NewzPimpin 1 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 The ABC and CW affiliates in Memphis (which is just one station operating 2 frequencies) is holding a contest called "The Best Part Time Gig Ever". They "need" a traffic reporter and rather than trying to "fill" the position the traditional way, they decided to hold auditions. They then selected 10 finalists. Now they are down to 5. Viewers are encouraged to offer input. I'd like to offer a bit of input, but for fear of being a wet blanket, I'll comment here rather than on the ABC24 website. This has got to be the most desperate, dumbest and downright most frustrating stunts I have ever seen a local station pull. Why? Because it's stupid, that's why. Well, I need to explain it better than that, I suppose.... OK. You have a bunch of people, who just walk up off the streets, who think that this is their legitimate ticket into the TV news business. These people are not standing in line to try out to be a traffic reporter; in their delusional minds, they think that this is their way to the anchor desk. And the sad part about it is that the person that ends up getting picked will most likely be able to build their career in TV, and by a pure fluke, be hired as a reporter somewhere. Not because the person is talented or good at what they do, but because they've be on TV in a top 50 market. Meanwhile, I've spent 5 years in school and I have to send out resume tapes to places like Glendive, MT and Hazard, KY to even get a chance to be on TV, and I paid thousands of dollars to do so. It's just like when the guy from the first season of CBS' Survivor, Sean Kenniff was made a network medical reporter for CBS News (he still works in that capacity today, BTW). Yeah, he was a doctor, so we know he wasn't an idiot. But he paid no dues; they just "made" him a reporter. I'm sorry, but I don't respect people who get jobs in TV news like that. Worst case scenario: the winner of this "contest" will be a weekend anchor/reporter in a couple of years in a major market. To see the finalists in this disaster waiting to happen, go here: http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/content/rugoodenough/default.aspx Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCAUTVNBC10 413 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Looks like they stole that idea from WCAU who had "The Best Summer Gig Ever" (which they won a few Emmys for). Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10741 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ntropolis 596 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 WTKR did it a couple years ago... "Hampton Roads' Next TV Superstar" after the traffic reporter, Bianca Martinez, was promoted to morning co-anchor (and she's actually pretty good). Jennifer Cooper won the contest, I believe she had some previous experience. Jennifer left earlier this year. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
A3N 1002 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Didn't WKMG in Florida have a traffic reporter audition as well. I saw that they were overwhelmed with walk ups. I agree with Newzpimpin that this is really stupid. However it is a way for stations to get more and more cheap and reduce salaries. :-\ Sad. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10743 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jterry 43 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Yeah, the idea was taken from WKMG for WPTY/WLMT's purposes according to an article the local paper ran on it a few weeks ago, though other stations have done it before. I was tempted to start a thread at one point but the whole thing is just so stupid, but sadly is becoming more commonplace in markets around the country, big and small as preceding posts already attest to. FWIW, the ND is saying this isn't a sweeps stunt and had been planned for months, but just happened to fall into place during May. At any rate, whether originally intended as a sweeps stunt or not, they've made it into one in every way possible. They've stretched it out to where the big winner will be announced on Wednesday, the last day of the book. Shocking! It is a cheap way to get out of paying more money. Their original traffic reporter left because they wouldn't pay him enough, and the station simply said they didn't have anymore money to give him. Especially sad as their original traffic guy was Joey Hadley who was a great personality and talent, knew every possible in-and-out to traffic in this region, and had already gained fame in the 90s when he did the traffic gig at WREG. But also keep in mind of the station we're dealing with, WPTY/WLMT, which has been incredibly cheap ever since their big turnover in 2002. I mean they do their morning show on a chroma-key set, their newscasts are almost completely automated (their morning show is fully automated), and the music they are using is over 20 years old. And the sell off is certainly not helping now...they've spent some money recently on updating a few aspects of their product but it still incredibly cheap. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10745 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThunderJay27 45 Posted May 21, 2007 Share Posted May 21, 2007 Looks like they stole that idea from WCAU who had "The Best Summer Gig Ever" (which they won a few Emmys for). They sure did and deservedly so. CBS 3 tried to run promos against it, but they failed in knocking down the popularity of B.S.G.E. The original winner, John Ogden, is liked by many in Philadelphia and still works for the station today. So this idea can work if it's done right. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10746 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewzPimpin 1 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Looks like they stole that idea from WCAU who had "The Best Summer Gig Ever" (which they won a few Emmys for). They sure did and deservedly so. CBS 3 tried to run promos against it, but they failed in knocking down the popularity of B.S.G.E. The original winner, John Ogden, is liked by many in Philadelphia and still works for the station today. So this idea can work if it's done right. That's the thing: WPTY/WLMT is doing this WAY too quickly, and as Jterry said, the contest ends on the last day of the May book. And this most likely will not help them in the ratings department. Since starting a news program in December of 1995, WTPY/WLMT has NEVER gotten a book; ever. In fact, they've been rated 4th out of 4 for over 11 years. I don't know; I guess I get a little peeved when I see stuff like this happen in TV news. But hey, it may turn out like when Headline News hired Andrea Thompson ;D Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewzPimpin 1 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Meanwhile, I've spent 5 years in school and I have to send out resume tapes to places like Glendive, MT and Hazard, KY to even get a chance to be on TV, and I paid thousands of dollars to do so. Is this jelousy I see? Life isn't fair. The sooner you realize it, the better you'll be. Hardly. If you worked for a company for 5 years and someone with no experience came in and was given the job you spend years working your way up to, you'd feel the same way. I live what is called a "resent-free" lifestyle. I am a believer in the philosophy of Robert Sheaffer's book "Resentment Against Achievement", a well written but out of print book which tackles how resentment and jealousy (the correct spelling, BTW) contribute to failure. Rather than being jealous of someone, I try to emulate their methods so that I can be successful too. I don't "player hate": I appreciate, emulate, congratulate and try to participate. None of the people I cite, including the traffic reporter finalists, Sean from Survivor or Andrea Mitchell are not what anyone would call talented. If they were, I'd back off and take notes. I don't criticize people who are better than me; that's what losers do. And you've successfully managed to miss the entire point of the post... Robert Sheaffer's excellent book can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Resentment-Against-Achievement-Understanding-Assault/dp/0879754478 Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10754 Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewzPimpin 1 Posted May 21, 2007 Author Share Posted May 21, 2007 Meanwhile, I've spent 5 years in school and I have to send out resume tapes to places like Glendive, MT and Hazard, KY to even get a chance to be on TV, and I paid thousands of dollars to do so. Is this jelousy I see? Life isn't fair. The sooner you realize it, the better you'll be. Tiki Barber has no background in TV journalism, yet I think he has what it takes to move to hard news; he's that good. Plus, if you saw any of the traffic reporter finalists, you'd see that they're no Tiki Barber... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10755 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerseyfla 207 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Yeah, the idea was taken from WKMG Which WKMG actually copyed the idea from WCAU's 2003 Best Summer Gig Ever. I think WCAU was actually looking for a Communications Major college graduate to do the gig not just anyone off the street like WKMG is doing. Trust me if I wasn't working at 5am that morning, I would've taken the 1 hour drive to the station to give it a try. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10761 Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAVY 10 Fan 233 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Meanwhile, I've spent 5 years in school and I have to send out resume tapes to places like Glendive, MT and Hazard, KY to even get a chance to be on TV, and I paid thousands of dollars to do so. Is this jelousy I see? Life isn't fair. The sooner you realize it, the better you'll be. Tiki Barber has no background in TV journalism, yet I think he has what it takes to move to hard news; he's that good. Seriously, your point is... Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10785 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jess 1115 Posted May 22, 2007 Share Posted May 22, 2007 Yeah, the idea was taken from WKMG Which WKMG actually copyed the idea from WCAU's 2003 Best Summer Gig Ever. I think WCAU was actually looking for a Communications Major college graduate to do the gig not just anyone off the street like WKMG is doing. Trust me if I wasn't working at 5am that morning, I would've taken the 1 hour drive to the station to give it a try. Yeah, WCAU had standards with their contest. I know most of the finalists had considerable experience - if not in television, then definitely in the public eye. Ogden did work for the student-owned TV station at LaSalle University. Vince Valantine, another finalist, is a stage actor and a comedian. And one of the finalists was Gervase from the first Survivor. So they definitely didn't just pick the candidates off the street, they chose the finalists real carefully. And it worked out very very well. Link to comment https://localnewstalk.net/topic/1266-best-part-time-gig-everworst-sweeps-stunt-ever/#findComment-10795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.