Re: Will News/Information In Morning Drive Soon Vanish from Music Stations?

[Mark Shneyder <bostonradio@yahoo.com>]

I don't need to contact your friend because I am quite aware of what's
going out there...If I was running
a radio or TV station, I would never ever use a news service created
by a former used car dealer. Would you? And, I certainly don't need to
hear another sugarcoated sales pitch from an organization which would
put out a false traffic reports over public airwaves just so it could
catch a competitor tapping into its info bank...With all due respect,
Shel, I hope you don't always believe everything you hear or read...

FYI : Their Washington office only gets the skimpiest
Reuters package.

Then, there's the Metro Source which Metro Networks
is marketing as an 'alternative' to AP or UPI. Already some 600
stations are using Metro Source, a pretty advanced computer system, I
must say, after seeing one in operation at a station on Long Island. I
believe
Metro even installs the special terminal at the subscriber
stations...Stations' personnel can search
trhu the stories and pick&choose what fits the format
and not what is necessarily a major/top story.

Still, Metro's news gathering operation is being run like a used car
dealership as opposed to a credible news organization. In many
markets, Metro has begun selling video footage(with audio) from local
press conferences/major news/sports/entertainment events(where all
news stations usually show up) to local TV news depts. In turn, local
stations can save $$$ on photographers/freelance
reporters/producers/editors....

- -Mark


 
> Shel says:  A frind of mine has worked for Metro in Miami, Florida
for 14
> years.  I forwarded him the above message, and here's his response:
> 
> From Dave Mitchell:
> 
> 
> I can only speak for the Miami operation, in which I know the above
is NOT
> true.
> 
> While we do monitor other news sources (newspaper, major television
> networks, etc.), ALL wire services (AP, UPI, Reuters, etc.) do also.
> 
> Our primary source of news in Miami comes from Metro Video News. 
This is
> our own media division with 25 full- or part-time photojournalists and
> assignment desk editors.  We monitor literally thousands of police and
> public service communications frequencies every second of the day,
24/7.
> 
> We also work directly with dozens of public information officers for
area
> law enforcement agencies; state, county and municipal governmental
entities,
> and major organizations in the private sector.  I can't tell you the
amount
> of paper we use receiving press-release faxes.
> 
> Our journalists (both photojournalists and broadcast reporters, as
> necessary)  are dispatched to the scene of breaking news where (in
addition
> to their photographic duties), they gather sound bites and other
information
> which is instantly transmitted to the journalist on duty in the Metro
> Networks News division in Miami.  The story is then immediately
written and
> sound is edited and shipped via satellite to our national news
headquarters
> in Phoenix and then is vended to our affiliate stations also via
satellite.
> What international news that is not handled by our bureaus in France,
> Mexico, and several in the United Kingdom, is handled through a direct
> outsource contractural agreement with Reuters.
> 
> Also, we are one of only 2 agencies (the other being CBS Television)
to have
> a former scientist from the National Hurricane Center on our full-time
> payroll.  (ABC Television does have a former forecaster who is a paid
> consultant).  We are the only broadcast network ISDN-capable
full-time from
> the NHC.
> 
> If you need more information, contact Bill Richardson at Metro
Source in
> Phoenix, Arizona (you'll have to get the number from directory
assistance).
> Tell him Dave Mitchell in Miami directed you to call.
> 
> I hope that answers some of your questions.
> 
> See ya,
> 
> Me
> 
> 
> 
> 

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