When it comes to news releases, we get more email, faxes and phone calls than we can count. It would seem that virtually everyone wants to be on television. Of course that’s not true, but lots of people with great stories do. And many of them blow their chances.
Today, I took a shot at helping some local non-profit agencies improve their odds. Kathy Flynn, a Vice President of Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo invited me to participate in a seminar designed to help agency leaders do better jobs of publicizing their causes. I jumped at the chance because helping them understand the needs of our newsroom helps us tell better stories.
So, what’s the secret? It’s pretty simple really. We’re interested in finding and telling compelling, visually interesting stories that connect with our television viewers and internet readers. The key to a successful story pitch is helping us make that important connection.
For example, consider the case of a local heating assistance program running out of money. The first instinct might be to put a program leader in front of a microphone at a news conference, but that’s really not the most compelling way to tell the story. Instead, we would want to follow the money to local famlies who benefit from the program. Who better than a young mother strugging to heat the house and feed the family, to tell our viewers why the program needs more money.
In really simplistic terms, you might call it finding the "people angle" of the story. If you can help us do that, your chances of getting your message on KWWL and KWWL.com are greatly improved.
Jon Okerstrom
News Director
Posted under From the Corner Office
This post was written by jjarvis on October 10, 2007
during the 5:30 evening news when the story on texting and driving was on channel 7 on my tv just shut off. it got all fuzzy and i checked the other channels and they were fine. I then tried calling two of kwwls newsrooms and the phone said they were disconnected. This seems really suspicious considering the companies that like teens to text have the ability to also jam signals.
Ian,
Thanks for your comment. We experienced transmitter problems that night and had to switch to our back-up transmitter which broadcasts a weaker signal. That would explain the loss of picture quality. I can’t speak to your issue with telephones. Based on the number of calls into our newsroom when the transmitter issues surfaced, I can tell you our phone numbers worked flawlessly.
Jon Okerstrom
News Director
I am using my wife’s e-mail…….. I hope you get this. When the tornado hit Iowa city, I was able to get channel 7 really clear…. shortly after that it went back to “pretty fuzzy”, but I love you guys, and now after Feb 17th, I probably won’t get to see you at all. Wish I could get you as good as I get kttc channel 10 out of Rochester…. you guys are the BEST!!!!! tom
I have been testing with my converter box since last March, nothing comes in but IPTV, Ch 2,Ch 4.
We was told that anything that we would be getting with my antenna we would get and then even more.
Right now with just the antenna we get Ch.2,4,6,7,8,9,12,18,20,32,40,48.
My location is on a farm near Wyoming, IA. 52362. I NEED someone to tell me why we can not get anymore then 3 stations and the one we CAN NOT LIVE WITHOUT is KWWL Weather!
We Love this station and NBC. HELP!
FIRST I need to correct my grammar. “We were”,
not, “We was”. Sorry.
Now what I want to add is all of these channels come in “Color Crisp”. We couldn’t be more happy with our T.V. right now.
We are planning on getting an antenna that is suppose to reach as far as 70 miles. Plus we live on one of the highest points in Jones Co.
Our telephone Co. will not be cable ready for two to three years and satellite is not weather proof.
I know there are more of us out here that are going to be affected by this and it could very well mean you would loose many viewers.
The people that live out in rural areas should have just as much right to have access to this modernized up date than any other house hold.
I can not find anyone that will answer my questions……there has to be someone out there who is smart enough to answer and fix this glitch OR maybe we are just not ready for the switch!!! PLEASE Respond
On the weather this morning they said that waterloo was -34 degress which was a record well it also was -34 here in waterville ia was that also a record for us
I would like to do a (you ask-we answer). I am from Bagley WI and have a bit of news that may be of interest. On Wed.Jan.14 a vehicle was trying to drive on the ice of the Mississippi River from one local landing to another (Jays Landing to The River of Lakes Landing). It was reported to local authorities with the county sherrifs dept. and the area DNR…both were told that the vehicle would be pulled out that nite. It still sits mostly submerged in the icey river today Sun. Jan.18. In calling the DNR we were told that they actually have 20 days to pull it out…I think that is just an excuse. This vehicle is leaking gas and other polutants into the river that we fish, hunt and trap out of. If we can’t keep this simple issue from happening it’s no wonder that we have the extreme polution that we do. It’s a cryin shame that such an incident should happen anywhere and nothing is being done about it. The local authorities haven’t even check to make sure the vehicle was pulled out….what kind of people are they…If it was in their backyard maybe they would be more concerned. I’d like to hear back from you on this issue…I wasn’t sure who I should pass this on to. My phone number is 608-996-2733 (home) or 563-880-9616 (cell) or you have my email address. Thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully you will show your concern also.
Digital transition was a disaster. I have a convertor box on the TV in my bedroom and was receiving your digital signal with clarity with my convertor box and amplified VHF/UHF antenna, as well as all other local digital channels. Low and behold, February 17th comes along. I rescanned as directed by KWWL. Could not pick you up. Called 291-1200 as directed by your website. Was told to rescan with my old rabbit ears. That worked, but I lost the fine reception I had with my amplified antenna (which was recommended as a precursor to the digital swith). I’m told you’re the only local channel now broadcasting in VHF. What a disappointment! I guess now I’ll need to fork out some more money to get a splitter connection in order to run two indoor antennas–one to receive your low power VHF signal, and one to receive UHF signals (all other current broadcasts). It’s a sad commentary on your supposed smooth transition!
Additional note: I received a two calls from your engineering staff after I placed some complaining calls. They told me other people with amplified VHF/UHF antennas weren’t able to receive your signal. Evidently you are broadcasting at too low a power level at this time in order to be received with a transformer in the antenna line. They told me you will be increasing your power level in June and that should alleviate this problem. Why wait until June?
With the economy the way it is and all the budget cuts why would you show a segment spending money on a bike trail followed by patients at the UI having to pay for parking. You did this on Tuesday night?
Just wondering how soon we will be able to get KWWL on our television with the DTV box. As of now we are not able to get Channel 7. Thanks. We watch the news on 7 night and morning.
I was able to pick-up your tv signal fine with the converter box, and a indoor antenna.
Since you changed I am unable to get your signal, is your transmitting signal so low I can’t get it?
I watched the noon news and feel the segment
of credit unions versus banks was not fairly
reported. Even though credit unions may pay
some higher interest and lower interest on
loans there are advantages to banks. I felt
it was all pros on credit unions and none on
the banks. We do business loans and much more for the community than they do. Also,
they do not pay taxes which we do.