I ran across this from Doug Drew about the impact of 60 Minutes on local news on Shoptalk. I wrote some of my comments at the end by the name. Good read and something every young journalist should read and just try to do everything out on the beat.
What Local News Can Learn From '60 Minutes'
The death of Don Hewitt this week has generated a lot of interest in the history of "60 Minutes." The key to "60 Minutes'" success is in its stories. Viewers tune in because they know they are probably going to see something they haven't seen before or learn something new. Stories in "60 Minutes" are all about discovery. As a viewer, you almost always discover something new and interesting in a "60 Minutes" piece. Watching a local newscast should be no different.
Manuel: Very true. You watch the daily newscast and it's much of the same. Many get e-mails and press conference announcements. They cover that and just want to keep up with the competition. News should be different, organizations need to develop their own brand and dig to finjd their own stories so viewers will watch their newscast.
"News is all the same"
But one of the biggest complaints from viewers in research is that all the news is the same. Same stories day in and day out, and each station seems to have pretty much the same content. There are some stories that are "must-cover," but each newscast, every day, has to have some unique content. If you don't go "beyond the news of the day," then viewers will grow weary of tuning in. You must set the expectation that every single newscast will have something viewers haven't seen before. And even in those must-cover stories that everyone has, there should be some element of surprise or discovery.
Manuel: I would agree finding something unique is the key. Go to a news conference or talk to people on the phone when they call in. Find that unique angle that other statons don't have and makes your product differently. If anything. run the stories as a vosots on the big events if you want to keep up with the others. Moreso, find a personal angle where viewers at home can related to the story. Come up with a teaching angle so viewers can use that information so they don't become a victim.
Finding unique content
But where do you find those stories? They rarely present themselves in news releases, on the wires, or in any of the traditional ways newsrooms find content. Most enterprise stories have to be "discovered," and that means every single news employee should be on the lookout for interesting things whether they are at work, at home, on their way into work, at church, at their kid's baseball game, at the movies, on the internet, in a restaurant or at the gym.
Manuel: Many employees or people come in with ideas or information about a story idea. Sometimes, newsrooms tend to be the expert and ignore stories that your viewing public may be interested in. So bottomline, don't shoot down ideas and look for that personal angle to scoop the competition.
Seeing the news
Anything you see that you find interesting might be a story. It could be a posting from one of your friends on their facebook profile. It could be a sign in a store window. It could be someone interesting standing on the street corner. News is everywhere, but it has to be spotted.
Be as valuable as possible
The best newsrooms are the ones that create their own content daily in addition to the given must-cover stories. It you are someone in the newsroom who is constantly pitching story ideas in the morning meetings, great! Keep it up! For those of you who don't normally look for stories outside your regular work hours, keep in mind that with budget cuts and layoffs mounting each day, it's best to make yourself as valuable as possible, and finding and suggesting stories is one good way to do that.
Doug Drew is a morning news specialist with 602 Communications. You can reach him at ddrew@602communications.com.
Manuel: Great article and great tips Doug. You hit the nail right on the head. Viewers needs to see all these angles and reporters need to develop these stories so they can be valuable, unique and different.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Teen Remembered 20 Years after Disappearance in Aransas Pass
Ruby Messerli came to visit in San Patricio County for the first time in 18 years. She now lives in Idaho, but has been away from Aransas Pass because of the disappearance and presumed murder of big sister back in 1989.
Her sister was Elisa Roberson, a 13-year-old girl, who on August 6, 1989, went to meet a friend in front of Kieberger Elementary School on Goodnight Drive. She vanished and was never seen again.
Messerli, 32, talks about Roberson as if she is still alive and described her relationship with big sister back in the late 80’s.
“I just remember we did everything together,” said Messerli. “I was the tag along. She was the cool one. She had the boyfriends. I was always the one tagging along.”
On the 20th anniversary of her sister’s death, Messerli decided to come back to the town to remember Roberson. She along with other members of this community held a tree planting and memorial marker dedication ceremony.
Messerli did this for closure and so she could come somewhere to visit her sister.
“I decided a year ago today that I needed a place for Elisa,” Messerli said. “I thought 20 years and it’s been too long. We’ve never had anything to remember her by.”
Messerli was the only family to attend the ceremony as others couldn’t make it or admit it’s too difficult to discuss Roberson’s disappearance. With her fiance by her side, she walked up and down Goodnight Drive, trying to get perspective on what happened to her sister on this street in 1989.
Investigators believed she was kidnapped and murdered by someone, possibly living in the neighborhood. We showed her sister where tracking dogs followed her scent and lost it. It’s something she had never been told by police.
“It’s more important to find her remains,” said Messerli. “I know that’s a touchy subject. I know she’s no longer here, but to be able to put them to rest.”
At the ceremony, Messerli held back tears and remained strong remembering her big sister, while friends talked about Roberson, whose disappearance is the city’s biggest mystery in its history.
“This is something I needed to do,” Messerli said. “Yeah, it’s been emotional. It’s been overwhelming, mixed feelings. It’s been a good thing for us, for me.”
Even though Roberson went missing 20 years ago today, police investigators said it’s still one of their active cases and it’s one of their top priorities to get this case solved.
They have had many leads and a person of interest, but police have never been able to get enough evidence to charge him.
“As of right now, we’re still looking to talk to several people, trying to locate them, but as far as anything else, it’s still pending,” Captain Robert Gonzales of the Aransas Pass Police Department.
On this day shortly after the ceremony, the woman who was suppose to meet Roberson was in the police department giving Capt. Gonzales more information for him to investigate. She was talking about Roberson and possible other leads that would help him solve the case.
Because of leads, like that, her family still holds out hope an arrest will be made.
“I do believe that time is coming,” said Messerli. “I know with all this publicity, that helps get it out there and to make people talk and find closure as well.”
Messerli wonders aloud what could have been if her sister wouldn’t have disappear and still been apart of her life.
“It’s something I look at and I think my life could have been so much different had I had my sister,” said Messerli. “Of course, when you have traumatic things happen, it always changes who you are in your life.”
Twenty years later, Messerli just wants to put this traumatic event behind her and find the person responsible for Roberson’s death so her family can have closure.
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
Her sister was Elisa Roberson, a 13-year-old girl, who on August 6, 1989, went to meet a friend in front of Kieberger Elementary School on Goodnight Drive. She vanished and was never seen again.
Messerli, 32, talks about Roberson as if she is still alive and described her relationship with big sister back in the late 80’s.
“I just remember we did everything together,” said Messerli. “I was the tag along. She was the cool one. She had the boyfriends. I was always the one tagging along.”
On the 20th anniversary of her sister’s death, Messerli decided to come back to the town to remember Roberson. She along with other members of this community held a tree planting and memorial marker dedication ceremony.
Messerli did this for closure and so she could come somewhere to visit her sister.
“I decided a year ago today that I needed a place for Elisa,” Messerli said. “I thought 20 years and it’s been too long. We’ve never had anything to remember her by.”
Messerli was the only family to attend the ceremony as others couldn’t make it or admit it’s too difficult to discuss Roberson’s disappearance. With her fiance by her side, she walked up and down Goodnight Drive, trying to get perspective on what happened to her sister on this street in 1989.
Investigators believed she was kidnapped and murdered by someone, possibly living in the neighborhood. We showed her sister where tracking dogs followed her scent and lost it. It’s something she had never been told by police.
“It’s more important to find her remains,” said Messerli. “I know that’s a touchy subject. I know she’s no longer here, but to be able to put them to rest.”
At the ceremony, Messerli held back tears and remained strong remembering her big sister, while friends talked about Roberson, whose disappearance is the city’s biggest mystery in its history.
“This is something I needed to do,” Messerli said. “Yeah, it’s been emotional. It’s been overwhelming, mixed feelings. It’s been a good thing for us, for me.”
Even though Roberson went missing 20 years ago today, police investigators said it’s still one of their active cases and it’s one of their top priorities to get this case solved.
They have had many leads and a person of interest, but police have never been able to get enough evidence to charge him.
“As of right now, we’re still looking to talk to several people, trying to locate them, but as far as anything else, it’s still pending,” Captain Robert Gonzales of the Aransas Pass Police Department.
On this day shortly after the ceremony, the woman who was suppose to meet Roberson was in the police department giving Capt. Gonzales more information for him to investigate. She was talking about Roberson and possible other leads that would help him solve the case.
Because of leads, like that, her family still holds out hope an arrest will be made.
“I do believe that time is coming,” said Messerli. “I know with all this publicity, that helps get it out there and to make people talk and find closure as well.”
Messerli wonders aloud what could have been if her sister wouldn’t have disappear and still been apart of her life.
“It’s something I look at and I think my life could have been so much different had I had my sister,” said Messerli. “Of course, when you have traumatic things happen, it always changes who you are in your life.”
Twenty years later, Messerli just wants to put this traumatic event behind her and find the person responsible for Roberson’s death so her family can have closure.
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
Coastal Bend Towns Dealing with Water Crisis
The Coastal Bend is in the second worst drought of all-time. One area where it's evident is at Lake Corpus Christi. It's only a third full and it's causing some problems for some small towns that use it for a water resource.
Lake Corpus Christi is run by the city of Corpus Christi and it's located about five miles from Mathis, which is in San Patricio County. Corpus Christi uses the lake for its water resource, along with the small cities of Alice, Beeville and Mathis. On a regular basis, water from the Choke Canyon Reservoir is released to keep the water in the lake.
When Lake Corpus Christi is full, it's at 94 feet. Just a year ago, the lake had 91 feet, but one year later, it's at 82.5 feet and dropping one-tenth of a foot a day due to the drought.
Beeville, Alice and Mathis have pump stations to get water out of the lake. None of the cities are on water restrictions, even though two towns may not be able to provide water within the next few weeks.
Beeville is in the worst situation. The city's pump won't be able to pull water out once it hits 80 feet, which is expected in less than a month. Just recently, they asked Corpus Christi for an emergency release of water from Choke Canyon to bail them out of this water crisis.
Beeville water officials haven't even told some of its city council leaders and residents about the water situation, hoping the crisis will be averted.
"It is hot and dry," said Elisa Gonzales, a Beeville worker concerned about the water crisis. "Even where I live, it's horrible. It's the worst I have ever seen."
Alice has nearly two months of water left as its pump station won't be able to get water out at two feet below Beeville. City leaders also have asked for water to be released from the Choke Canyon.
"At 78 feet, it would be simply put: we would not be able pump water out of the reservoir," said Ray De Los Santos, Alice City Manager.
Corpus Christi City Council leaders have to pass an ordinance to get an emergency water release from the Choke Canyon. Staff members are aware of the situation and plan to present the item to council by the end of August.
"The city of Corpus Christi certainly understands our responsibility and obligations to provide water to surrounding communities," said Oscar Martinez, Corpus Christi Assistant City Manager. "At the same time, we understand we need to maximize our firm yield."
Corpus Christi leaders said they advised the cities with pumps at the lake to invest in infrastructure and move the pumps to lower elevations in the early 1990's after the last bad drought.
"We also communicated to them our desire they invest in their facility to make sure we can avoid these problems in the future," Martinez said.
While Alice and Beeville deny they ignored the calls to move the pumps at the lake to a lower level, they also state it's too costly for these small towns to pay that kind of money for the infrastructure investments.
Mathis leaders listened to the advice and it's city leaders got money to move its pumps to another location It won't run out of water until about 64 feet, which means Mathis still has about six months worth of water to provide to its residents.
"About five years ago, we extended 15 to 20 feet, the suction pipe to pull more water in case these emergencies we are having," said Joe Sandoval, the Mathis Public Works Director.
Because of that, they aren't in the same situation as Alice and Beeville. With long-term forecasts expecting a substanial amount of rain by October, it shouldn't have to ask for an emergency water release from Choke Canyon.
"I am hoping we get rain before that," Sandoval said "Hopefully, if everything goes right, the pump keeps up we shouldn't have that problem."
That's good news for Mathis residents, while Beeville and Alice residents must hope the Corpus City Council will help them out so their cities will be able to still provide water services due to the drought.
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
Lake Corpus Christi is run by the city of Corpus Christi and it's located about five miles from Mathis, which is in San Patricio County. Corpus Christi uses the lake for its water resource, along with the small cities of Alice, Beeville and Mathis. On a regular basis, water from the Choke Canyon Reservoir is released to keep the water in the lake.
When Lake Corpus Christi is full, it's at 94 feet. Just a year ago, the lake had 91 feet, but one year later, it's at 82.5 feet and dropping one-tenth of a foot a day due to the drought.
Beeville, Alice and Mathis have pump stations to get water out of the lake. None of the cities are on water restrictions, even though two towns may not be able to provide water within the next few weeks.
Beeville is in the worst situation. The city's pump won't be able to pull water out once it hits 80 feet, which is expected in less than a month. Just recently, they asked Corpus Christi for an emergency release of water from Choke Canyon to bail them out of this water crisis.
Beeville water officials haven't even told some of its city council leaders and residents about the water situation, hoping the crisis will be averted.
"It is hot and dry," said Elisa Gonzales, a Beeville worker concerned about the water crisis. "Even where I live, it's horrible. It's the worst I have ever seen."
Alice has nearly two months of water left as its pump station won't be able to get water out at two feet below Beeville. City leaders also have asked for water to be released from the Choke Canyon.
"At 78 feet, it would be simply put: we would not be able pump water out of the reservoir," said Ray De Los Santos, Alice City Manager.
Corpus Christi City Council leaders have to pass an ordinance to get an emergency water release from the Choke Canyon. Staff members are aware of the situation and plan to present the item to council by the end of August.
"The city of Corpus Christi certainly understands our responsibility and obligations to provide water to surrounding communities," said Oscar Martinez, Corpus Christi Assistant City Manager. "At the same time, we understand we need to maximize our firm yield."
Corpus Christi leaders said they advised the cities with pumps at the lake to invest in infrastructure and move the pumps to lower elevations in the early 1990's after the last bad drought.
"We also communicated to them our desire they invest in their facility to make sure we can avoid these problems in the future," Martinez said.
While Alice and Beeville deny they ignored the calls to move the pumps at the lake to a lower level, they also state it's too costly for these small towns to pay that kind of money for the infrastructure investments.
Mathis leaders listened to the advice and it's city leaders got money to move its pumps to another location It won't run out of water until about 64 feet, which means Mathis still has about six months worth of water to provide to its residents.
"About five years ago, we extended 15 to 20 feet, the suction pipe to pull more water in case these emergencies we are having," said Joe Sandoval, the Mathis Public Works Director.
Because of that, they aren't in the same situation as Alice and Beeville. With long-term forecasts expecting a substanial amount of rain by October, it shouldn't have to ask for an emergency water release from Choke Canyon.
"I am hoping we get rain before that," Sandoval said "Hopefully, if everything goes right, the pump keeps up we shouldn't have that problem."
That's good news for Mathis residents, while Beeville and Alice residents must hope the Corpus City Council will help them out so their cities will be able to still provide water services due to the drought.
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
Decision Expected Tuesday on Taft Officers
The Taft City Manager was disciplined over the rap video produced in the city that many say portrays gangs and drugs, but Tuesday will be d-day for two officers who the police chief has recommended be fired over the flap.
In June, Sgt. Randy Gipprich, who was the supervising officer, and Officer Daryl Sutlemeier were on duty, providing crowd control for the production of the video calling "Swangn", which was shot in three locations of the city by a Taft rap group.
Producers said the video was about cars moving side to side in a reckless way and wasn't about any illegal activity or criminal element. In the video seen on You Tube, it also has a slo-motion shot of a Taft Police car and Officer Sutlemeier, nodding his head in disagreement.
The officers claim they were doing their jobs and didn't take part in the video. Contrary to that, rap producers said the officer did act in the video and was a participant.
The police car and officer in the video enraged many Taft residents and other law enforcement agencies who said the video glorifies gangs, drugs, prostitution and reckless driving. Critics said the presence of the police shows law enforcement approves the video and its message.
New police chief Paul Rivera wasn't the top cop when the video was produced. He was disappointed with presence of the police car and officer. He recommended both officers get terminated for their participation.
An internal investigation is still ongoing, trying to determine if the officers took part in the video willingly or were shot from the public right-a-way. At a public meeting Tuesday morning, a decison will be made on whether they get fired or just disciplined.
Some critics have questioned the role of Taft Mayor Bobby Vega in the controversy. He had been elected already and was in town the day of the rap video shooting. Vega was attending a clean-up day in the city. He has declined comment, claiming he wants the internal investigation to be finished before he comments.
The rap producers were suppose to show up at a Taft City Council meeting on Tuesday to apologize for the uproar caused by the video. but showed up late after city leaders were in closed session. They left and never made a statement.
Rap producers called the city Friday, telling them they are willing to adjust the end of the video, indicating they would remove the police car and police officer. We called to clarify that, but they never called us back.
The city manager also said a new ordinance will be presented to the Taft City Council, saying city leaders will have to review and approve any productions shot in Taft.
*If you want to view the video, go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyzbl67K76E
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
In June, Sgt. Randy Gipprich, who was the supervising officer, and Officer Daryl Sutlemeier were on duty, providing crowd control for the production of the video calling "Swangn", which was shot in three locations of the city by a Taft rap group.
Producers said the video was about cars moving side to side in a reckless way and wasn't about any illegal activity or criminal element. In the video seen on You Tube, it also has a slo-motion shot of a Taft Police car and Officer Sutlemeier, nodding his head in disagreement.
The officers claim they were doing their jobs and didn't take part in the video. Contrary to that, rap producers said the officer did act in the video and was a participant.
The police car and officer in the video enraged many Taft residents and other law enforcement agencies who said the video glorifies gangs, drugs, prostitution and reckless driving. Critics said the presence of the police shows law enforcement approves the video and its message.
New police chief Paul Rivera wasn't the top cop when the video was produced. He was disappointed with presence of the police car and officer. He recommended both officers get terminated for their participation.
An internal investigation is still ongoing, trying to determine if the officers took part in the video willingly or were shot from the public right-a-way. At a public meeting Tuesday morning, a decison will be made on whether they get fired or just disciplined.
Some critics have questioned the role of Taft Mayor Bobby Vega in the controversy. He had been elected already and was in town the day of the rap video shooting. Vega was attending a clean-up day in the city. He has declined comment, claiming he wants the internal investigation to be finished before he comments.
The rap producers were suppose to show up at a Taft City Council meeting on Tuesday to apologize for the uproar caused by the video. but showed up late after city leaders were in closed session. They left and never made a statement.
Rap producers called the city Friday, telling them they are willing to adjust the end of the video, indicating they would remove the police car and police officer. We called to clarify that, but they never called us back.
The city manager also said a new ordinance will be presented to the Taft City Council, saying city leaders will have to review and approve any productions shot in Taft.
*If you want to view the video, go to the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qyzbl67K76E
--Manuel De La Rosa, mannydelarosa@yahoo.com
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