Need Some Advice

[svp]

OK, here's the situation. We were recently told that we can no longer question assignments or give reasons why we can not do something. Most of the time, we are ask to do things that are technically, based on our equipment, impossible. We were told to basically shut up and just do as you're told. Tonight, I did just that. We had storm damage about 50 miles from the station and I was told to go with a reporter in the live truck and front a vosot live. Normally, I would have brought it to the desk and producer's attention that we have no "live" capabilities in the area we were being sent. However, sticking to policy, I took the truck and went. We got there, shot broll, interviews, and found a live site at the highest point in the area. When it came time to tune in, of course, not even a readable signal. As a result, the entire newscast blew up because we couldn't be live. Everything was blamed on me and the reporter and they said we were just trying to get out of a live shot. I went to the producer before I left and said "we're heading out but I want you to know we've never been able to get a live shot from that area and you might want to have a back-up plan." Of course, no plan. There will be hell to pay tomorrow and I know I'm going to be blamed because no one wants to listen to the guys in the field that use this equipment everyday. Lately, it just seems that everything that goes wrong is blamed, in some way, on the photographers. We have a very talented staff of shooters that care about the product and are very intelligent. But it seems that everyone is trying to cover their a$$ and since we're the dogs of the newsroom, the blame is always laid on us. What would you do in this situation? I've went to those above me several times and nothing changes. Tomorrow, I plan to take the walk up the hall to the GM's office. My question is, should I do this? He's been told one side of a very big problem. All he knows is what the ND and Assigment Editor tells him and he believes we are the problem too. What should I do?

Anyone with job openings let me know. I don't care what the market size is or the location. As long as I can live off the pay, I'll be there. I can't continue to work at this station much longer.

[Dirge]

There will be hell to pay tomorrow and I know I'm going to be blamed because no one wants to listen to the guys in the field that use this equipment everyday.

Make friends with whoever tunes in the live shots. They know what locations will work and which won’t. Let them know ahead of time where you are going. Let them notify the desk and producers.

Get whoever tuned you in last night to back up your story. After all, even if you were to “get out” of a live shot, it wouldn’t help them out at all. So, they have no motivation to blow a live shot.

We were recently told that we can no longer question assignments or give reasons why we can not do something.

Yeah, that’s management’s little way of saying “we have a bunch of incompetent boobs running the place.”

I’d still let them know why something might fall through but instead of saying something won’t work, say “I’m concerned about” or “I’m worried that”.

If not, just go live in front of the “anywhere tree”. Nobody questions a live shot that works.

I can't continue to work at this station much longer.

Dude, this is the perfect time to work there! With the “don’t question assignments” edict, there are going to be a lot of screw ups. As long as you’re not responsible for them, you’re gonna have a blast. Just sit back and watch the daily melt down. Savor the squirming all those dumb asses are doing.


Executive summary:

1. Just cover your ass and get someone else to back you up and you’ll be fine.
2. When everyone else is playing checkers—play chess!
3. And no matter what, the sun will still rise for you the next day.

[NorthShore]

I would start at the beginning. You claim that you were sent to an area with no live capabilities. Did someone think you'd be able to suddenly pull this live shot out of your ass? Like Dirge says, get to know the control room personnel. They can back you up. Also, document other live shots in the same region or along the same axis.




So, sit back and CYA and enjoy the ride...Good luck!

[avidfaa]

Been there, done that, wrote the book!

I was our NABET shop steward years ago and its important for EVERYONE on staff to write down every instance of incompetence so that when you are ready to meet with the GM, you'll have plenty of documentation.

If he/she has any guts, they will have no choice but to fire the news director...

Good Luck!!!

[svp]

We have no "control room personnel." We call the desk and either an assignment editor or an engineer tunes us in. By the way, we have no ND right now. The EP is the acting ND and I was told the producer went to her after I left and told her "I don't think they're going to be able to get a signal so what's our back-up plan?" and the EP just said "make it happen!" That's what we're dealing with right now. As for going to the GM, he love's our EP and thinks she's the best thing in the world and isn't going to listen to a photographer. She already has him thinking the photogs are the reason everything is going to hell in the newsroom.

[ntxshooter]

Every direction, every assignment and precisely what you did while out in the field. Get all the photgs on board with this. Make sure that HR knows. Even thou they only look out for the company, they have to listen. So if it comes down to they are trying to push you out the door. You have not only documentation but you went through proper channels to right the wrong. Aproach it as your concerned. That you care about what happens to the station. Not as going in to slam someone. Your point will hold much more weight that way. good luck......

[2gigch1]

Ditto on writing down everything: rest assured that managers write down things about you (skewed by their viewpoint) but when it comes to arbitration or a lawsuit your written word is as good as theirs and they know it. Produce a photocopies stack of personal documents at a meeting and you'd be surprised at the reactions you'll get.

[Icarus112277]

Have you been there and are viewed as competent?

Tell them you were the transmitting from the assigned area to the best of your and the equipments abilities.

[LongTimePhotog]

SVP--The problem is Sinclair. Most GM's are hand picked by Baltimore and they are (99 o/o) yes men/women. They don't give a rats ass what you have to say. I know, I worked for a Sinclair shop for about 6 years. You have defended these people for quite sometime now. Can you now see the light? Do yourself a favor...get a tape together and get out now. Sinclair has ruined more careers then I can count. If I remember your from Ohio right? WBNS (Columbus) and WOIO (Cleveland) have job's open. Just be careful of the Cleveland gig. Good luck to you man.

[slayer]

You sound like a solid person, don't waste time trying to talk to the GM, he doesn't care.

Get out!! If you have to go through this crap on a daily basis you need to leave, life is way too short.

Good luck to you.

[Natural Born Stringer]

If it were me it would have never gotten to this point because I would have left long ago, from the sounds of things. You just need to bail on these idiots - nothing good will come of this.

Good luck.

[svp]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I have begun documenting every assignment and every issue on a daily basis as most of you suggested.

LongTimePhotog,

WCMH and WBNS both have openings posted on their websites and I've applied for both. I didn't know about the WOIO job but I'll get a tape out to them as soon as I can. You're right, I have defended them and wanted to believe this was a good place to work (and it has been up till about 5 months ago. Now, I'm seeing the light and it definitely is time to go.

Thanks to all of you for your advice.

[Wideangle]

svp,

In all your talk of this situation I've heard no mention of a chief
photographer. If there's not one on staff, why? If there is, then
why isn't he/she taking some sort of position of support for you and your fellow photogs? Your lack of staff representation makes your group an easier target because they don't have anyone to hold them accountable in a middle management position.

[Sean-1966]

I just love these people that say "make it happen". Thsy have never been in the field and have no idea what it's like. I say enjoy the melt down. It's always good for a laugh to see these people crash and burn. Don't forget to give them a wave on your way out the door.

[svp]

svp,

In all your talk of this situation I've heard no mention of a chief
photographer. If there's not one on staff, why? If there is, then
why isn't he/she taking some sort of position of support for you and your fellow photogs? Your lack of staff representation makes your group an easier target because they don't have anyone to hold them accountable in a middle management position.


Our chief always takes up for us but my suspicion is that he's fighting his own uphill battles. You really have to be here to understand the situation. None of this can really be dumped into his lap.

[x31]

Our chief.... ......None of this can really be dumped into his lap.
Sure it can! He's your fearless leader. Or is he still being played as a puppet?
If your EP had half a brain, then you wouldn't run into THAT problem.

Save yourself the trouble.. get out!

[Freddie Mercury]

Until you have a job offer on the table, this will be a problem that needs addressing.

I can't point to one thing you did wrong, based on your account. You followed policy, you warned the producer that it probably wouldn't work, and you did the assignment as you were instructed. About the only thing you could have done beyond that is pull back closer to the station and do a generic live, and I don't know if you had the time to even try.

I don't envy your position, and if they really stuck on managers are always right and worker bees make the screw-ups, then your problem may not only need to eventually go to HR, but maybe to an attorney depending on how far they are willing to go.

Just keep your nose clean. Maybe the incompetence will be exposed in time.

[Tippster]

Yes, write it down every time, but do so in an e-mail. CC all the parties involved, especially your Chief and an Engineer, if possible. E-mails are time stamped and can be used more easily as evidence if arbitration is necessary.

[svp]

About the only thing you could have done beyond that is pull back closer to the station and do a generic live, and I don't know if you had the time to even try.


That actually happened. We weren't live at the top of the show as planned, but I broke down the shot, moved closer, set-up the shot and we still couldn't get a signal. The producer then called and said "we need you live in the 500 block!" She said I have thirty minutes. All I could say was that I was about 15 minutes from a location I know I could be live and I still had to break down this shot and set-up the new shot. I said I couldn't guarentee it but I'd do my best. Result: I got the shot up in time, but barely. We did a generic live in front of a tree at a golf course. Of course, right before the shot, the sprinklers came on, I got electricuted, two skunks came after us, and I burned my hand on the light trying to get everything away from the water. Meanwhile, the truck was filliing up with mosquitos that fiested on me during the drive back to the station. Talk about everything going wrong!

[exassignedphotog]

you should have brought back a skunk in the live truck.

[OKC CHIEF]

He's a great shooter and one hell of a bulldog when it comes to getting the story. I really admire his passion too. I know he really wants to get back closer to his family in Ohio and I will never stand in the way of someone who is trying to better themselves or their craft. If any of the Ohio chiefs wants a photog who work his ass off for them SVP is the one. So if any chief's got a resume from a KOKH shooter feel free to call me. 405-520-1650. My loss will be your gain. I'm not stupid either I would like him stay. Rodney Stringer KOKH Chief Photographer

[2000lux]

Wow, that really sucks! I say get the chief photog, the person who tuned in the shot and or the chief engineer (if that person also tunes in shots) to come with you and try to talk some sense in to the EP. Saying "Make it happen" is not a cure all. Tell that person you're a professional and you know your job. Your're not lazy, you were just telling them what can and can not be done because you care about the show and the station as much as they do. If you get no satisfaction, go to the GM and explain that this "Make it happen" policy is not realistic and why.

As was already said, document every thing and look for another job.

Don't let the bastartds get you down.

[2gigch1]

New job time; also there's no law you HAVE to give 'em two weeks notice!

[Dink]

Your problem is that you give a sh*t. Once you decide you no longer give a sh*t, you're liberated.

The best part is that even though you don't give a sh*t, you can still do good work and be proud of it when it happens. It's just that since you don't give a sh*t, when things don't go well you don't care.

You shouldn't announce to the world that you don't give a sh*t. In my experience, people who tell everybody they no longer give a sh*t actually DO give a sh*t. They're telling people they don't give a sh*t because they want people to lament the loss of a photographer who gives a sh*t. They imagine the ND coming to them and saying, "I heard you don't give a sh*t, and I'd really like to hear your concerns. What can we do to make this station a place where you would give a sh*t?" In reality, the ND will refuse to believe that anything the station did contributed to your mindset and will simply think you are a loser who doesn't give a sh*t because you don't have any kind of work ethic.

No, just quietly don't give a sh*t, and you'll find that all your stress melts away. You'll also find that during all those trying times when you thought you really should give a sh*t, everything would have worked out fine if you didn't.

Some weasel will probably chime in now to say my attitude is bad. But guess what. I don't give a sh*t.

[Canonman]

In reality, the ND will refuse to believe that anything the station did contributed to your mindset and will simply think you are a loser who doesn't give a sh*t because you don't have any kind of work ethic.

You could also apply that sentence to just about every profession in America with the prevailing corporate attitudes. Just replace ND with 'boss or manager' and station with 'company'.

The sad thing is, they want you to give a sh*t, but won't hesitate to sh*tcan you when times get hard to save their own bacon regardless of how good you do your job. So you end up with the old saying that goes, "Doing a good job here is like pi$$ing in a wetsuit. It gives you a warm feeling inside, but no one else really notices."

cm