Anyone watching As the World Turns last Wednesday unexpectedly heard an unflattering take on the petty business of television news. WTVF-Channel 5 unintentionally aired audio from part of its own news meeting during the broadcast of the daytime soap. Making plans for the upcoming sweeps period, station general manager Debbie Turner was holding a powwow in the station’s studio. For whatever reason, the microphones were rolling, and the engineer in the control room accidentally aired what was being said. Viewers that day heard more than a minute of the meeting in which a Channel 5 employee insulted the CBS movie Living with the Dead, slated to be shown on Channel 5 that Sunday. A staffer also made derogatory comments about people who watch WSMV-Channel 4.
Channel 4 news director Mark Shafer reacted to Channel 5’s exposed opinions with good humor. “I love Channel 5 viewers, and any of their viewers that are interested in watching Channel 4, I’d love to have them.”
Channel 5’s Debbie Turner seemed embarrassed about the incident. “This goes against the way we do business, but things do happen and you move on.”
Trophy hives
It seemed like a second-rate marketing gimmick. First, Nashville Post magazine ranks the top 100 most powerful people in the city. Then, within weeks, the publication, formerly known as Business Nashville, mails out amateurish plaques to nearly 40 of those on the list offering them the option of keeping the award for $149 plus—you guessed it—shipping and handling.
The award winners even received a smarmy sales letter to boot: “Congratulations on being recognized by Business Nashville as one of the 100 Most Powerful People!” the letter began. “We thought it was a great write-up and want to be among the first to congratulate you. As this is a great milestone in your career, it deserves special recognition.”
Actually, a New Jersey-based company called American Registry mailed the plaques and the letter without any authorization from Nashville Post. “We regard this pretty much as a scam,” says Post editor David Fox, who adds that the magazine is sending the company a cease and desist letter.
What particularly frustrates Fox, beyond the amateurish look of the plaques, is that the company failed to acknowledge the magazine’s new name, instead using the now defunct Business Nashville title. Over the last few weeks, Nashville Post has purchased 12 illuminated bus bench ads, along with a few radio spots, and hosted a glitzy premier party at Loews Vanderbilt Plaza—all for the purpose of trumpeting the name change. The change isn’t insignificant, as it’s meant to correspond with the daily business Web site of the same name.
In addition to mistaking the name of the magazine, American Registry was also working off the wrong list. In fact, the company mailed the plaques to the people in last year’s ranking, who include 60 Nashvillians who didn’t make the cut this year. The company also got the month of the issue wrong. Other than that, it did a fine job.
Because of all the screw-ups, the company’s CEO told Desperately Seeking the News that people who received the awards can keep them free of charge.
Odds and ends
Tennessean sports writer Wendy Smith resigned recently, leaving the daily with no full-time female reporters or editors at its sports desk at a time when women’s athletics is booming. Section editor Bill Bradley says the composition of his shop’s staff is a concern.
“I am very big on diversity in my department. I’m Hispanic myself, and I want diversity in my department,” he says. With three openings now in the sports department, Bradley isn’t promising to hire a woman, but says he’ll be mindful of the issue. “I want to encourage diversity in making these hires.”
In case you’re keeping score at home, Bradley said the word “diversity” three times....
We’re guessing that Ronnie Steine doesn’t think the media has a liberal bias. In any case, last Saturday The Tennessean ran a picture of Steine being sworn in as vice mayor with his then-wife and his son by his side. The paper referred to his ex-wife Cindy as Peggy, which is his mother’s name. And was the picture of his son really necessary?...
Former WZTV-FOX 17 meteorologist Tim Ross is back on the air for WSMV-Channel 4 serving as a “weather producer.” He’ll also be filling in on occasion for Bill Hall.
