Everyone into the pool
Channels 5, 10, and 15, the local CBS, FOX and ABC affiliates respectively, have created a Local News Service to pool video resources to cover events. Sources tell Valley PR Blog that discussions with Channels 3 and 12 are ongoing.
Fox 10 and CBS 5 reportedly have a group deal in markets where both have stations.
The arrangements will free up budget-stricken staffs while helping the TV news outlets more cost-effectively cover “routine news events.”
This comes on the heels of successful arrangements between 3, 12 and 15 to share helicopter news footage in the wake of the tragic 2007 crash of two crews over Steele Indian School Park in Downtown Phoenix.
In a pool, a single photographer shoots footage and then shares the b-roll with the stations involved, each of which individually edit and report from their respective studios with their own talent.
The arrangement is similar to many major markets such as Washington, DC where pooled footage for government news conferences, for example, is the norm.
PR pros can continue to send tips to assignment desks at the respective stations.
“The changes really should not affect the way you contact us,” says ABC 15 Assignment Editor Joe Enea. “Continue to work through each station’s assignment desk. We at LNS get our info from each station anyway. We then review the events and get as many as possible, prioritizing based on station interest.”
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Comments
June 4th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Started about a month ago. Pool cameras have covered a few of our stories. No complaints, seems to be working as advertised.
June 4th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
This has been a smart move for the stations. One pool camera to cover the major stories they all want to be at saves some considerable cash.
June 11th, 2009 at 9:30 am
I understand how this can work for major events or stories, but I’m wondering what this means for likelihood of coverage on lifestyle stories and happenings. Does this mean it’ll be even more difficult to try and get TV coverage for certain events? If its something like a festival, for example, do all of the stations in the pool need to have the desire to cover it before they’ll send someone out? Sounds scary for PR reps who don’t cover hard news clients!
June 11th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Sure it saves the station’s some cash, but what about the Photojournalists who lost their job as camera operators? It’s like taking a doctor and spreading them out over 3 differnt hospitals.
This is also means that everything is going look even more similar that it already does. Content has already suffered severely and will continue to do so without a variety of photogs.
Commercial TV is dead…
June 11th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Katarina – you pitch the desks the same way. As I understand it, if enough stations are interested they have the option to just send the one camera.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:02 am
Stjepan, I would have to say No, this does not mean it will be harder to get events covered. If anything, it will be easier. LNS gives stations more opportunity to cover events they normally would not be able to get to because of the lack of “extra” photographers. Typically, there is only one photographer not paired up with a reporter covering day of news. That’s only one photographer covering day of events AND breaking news. With LNS now there are several photographers assigned to covering day of events and breaking allowing for more flexibility and content.
Valley PR Blog » Blog Archive » Media Tidbits Says:
January 8th, 2010 at 10:38 am
[...] Jones at KPHO is the managing editor for the Local News Service (LNS) where CBS 5, FOX 10 and ABC 15 share stories. Email her interesting, local stories and you [...]