?  Do you ever check to see if information you find on the Internet is real?  Do you use sites like Snopes or FactCheck to verify Internet sites?  Do you venture away from large sites, or do you tend to stick mainly to recognized news sources?

What about e-mails?  Where do they fall in your credibility test?  Do you believe newsletters sent to you by sites that you sign up for?  What about chain e-mails sent to you by friends?

Why do you trust some information over others?

-- Jill --
The Web Chick

OK, so we’ve talked about what you see for news in the future.  Where do you get your news now?

Do you use online more than print?  What about newspapers and radio?

Do you look at more than one source?  Do you look at only one cable channel or TV station, or do you get as many points of view as you can?

Do you have time to get news from other sources each day?

Do you get any news magazines or listen to talk radio?

Do you get any news e-mails on your phone right now, or do you look at websites on your phone?

-- Jill --
The Web Chick

How do you see yourself getting news in the future?  How do you *want* to get news in the future?  TV, radio, newspapers, cell phones, household appliances, Internet …

Technology, innovations, gadgets, the Internet – these have all changed many aspects of our lives and they will continue to change the news and how you get it.

In 10 years, in 25 years, do you still expect to be able to turn on your TV at 5:00 or 6:00 pm, then again at 9:00 or 10:00 pm to watch some sort of newscast?

What about radio and newspapers?  Some people say newspapers will disappear.  Do you think they will, or will they just change?  Maybe they will print periodically or only portions, with more news online.  Maybe they will combine with TV and radio to cover all aspects of news delivery.

Do you see more cable news in the future?  Like websites and blogs, will you turn to cable channels that match your political, social or religious views for your news?  Will there be more cable channels and fewer networks?

What about cell phones and mobile devices?  Will they replace other tools and become the main source for news, entertainment and communication?

How do you see the future … and what do you want the future to be if you had your way?


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

This question, posed more than 100 years ago, helped start a revolution in the perception and training of those who gather information and disseminate it to the public.

As many of you know, I am an alumnus of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.  Last week, the oldest journalism school in the world celebrated its 100th anniversary.  To celebrate, not only were there ribbon cuttings and dedications, but there were three days of seminars, roundtables and vigorous discussions.

Reading through your blogs, listening to talk radio, and answering your e-mails, we understand you are concerned with what is “news” and how it is presented.  Understand you are not the only ones with these questions.

Not only is it important for the practitioners in a field to constantly question themselves and their field, but they must also continually keep in contact with those who consume their product.

So here I am with a series of questions for you.  These are the things I heard discussed and also argued myself.

My first question starts with the basics and I will pose a new thought each day.

I’d love to hear what you have to say – and there are a lot of other journalists from across the country and even around the world who will be checking in to read your thoughts, too.

As a graduate of J-School, I received, along with my diploma, a copy of the Journalists Creed.  The first line reads, “I believe in the profession of journalism.”

Here it goes … do you believe journalism is a “profession”?  Are we “professionals”?

What do “profession” and “professional” mean to you and what standards does that imply?

In order to be a profession, must the field require some sort of certification or licensing?  Would you expect journalists to have some sort of initials after their byline telling you they are a member of some sort of organization or have passed some sort of test (like CPA, MD, or MSW)?

Do you consider me a journalist?  (Don’t worry, I will not be offended by your answers!)  Who *is* a journalist?

Let’s hear what you have to say!

-- Jill --
The Web Chick

There is a renewed campaign to reduce the national speed limit to 55 again.

From our national FOX web team story ...

"Nearly 15 years after it was removed by Congress, the effort to limit driving speed in the United States to 55 mph is back.

The national 55-miles-per-hour speed limit was introduced in 1970s.

Proposed by President Nixon and enacted in January 1974, the nationwide speed limit was supposed to be a temporary emergency response to oil shortages and was to expire in mid-1975, but Congress quickly made it permanent."

Read The Story Here

Do you think this will make any difference? Can you drive 55 again?

I don't think I can do it! That drive to Columbia is sooooooooo long when you have a 55 mile an hour speed limit.

Did you know politicians were thinking about this?  This is the first I'd heard about it!


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

I was thrilled last week to get word that Ronnie Baker Brooks is coming back to town!

It's been a year since we saw him and we've been ready for it!

So here's the scoop ... RBB is coming as part of the Labor Day Big Muddy Blues Festival ... woo hoo what a weekend it will be!

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Chicago's own " Torch of the Blues", Ronnie Baker Brooks returns to Saint Louis this Labor Day weekend / August 29, 30, 2008!!!

RONNIE BAKER BROOKS
August 29, 30, 2008
Shamrock Pub
1131 S Broadway
St Louis, MO 63104, United States

9:30pm

Saturday Aug 30 will be the first of the 2-day Big Muddy Blues Festival this year. Ronnie's show that night, right down the street, will be the Shamrock's AFTER FEST BASH. Expect a magical night celebrating the delivery of the Mississippi's creative lifeblood to the banks of the blues in Saint Louis and beyond. And don't be surprised if you see a very special guest or two joining us that night…

These will be Ronnie's ONLY appearances this summer in the 'Lou, so pick your night (or nights), mark your calendars and plan on a big party on the big muddy… Highly recommended festival appearances on Saturday include Marquis Knox, Big George Brock and the Houserockers, and Kenny Neal. For a complete festival lineup please visit www.bigmuddyblues.com.

Ronnie's had a hand in two releases this summer, both of which broke the top 10 on the Billboard and RMR blues charts. To hear his latest collaborations, pick up Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater's West Side Strut on Alligator Records, and The Legendary Rhythm and Blues Revue's Command Performance on Delta Groove Records, recorded live on tour with The Tommy Castro Band, Deanna Bogart and Magic Dick (the "Whammer Jammer' of J Geils Band fame).

Also, look for Elvin Bishop's new release The Blues Rolls On, also on Delta Groove, due to be released in September. Ronnie Baker Brooks joins a stellar list of participants including B.B. King, James Cotton, Derek Trucks, George Thorogood, Warren Haynes, Kim Wilson and Tommy Castro on what is destined to become an instant classic.

Thanks for helping to keep these blues alive. See you at the show!!

Mom and dad visited from Oregon this summer and brought 16 boxes of "stuff" from my childhood.  Included in this delivery were 3 boxes of china from grandma, nothing special or expensive, just some cheap old china dad bought for her years ago.

I immediately threw away four boxes of junk that mom could not bring herself to throw away herself (I felt bad they drove it all the way out, but I had told them to throw it away).

I am stuck now with a box of old trophies ... I went to one of those schools that passed them out like water ...

... well, what do you DO with them!?  Is there a way to re-purpose old trophies?

Give me some ideas ...


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

On the way to work I saw the strangest combination ...

... a taxi company was advertising on the side of a bus!

It sorta seems like the two would be competing with each other for the same customers.

It just seems so weird to see ...


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

So I have a bad habit of baking cookies, then sharing!  I admit it!  Brought in a batch of oatmeal and a batch of chocolate chip this week.

Whenever I bake, I always laugh at the subtle differences that can drastically change the whole character of the treat.

Milk Chocolate or Semi-Sweet - which chocolate chips do you prefer?  I grew up with milk chocolate, so to me, that's the best chip to use.  I don't like chocolate chip cookies too much, but I love chocolate chips in my oatmeal cookies!

Nuts or No Nuts - in your cookies?  I like nuts - just not in my cookies!  When baking for others, I usually either do no nuts at all or only in one flavor - I've worked several places where at least one person was allergic to nuts and I wanted to make sure they could enjoy at least one of the cookies.

Oatmeal with Raisins or Chocolate Chips - I like my oatmeal cookies with both raisins AND (milk) chocolate chips.  It's funny how many other people like only one or the other ... and there seems to be no consensus on which is better.

(It's funny how many people grew up having chocolate chips in their oatmeal cookies and thought *those* were chocolate chip cookies!)

How do you like your cookies?


-- Jill --
The Web Chick

By ARIEL DAVID Associated Press Writer

VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Believing that the universe may contain alien life does not contradict a faith in God, the Vatican's chief astronomer said in an interview published Tuesday.

The Rev. Jose Gabriel Funes, the Jesuit director of the Vatican Observatory, was quoted as saying the vastness of the universe means it is possible there could be other forms of life outside Earth, even intelligent ones.

"How can we rule out that life may have developed elsewhere?" Funes said. "Just as we consider earthly creatures as 'a brother,' and 'sister,' why should we not talk about an 'extraterrestrial brother'? It would still be part of creation."

Read full story HERE
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What do you think?