Something New In Local News
Next week is a big one for PIX News and all of our viewers. We’ve got a very new kind of newscast launching on Monday. I wanted to write a little here to get you thinking about it and excited about it.
It will be a half hour show airing at 6:30. Kaity and I will be your anchors, with Mr. G and Lolita handling weather and sports. But it’s there that most similarities with traditional local newscasts end. I won’t go into tremendous detail because, well, you’ll be able to see it yourself in a couple of days. Suffice it to say I come out from behind the anchor desk for much of the show, go without the teleprompter quite a bit (yay!) and it’s all set on a fast pace. And we’ll be doing it on a wicked cool new set that will definitely grab your eyeballs—figuratively speaking, of course.
I really feel that it’s the start of a very exciting new era here on PIX 11. Please join us if you can for our debut shows at 6:30 PM, and then we’ll see you at 10 O’clock as usual. Leave me your comments next week, and let me know what you think about the new newscast. Have a great weekend.
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Comments: 22
looking forward to it - if I remember to watch. Not use to watch news at this time period
a half an hour news would be like a weekend news
by the way, I like the old newscast setting better, more cyber feel.
I am so looking forward to watch it. I thought the studio can go for a new look...;) Overall I know you guys will do great! When is Suk coming back?;(
Can you do a blog post about the new studio, like a tour of it or something?
Can't wait. Love you all
that's a good idea, Tim.. after we get up and running, I'll see if I can get together a video blog that would be sort of a virtual studio tour.
Cool, thanks!
hey cant wait for the new studios !! i hope it comes with new graphics!!
This is a PERFECT time for evening news. When I get home from work I prefer to check in with the world around me and this is the best news team in NYC!
GREAT JUST WHAT PEOPLE DON"T NEED MORE NEWS !
LIKE THERE ISN"T ENOUGH OF IT ALREADY ON TV, LIKE EVERY OTHER STATION.
Will there be anything missing from the 10 pm Newscast that will be in the 6:30? BTW I love your news team. I'm originally from Seattle but for the last 10 years you guys have made NY feel like home with your personable yet professional approach to reporting the news. Keep up the good work.
I remember Jim Watkins when he was at WNBC News. I remember when he was making the big switch to 'PIX he was quoting as saying about the Ch. 4 News "there's no movement here" (translation: pretty boy Chuck and Sue Simmons are glued to their seats). I think the Ch. 11 News packs the most hard news in long after the other stations have switched to fluff. It's a sure sign of age when you actually look forward every night to the 10 O'Clock News.
the screen that is divided into 4 long screens is, weird...
And it is a funny setting that Jim is standing and Kaity is sitting.
Good, you finally report the ACORN video from the "sting operation", that is one of the main reasons I stay with WB/CW/PIX news - the news is not as liberal as the big 3. And no, this is not a dirty campaign, it is a small skit that shows ACORN teaching people how to break the law. Instead of firing a few employees, the whole ACORN ought to be shut down to save taxpayers' money.
For the bad software, they are called "rogue" or "bogus antivirus", their aim are to scary the heck out of you that your system is allegedly infected by tons of viruses, so that you will pay them to "clean up the viruses" and stop the annoying pop-ups. I cleaned up a number of them for my clients using malwarebytes. For some newer version messes, you need to play some tricks to do the job.
i think the set is nice but the camera angles need adjustments and you guys need new graphics... you need something to match the fast pace ....
I'm sorry Jim, but I think the new set is awful. I love the plasma wall with the shots of the city from the HD helicopter, but the backdrops look way too busy and muddled. I would prefer you guys to sit at the desk. I feel like if you guys got better still photos of the city for the sides of the studio, it would look MUCH MUCH better. I do think new graphics are needed.
The first note is a positive one. Many ”local” newscasts fill time with national and world stories- today's channel lineups offer enough outlets for that.. Local news should cover the stories that affect the lives of viewers within the coverage map- and I found the first segment did a good job of that.
That said, the delivery and production element should help tell the story, rather than detract from it. I'm not seeing how having Jim on foot tossing to a monitor bank and Kaity at a desk helps tell a story. I don't see the justification or the “why” in that idea, hence it comes across as showy, tabloidy, and undermines the credibility of the content. It also creates a disconnect between the anchors which is counterproductive to the idea of a news “team”.
As for the set- as it's being used now- it's not working. The backdrops are far too busy and distracting- and there is an overall feeling of being cramped (Kaity's shadow on the backdrop, for example). The desks flying in and out felt more like a Broadway show rather than a stable, trustworthy place where I can come for my news. We also needed a good longshot at the top to establish where the heck we are.
The big plasma monitor totally overpowered poor Kaity. Again, what is the “why” behind the plasma monitors for the graphics – because “it's what everybody else does”? Kaity looks great with a standard OSB graphic.
Take a moment and review tapes from WPIX's Action News/ Independent Network News circa 1983.
That set used the entire length of the studio to create specific areas, but most importantly it had depth- and the depth did two things. First, it made for an interesting visual without being busy, and on a subconscious level- the depth supported the notion of in-depth work, rather than quick, flat and superficial. Light cues and bump shots kept it interesting, but it was also clean and credible. It was a comfortable place to visit from my living room.
While many disagree with me on this one, I'm putting it out there. While it is true that millions see the broadcast, each viewer is an individual. I want you to talk to me. By addressing me as “everybody”, there comes a condescending tone and the anchor bond with me is broken.
Back to the plus side – THANK YOU for staying away from tabloid style blood red graphics and cheesy sound effects under the transitions! THANK YOU for going back to the PIX branding. WPIX is as New York as Yankee Stadium, The Subways, Central park and so on. Embracing the PIX heritage is a wise way to bond with New York.
What's your opinion? I'd like to know....
mattlocker at aol dot com
The new set looks great and sounds HORRIBLE on Dolby Digital for Jim and Kaity... Mr G sounds great as always. Can you fix the sound the show is unwatchable the way it is.
I think there should be only one use for the monitor bank...a backdrop for the desk. Would it be possible for you guys to set up an HD camera outside so it would look like a real window, without it changing every 5 minutes from blue graphics to a stretched empire state building.
I think you guys need to get rid of those ugly print backgrounds, they're not working at all, replace them with something realistic or graphical.
i love this newscast! this is the best thing ever! i love the casual-ness. I really enjoy how they show a lot of the behind the scenes things and it keeps you on your toes. Not too fast pace but a fast moving show which is great!!!
GREAT JOB!!!
Really hate to say this, but I'm afraid I must agree with Anonymouse this time -- there's already far too much local news on television. The only thing that can save this 6:30 pm newscast is boobs -- big bouncy boobies like you have on the morning newscast. Good luck -- you're gonna need it (unless, that is, you whip out the big boobs).
Sorry for "soapboxing" on your blog Jim, but it's obvious to me that PIX has bought into the automation world of local news that allows as few people as possible to air "a newscast". Your production standards have gone from good to atrocious. Who's editing your VO's, blind primates ? Jump cuts, flash frames, 1 second edits, shots repeated endlessly, video not matching the copy. Obviously you have unqualified operators "trying" to operate sophisticated editing equipment, and your graphics presentation (as mentioned above) is simply unwatchable. You're trying to produce for 16:9 when most are still living in a 4:5 world. I saw a graphic yesterday that was completely cut off on the right side and Kaity was sitting so far framed left that she might as well have been in Cleveland.
You used to have one of the best local 'casts in NYC, but overnight it's become close to unwatchable. While your announcing staff is still doing a great job (take a breath G!), How about turning the broadcast engineering and production back over to the qualified broadcast professionals ? Whaddya say PIX execs ?
I am desperately trying to find the composer/author info of the WPIX Independent Network News theme circa 1984 (1984 thru 1986). I've contacted Tribune Broadcasting in Chicago and also WPIX in NY. Everyone is clueless. Here is a link to the specific theme of interest (0:01 to 0:26): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwuhoWG3mX0&feature=related
I am a Jazz composer from Atlantic City who only watched WPIX and WPVI (Philly) for my news in the 80's and would like to contact the original composer of this piece. Can anyone help? Thanks