Thanksgiving... Are you off?

[A Step Above Productions]

I know Thanksgiving is in the book this year - but I was wondering... How many people are getting the holiday off this year?

[<Breakenews>]

This is the only day that I get off as far as the holidays. It really is the only day that I want. We have a good staff here where we all work together to get the days off that we need.

[Rocktog]

Like newsquest I have to work this year on Thanksgiving. I hope that my microwave turkey meal come with cranberries.

[<who knows>]

I will be lucky to get my schedule the Wed. before Trukey Day!

[Wideangle]

I'm taking that week off and meeting my
two daughters and grandson in Gatlinburg, Tn.
I rented a cabin down there and this was kind of
halfway for all of us. I'm planning on spending
a bulk of the time in the hottub, soaking these tired old bones.

[El Guapo]

Everyone has to work except lead anchors. I guess we're looking for a lot of behind the camera presence for this book. Not so much in front of it.

[<Whoolz>]

Shooting high school football, so yeah, i'm working.

[Shaky & Blue]

I have a different situation. I get Thanksgiving and the day after off, but I don't want it. We work on a "leave bank" system, and my company closes on the holidays, so I'm basically forced to take those days out of my leave bank whether I want them or not.

I only have 32 hours of leave until I hit my 90 day anniversary, all of which will be used for Thanksgiving (and the day after), Christmas and New Years. Since our sick time also comes out of our leave bank, I can't take any time off for any reason until after New Years.

That was a pain in the ass the week before last, when I had the flu and stumbled into work at 5am anyway, all drugged up and feverish. I would much rather have stayed home then and worked Thanksgiving or Christmas, but that's not allowed.

[<foxwood>]

I was working a Thanksgiving about 20 years ago. I got sent to an armed gunman hostage standoff. They evacuated the neighborhood and I had lots of shots of people leaving their homes with turkeys wrapped up in foil.

Not long afterwards, a family came out of their house with plates of warm turkey dinner for all us photographers standing in the cold with light snow falling. I have some stills somewhere of us all eating dinner with police tape fluttering behind us.

After a few more hours, the kid escaped out a back window and the guy shot himself.

The turkey was good though.

[Tippster]

I'm off. If the Stock Exchange is closed, so are we.

Shaky: Facking Public/Private partnerships... :mad:

[Raiderfan]

I requested to work Thanksgiving and day after. Both are holiday's, and nothing brings in the Christmas cash like a little double time two days in a row. Plus this year I get the week of Christmas off for vacation. Never had that before.

[IShootU]

I think the better question would be who makes the best turkey and stuffing frozen dinner...being in a bureau they probably won't give us anything while the folks at the main station shovel it in...

[str8shooter13]

"Thanksgiving . . . are you off ?"

What color is the sky in your little world ? Not to be insulting, but I've worked in TV news since January 1979 and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I've had Thanksgiving off -- usually because I scheduled it well in advance as a vacation day.

This is a business that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and even though I am 5th from the top of the seniority list here (and my wife has a hard time understanding how this works), I pretty much plan to work every Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day -- unless I've made special arrangements well in advance. My wife mentioned when I arrived home tonight that tomorrow is a holiday -- Veteran's Day -- and I looked at her and said, "So ?" (it doesn't change MY work schedule). My family continues (after 25 years) to wonder why we can only be with them for Christmas in a year like this one where it falls on a weekend, and I continue to try to explain to them that this job isn't much different than working on a fire truck, ambulance, or police department -- somebody always has to work the holidays, so that the consumer can get their news 24/7/365.

If you're looking for "9 to 5" and holidays off, this isn't the job for you -- this is where you work nights and weekends practically forever before you earn your way into the Monday through Friday day shift world of TV news, and just 'cause the banks close, doesn't mean that we do. If you want a cushy schedule that has 20 holidays a year, it's time to go find a job behind a desk somewhere, or better yet, become a teacher and get the entire summer off.

Sorry for the major rant, but this career has required a commitment that many people I know wouldn't even consider. I'm just happy that Christmas is going to cooperate (calendar-wise) this year and next year -- quite a treat for us career "newsies".

[David R. Busse]

Off the whole week! Off Christmas week, too.

That's what 24 years' seniority gets me.

We're flying the whole family to a family reunion in the midwest for Thanksgiving. As much as I dread holiday travel, I am delighted to have that much holiday time off....finally.

[1911A1]

I'm working on Thanksgiving, but I always volunteer to do it so I can take the next day off to avoid the inevitable "First Shopping Day" story. I swore seven years ago that I wouldn't do another one of those and, so far, I haven't.

[str8shooter13]

OK, apparently I have already seriously insulted someone (without much effort on my part) -- my wife, who has her teaching degree (with a specialty in Secondary Business Education), although she is currently still working as an Accountant. In the interest of "domestic harmony", I'd better post a couple more thoughts, huh ?

Kathy points out that most teachers spend the first third of the summer tying up the loose ends from last school year, and they usually spend the last third of the summer preparing for the next school year. So actually, I can point out that if you don't want to work a job in news that requires you to work weekends and nights and to never get a holiday off, making the decision to move off into the field of teaching will "maybe" guarantee you about a month off during the middle of the summer -- man, that sounds lame compared to the opportunities offered to me in the "world of news", where I can definitely plan on whatever vacation time I have been promised by the boss (IF he actually delivers on his promise -- along with the occasional holiday that I may get if he screws up and accidentally lets me have off).

Although it will not assuage my wife in the least, my point remains that working in news is not like most other jobs. Either you want to "be there when it happens" 24/7/365, or you need to be looking for another career path that will let you spend an incredible amount of time with your family and friends. The two are NOT mutually compatible.

It all comes down to choices. I am a Television News Photojournalist -- I have given some things up in this life, but I have gained many more. Pick your path, and accept where it takes you :)

[str8shooter13]

BTW, I absolutely HATE "Black Friday" -- the first day of shopping for Christmas that immediately follows Turkey day. I don't have it off this year, so I guess I'd better start mentally preparing myself for the inevitable "assault" :) It's only one more story -- I'll live through it somehow (again) :)

[shootist]

24 years in the biz.

18 years at my current station.

I have worked every Thanksgiving.

EVERY year my mother plans the big Thanksgiving feast and is amazed that I can't be there until after 6:00.

BUT...this year is different!

After my 10-6 shift....I'm freelancing at the Pitt/WVU game!

so.....double time for 8 hours followed by double the set freelance rate for another 8.

And the Thanksgiving feast...will be Saturday...after a Turkey Trot 10K with my son....but that's another post for another time...

[A Step Above Productions]

Originally posted by str8shooter13:
"Thanksgiving . . . are you off ?"

What color is the sky in your little world ? Not to be insulting, but I've worked in TV news since January 1979 and I can count on the fingers of one hand how many times I've had Thanksgiving off -- usually because I scheduled it well in advance as a vacation day.

This is a business that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and even though I am 5th from the top of the seniority list here (and my wife has a hard time understanding how this works), I pretty much plan to work every Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day -- unless I've made special arrangements well in advance. My wife mentioned when I arrived home tonight that tomorrow is a holiday -- Veteran's Day -- and I looked at her and said, "So ?" (it doesn't change MY work schedule). My family continues (after 25 years) to wonder why we can only be with them for Christmas in a year like this one where it falls on a weekend, and I continue to try to explain to them that this job isn't much different than working on a fire truck, ambulance, or police department -- somebody always has to work the holidays, so that the consumer can get their news 24/7/365.

If you're looking for "9 to 5" and holidays off, this isn't the job for you -- this is where you work nights and weekends practically forever before you earn your way into the Monday through Friday day shift world of TV news, and just 'cause the banks close, doesn't mean that we do. If you want a cushy schedule that has 20 holidays a year, it's time to go find a job behind a desk somewhere, or better yet, become a teacher and get the entire summer off.

Sorry for the major rant, but this career has required a commitment that many people I know wouldn't even consider. I'm just happy that Christmas is going to cooperate (calendar-wise) this year and next year -- quite a treat for us career "newsies". NO LOOK I have been in the business for over 15 years... I understand everything you are saying. I have allways had Thanksgiving off (in exchange I work Christmas).

No matter what business you are in you should be able to spend a few holidays with your family. No matter if you are a cop, firefighter, Dr., Anchor, or yes even a Photog.

And by the way I will of this Thanksgiving.... ONLY because I will be on leave. My wife and I are having a baby who is due any day now.

[ November 11, 2004, 08:20 AM: Message edited by: news-quest ]

[queen of blue]

sold my soul to the devil ....

Ahem .... School District.

Thanksgiving and the day after off.

Two weeks at Christmas (three of those days are actual vacation days that come out of my check.)

Another week at Easter.

It was a pretty good deal.

[Lensmith]

Thanksgiving? Oh yeah, I remember that holiday!

I'll be working...but in all honesty, it's my choice. We usually have a small group of Americans over to my mother in laws house for turkey and such. "Such" means booze...except to my brother in law just back from Jamaica ;)

[Lenslinger]

Wow, Ken - lay off the caffeine. :)

I have Thanksgiving off. I made a vacation request months ago along with Christmas plans and graciously received the time asked for. That's how it works in my part of the broadcast world.

I'm all for being a 24/7 news soldier. Actually, that's a lie. I'm so over spot news and the like, I should probably go to Promotions (if that end of the hall weren't so mind-numbingly dull). Flame me all you want, I'm just being honest.

I HAVE worked every holiday on the calendar, multiple times over. I've smelled more homeless shelter turkey than most railroad hoboes, done the 'one-eyed backpedal' at parades while legions of civilians huddled with their families, stared through a viewfinder as refugee kids opened Christmas morning presents. Chances are I'll do it again.

But I make no bones about taking off as many holidays as possible. I got kids and when they're gathering around the fireplace, I try to be there. Yes - when it comes to holidays off, I do my best to emulate the anchors. Most of them are home for the holidays, no doubt enjoying a far pricier celebration than me.

That's okay too, but I work damn hard during the year, and regularly go the extra mile. I don't take lavish vacations, don't call in sick, don't call in with 'spot' personal days'. So if you're looking for me in late November and late December, I'll be at home, sipping bourbon, slicing turkey, and putting together Barbie Dream Houses. Unless Osama crawls out of his rat-hole down the street, don't expect me to come in and start white-balancing.

Oh, and regarding Black Friday, and all those other holiday shopping stories. Yeah, they've all been done a millions time before, but they're far ffrom the worst assignments. If you can't spend one hour at the mall and get EVERYTHING you need for a shopping story, you're doing something wrong. I even try to work in a little shopping myself while I'm there. Keeps the wife off my back come Christmas Eve.

[<Russ>]

Wow, no mention of sweeps since the first post. My whole station is working, but then we ain't in first place either. That's bogus if every one's has to work but the main anchores. It's not like they work that hard in the first place, would it hurt for them to drop by for an hour or two to read the prompter.

For the past several years it's been kind of competitive to work T-day and the the following day so as to cash in on the O.T. So I've been off on the last two or three. Actually looking forward to the O.T. in the check.

[dan bach]

I work weekday dayside. If the holdiay falls on the weekend, I get it off.

If it doesn't, I don't; unless I ask for it way in advance.

[str8shooter13]

I think it was yesterday's 4pm news conference, and 5pm and 6pm LIVE shots with a PKG edited at light speed in the truck that got me on edge last night -- and I accidentally slipped into "indignant rant" mode. I'm feeling much better now, after a good night's sleep, and remembering that on Monday we'll be giving AAA our deposit for next year's cruise.

I'll try to be a bit more subdued for a while now:)

[Sportsguy]

I was supposed to be off, but the ND asked me to work the nightside news shift instead of my usual sports... But it's with a cool reporter who's fun to work with- so I said yes.

[ShootThis]

Off on Thanksgiving. Xmas Eve. Xmas. New Years Eve. New Years Day.

I planned ahead.

[livedude]

I am in a small shop but everyone, including the main anchors are working. We are told way in advance NO ONE gets off during the book.

[ewink]

Nope.

And that's fine by me. I'll take double time and a half over fighting with the family any day.

[str8shooter13]

OK, THIS is funny.

About halfway through the morning today, the assignment editor drags me off to the conference room for a quick confab -- "It's nothing bad", he says. He tells me that one of the other photogs has asked for Thanksgiving off, but I'm one notch above him on the seniority totem pole, so they have to offer it to me first if I have a vacation day to use for it. I laughed out loud, and told him about last night's adventures on the "b-roll.net" message boards -- then I told him I would work the holiday, so the other photog can have it off. I'll be working the Sunday before, and will have Friday/Saturday/Sunday off for the holiday weekend, but my wife will be working Friday, so we won't go visit her family until Friday after work anyway.

There's no reason why I can't help out a fellow shooter in this case, and I can hang it over his head for months to come :) Isn't life (and coincidence) hilarious ????

[str8shooter13]

BTW, the switch to decaf is working out quite well, thank you :)

[PhotogsLounge]

What do they call Thanksgiving in the TV news biz??


......Thursday.

[2000lux]

** DANGER ** RANTING PHOTOG ZONE ** DANGER **

Yup, just a Thursday for me. I do have Christmas and New Years Eve off... becuase I'd have those days off any way. Oy!

Tribune has only 7 (as opposed to the normal 10) holidays per year. At our station we all had to make a list prioritizing which holidays we wanted. Then the assistant N.D. got to chose who will work and who will get the day off. I guess I'm supposed to count my self lucky that he didn't ask me to work one of my normal days off so some one else could have the day! Total number of extra days off for holidays for me this year? ZERO.

At the other stations in town, people start with 10 sick days (we get 5 and three personal days), two weeks of vacation (we get the same) and 10 "holidays" which are days off they can use at any time of the year though not necessarily on actual holidays. If they save up too many days the comapany buys them back. This is the glaring difference between us and them (that and they make more money). They get up to thirty days off a year, we get 18 (unless we get a holiday). Rant rant. Rave rave.

Of course, if I went to work at one of those stations I'd probably have to go back to over-nights and lose my Friday & Saturday off schedule.

I should also count my self lucky to be here at all. Last year I got both Christmas and Thanksgiving off; AND a 6 week vacation... becuase I had a stroke (it'll be a year ago Wednesday). I hear Boston Market is going to be offering some kind of Thanks Giving style meal! :)

[ November 14, 2004, 12:14 AM: Message edited by: 2000lux ]

[satop]

My boss is very good to us. Every Photographer gets either Thanksgiving and the day after off or Christmas off. No one will work both. I have elected for christmas off so I can get the double time for the thanksgiving and day after to buy christmas presents. And the GM has someone cater a meal for us on Thanksgiving and on Christmas. So it is not all bad working the holiday's.