WKRN GM quits to join Rosenblum army

[Buck]

Here's the info:

http://rosenblumtv.wordpress.com/
http://wkrngm.com/

The Official Release

By Mike
April 30th, 2007

To: WKRN Employees
From: Deb McDermott
Re: Mike Sechrist
Date: April 30, 2007


As most of you know if you spend more than five minutes with Mike Sechrist he will steer the conversation toward the internet, blogs and our web efforts. He has been talking with me for a while now about other opportunities he would like to pursue in this new digital world, and I understand his eagerness to get started in that direction.


Therefore, I am announcing Mike’s resignation as President and General Manager of WKRN-TV.


I’m grateful for Mike’s efforts over the past twelve years. As General Manager of WKRN he’s managed the station during a time of unprecedented change in our business. Mike has been instrumental in preparing for that change to the digital age. He recognized the advantages of moving toward a video journalist model in the newsroom and executed that conversion. He openly embraced the local blogging community and helped create “Nashville is Talking”, hiring the first fulltime blogger to work in a television newsroom.


He encouraged newsroom blogs and even started one of his own. I’ll miss his entrepreneurial spirit but know it will serve him well as he tackles new projects.


While Mike sorts out his next career move I have asked him to assist me in reviewing and planning the company’s future web efforts so you will still be seeing him in the station from time to time. I’m sorry to see him go but know you will join me in wishing him success as he pursues these new opportunities.
Please plan to attend a brief staff meeting on Thursday, May 5 at 11:00am.

[Baltimore Shooter]

I wonder how they are doing in the ratings these days (KRON too for that matter).

Warren

[TexasDave]

"I have asked him to assist me in reviewing and planning the company’s future web efforts "

translation - we're scraping this whole dumb idea and we're going to focus on covering news again...which is what we should have been doing in the first place.

[cameradog]

It sounds to me as though someone has been given the boot for poor performance.

[newmediajim]

At NAB, Rosenblum lofted citezen journalist (VT Student who shot phone video) as the future of TV news. I spoke with Jamal Albarghouti by phone today and he has a refreshingly pragmatic view of his role in the media.

http://vergenewmedia.com/2007/05/01/scorched-earth-screeds-on-citizen-vs-professional-media/

[patssle]

I was at the RTNDA panel as well as a VJ session that Michael was also at. He does make some good points, but he also makes some very bad ones. I think the trick is finding a balance.

[cameradog]

At NAB, Rosenblum lofted citezen journalist (VT Student who shot phone video) as the future of TV news. I spoke with Jamal Albarghouti by phone today and he has a refreshingly pragmatic view of his role in the media.

http://vergenewmedia.com/2007/05/01/scorched-earth-screeds-on-citizen-vs-professional-media/

What did Jamal Albarghouti have to say about Sechrist's resignation?

[pre-set]

Wow, I actually GET to say it!!!!!




"Sechrist OUT!!"








(boy you guys are slow!)

[AlexLucas]

This is big news.

I knew things rattled him when I hit him up with the whole "WKRN GM admits that VJ might not be the best idea" thread, in here on B-roll.net. There was a big response at his GM blog, and no matter what anyone says, at least one photog in every shop in the country reads this stuff, and well, word gets around.

Guys, it just wasn't working. It was a desperate move, a poor decision, followed by poor hiring and removal of quality people for financial reasons.

All the photogs in Nashville care a lot about what they do. A bunch. This is not a slack market. Now, I'm at the least 'slacky' shop in the market by far. All stations do a good job fighting for the good stories. WKRN was no exception. Matter of fact, it was known as the friendly fun station, the one where everyone liked everyone; it was in tight with contacts. Then why did these "2 is my home" people all leave? They were driven out.

(*DISCLAIMER: Many of you know my opinion about VJ being used in NON "DO-OR-DIE" DEADLINE WORK. This is not the case for ENG in a 30's market. VJ is not bad for longform, where you have time to caress a story. However, it doesn't work in, as so eloquently stated here on B-roll.net, 'When you're working in a M*A*S*H unit.' Simply put, camera and reporter work to provide better product on rolling deadlines cheaper than than two VJs. You can get two lead pkgs out of a double crew, and you just can't get two packages out of two VJs in the same time frame (Give me a truck op that can cut, and IT'S ON.) It's the writing/cut overlap that gets a VJ on a daily turn. That can't happen in VJ world. You can't cut your 4pm while writing your 5pm. Henry Ford is laughing at you from the great blue beyond. They speak a lot about making a more intimate story. You can't be 'intimate' if you need dramamine to watch the pkg. I literally saw SOTS the other day that didn't stay in frame, and there was no excuse for it. It wasn't a group thing, nobody was coming out of court. Besides, who gets to be so terribly 'intimate' with a GA story on a 30's newscast? It's a only a 'noble ideal' for GA daily work. The only way to get 'intimate' quickly is to get a assignment desk that functions very well, and a spare photog.)

Back to WKRN:
I can't even keep track of the faces over there anymore. They move too fast. There's a few core members, all good people who I love very much, but I can't recognize three quarters of them in the field now. Some are there weeks it seems, then gone. It was just a little over a year ago that I left. I haven't seen a reporter that I recognize in the field in weeks. They look flustered. Like a fish out of water. On VOSOTS.

A lot of the people in the market feel for the pains of WKRN, as in, "it's so terrible what is happening there." Yeah, well, I don't. I was WKRN. I was a VJ. They smoked me. They smoked a lot of good people, and replaced them with people with little or no experience.

It was Sechrist's move to make. It was his decision. He was the one making the huge salary. He wasn't pounding it every day. Good, hardworking, well-meaning people lost their positions. A lot of people who live closer to a foreclosed house than he does, that's for sure. Positions that took years to work up to in a community. Positions like mine.

Clearly, when the last major member of the news team leaves, we should mark WKRN on our sea charts with a big red "X" and put a footnote on it that says, "ENG Graveyard. Swallows ships alive. Seamonsters."

[Xchroma]

I know this is sorta off the original topic....
but I want to say for the record that ALEX IS EXACTLY RIGHT!
I was a vj at KGTV. The EXACT same thing happened to me that happened to Alex. I was good at it, I was one of the best. But despite that, they treated me like I was a "problem". I wasn't.
Thankfully, I spoke with Alex last year prior to becoming a VJ and started looking elsewhere for work. I finally found it and just now put in my 2 weeks notice.
Having an all vj newsroom would be impossible. Having a few vj's is okay. They will not replace all of you with people with little cameras because you can't cover all the real news that way.
The same type of turnover is happening at my station. The whole place is looking for work elsewhere. Morale sucks. That is probably exactly what management wants. Get rid of the people making certain salaries and suddenly it is a lot cheaper to run your station.

Any of you who want specific answers to what this whole VJ thing at KGTV you can ask away.

[Baltimore Shooter]

Question for Alex, XChroma and others in similar situations -

What do you tell the station or production company you're interviewing with about your vj situation? You say you were one of the best photogs at your station, yet you were either let go (laid off, fired, whatever) or you decided to leave on your own because they were going vj.

How do you explain why you left your last job without talking bad about that station?

Warren

[eb]

So.... I am trying to follow this.

Mike Sechrist is leaving WKRN....to join forces with Mr. Rosenblum to....

"...offer Professional VJ Training. Based in Nashville, it is a week that will change your professional life... "


Do I have this right? A General Manager has "left" a General Manager position....to put on a one week seminar?


This seminar is about... "changing your professional life." The question is...for better or for worse? The NPPA has a great one week seminar in Norman.... I would advise people to go to that since it is proven over the decades to really change professional lives. The NPPA also has many other educational resources....that ANY true video journalist should consider. If you want to learn about visual storytelling...why not go with what has worked over the decades. (NPPA Summit will have outstanding presentations the end of May in Portland http://www.nppa.org/professional_development/workshops_and_seminars/photojournalism_summit/2007/ Plus many other seminars etc...through the year.)


Mr. Rosenblum says Mr. Sechrist..."is a visionary." (I do not know Mr. Sechrist, so perhaps is a great visionary."

Sechrist is "visionary"....and Mr. Rosenblum "founded" the VJ movement. I wish them the best in their endeavors. But I still have a slight problem with some of the hyperbole surrounding these titles. This VJ movement appears to be technology driven, not Mr. Rosenblum driven. There have been video journalists doing it all for decades. I shot with a small camcorder, wrote and edited my own stories, before I heard of Mr. Rosenblum...so I have the obvious question...why can he call himself the "Founder" of a movment?

Mr. Rosenblum did not invent the technology....so where is the truth in the claim he "founded" what really is simply an evolution in news gathering? (Newspapers are being FORCED to move into video, not because they WANT to...because they HAVE to. This "movement" has NOTHING to do with choice, or Mr. Rosenblums or anyone elses VISION. It is all about adapting to REALITY. There is simply an expansion of video outlets and digital technology. Yet video storytelling has been around for decades. Video journalism involves content, craft, creativity and committment. The technology is what changes. Some folks want to think they invented a new approach. When in fact it is simply being forced on them. With all due respect to Mr. Rosenblum's work....I have a question about his calling himself the "FOUNDER" of this movement.

As for a "vision." It doesn't take much of a vision to realize that the internet exists, and that there is and will be more video on the internet.

Find story, shoot story, edit story, broadcast story, sell ads, pay bills, do it again tomorrow.

Technology has changed. But the job is still about telling truthful stories.

What's the truth? Just curious.

[Chicago Dog]

I love it. Rosenblum, who has no actual field experience, and Sechrist, whose station was run into the ground by his decision-making, are telling people how to do their jobs.

Consultants in the true meaning right there!

[TexasDave]

eb - you said it! Well put. Hell, when I was a feature photographer, I produced, shot, interviewed and edited myself. Was I a VJ? No. I was a shooter who could do it all. I didn't want to be a VJ, I actually perferred working solo due to the "talent" at the station. I learned I could do a better job out in the field without them.

[Michaelrosenblum]

Eb
You raise a fair question so lemme answer it as best I can:
Several years ago I was walking through a gallery in Manhattan when I came upon an Andy Warhol - a silkscreen done from a photograph. Nice, but I had done photo silk screens in college. Lots of people do. It does not take any great skill. The price on this one was $1.2 million. I turned to the gallery owner and said, "1.2 million? Anyone could have done that". "Yes" she said, "but Warhol did it". If you get my point. Bill Gates (to whom, believe me, I am not comparing myself, but simply making a point) did not invent software and he did not even invent MSDOS. He bought it from someone else, but he knew how to sell it. Steve Jobs did not invent the Apple II, Steve Wozniak did, and a lot of the gui interfaces came from PARC Xerox. It was all out there. But Jobs put it together and marketed it. Many years ago, I was running around the world with a little camera (because I could not afford a big one) and making stuff on my own. No different I am sure than you. But I ran into a very interesting guy named Jan Stenbeck. He was a self made billionaire and the 2nd richest man in Scandinavia. He met with me and I explained what I did. Then he did something very unusual (as I was living in a walk up shared apartment in Brooklyn at the time). He invested $1 million (which was a lot of money then.. and now) and set up a company with me and gave me 30% equity. He told me 'From now on, you are the 'world expert in videojournalism'. I said, I was just some guy with a camera. he looked at me. He said, "always take the highest ground. let others say you're not if they want." And that was good advice. From a self made billionaire.

You see the technology. You understand the business. you see where the world is going. I am sure you do. You can either catch the wave and take it where it is surely going, or you can stay where you are. Life is short. Its up to you. I tell you what I did and how someone else helped me out and clued me in. Take from that what you want.

[Chicago Dog]

He told me 'From now on, you are the 'world expert in videojournalism'.

Because he said so!

'nuff said.

[McFly]

Because he said so!

'nuff said.

Point missed.

[cameradog]

In other words, lie about yourself all you want and people will believe it.

[Michaelrosenblum]

No. That is not what I am saying.

[Chicago Dog]

Point missed.

Hmm. No. Ditto that thought, though.

You raise a fair question so lemme answer it as best I can:

Speaking of "fair questions," Mike: why'd you accuse me of being antisemitic? I think that question's more than fair. You're making an attempt to claim I hate an entire group of people.

All I'm asking is: why?

[pinecone]

I once asked an artist friend of mine what he thought "art" was. His answer surprised me. He said, "Art is what ever you can get away with." Perhaps Rosenblum was listening to that conversation.

[eb]

Michael,

Thanks for the insight into the formation of your business. An honest insight. You have obviously had to approach this debate from a business point of view. I respect your right to go into business.

Your last post here suggests that you were advised -as a business position - to make the claim as being an expert, THEN respond to challenges. The motive appears to be financial.

I hope your use of the title, "Founder of the VJ movement" is not driven by promotional or profit motives for your company. I suspect you first founded your company.

You are a "leader" and a "promoter."

The definition of "Found" is to "take the first steps in building" - "to establish."

The first steps of video journalism were taken many years before. They established. The NPPA provided examples and education about video journalism long before your movement. Technology changed. You got a video camera. Technology changed more. You got money. You founded your business. Then made a claim to have founded the video journalism movement. That is the way I see it. I am not diminishing your work, or your company. I just think the title, "Founder" is a bit much. That's all. I have no problems with you trying to teach, advance and promote quality video journalism. You are a leader and a promoter of the solo video journalism movement. But I look to others who took the first steps...and were the first to establish.


As for me...
I am not riding against the new wave of video journalism. For now, the station I work at has invested in Sony XDHD Cams and Avid systems. (Pretty decent cameras to work with.) I live in a nice place, with a nice family, so I will ride my wave a bit more. In the future, I might ride a different wave. There are many waves. (The world is mostly ocean.) Some people ride waves and get slammed into the rocks. Others have great rides. You are probably doing well with the business.

If I had a million dollar investor, I could buy a NICE surfboard.

[Michaelrosenblum]

Eb
I hear your criticism and I think its valid.
I will refrain from using the term 'founder' in the future.
I must, indeed credit, (at least in my case) Jon Alpert, whose work while reporting with his own gear greatly inspired me to leave CBS News and try it on my own.
In any event, good luck with your own ride. Its a beautiful day at the beach.

[Xchroma]

Question for Alex, XChroma and others in similar situations -

What do you tell the station or production company you're interviewing with about your vj situation? You say you were one of the best photogs at your station, yet you were either let go (laid off, fired, whatever) or you decided to leave on your own because they were going vj.

How do you explain why you left your last job without talking bad about that station?

Warren

I was honest....they asked me why I wanted to leave my current station. And I told them that there were a number of reasons...one being that I felt there were certain measures being implemented that were compromising the quality and ethical integrity of the newscast. They knew what I was talking about.
I was not let go though, I quit on my own.

[eb]

Michael,

Thanks for the consideration. Pardon the smackdown. You have taken a lot of criticism. You are in the game. That's good.

There is quite a divide. The old school and new school. Both still exist, and both appear to have a future. Even in the NPPA - at the up-coming Summit in Portland - there are TV seminars for those with big cameras and reporters, and there are Still photog seminars - about how to use the small VJ camera approach. At what point will the two come together? Or will there always be segregated schools?

I believe the video journalism movement began decades ago. I hope the new school appreciates the past history of video journalism....and doesn't think video journalism is new. And I hope the old school doesn't act arrogant, thinking they can't learn new things. New, smaller cameras and a solo VJ approach should be used when needed. You have definately promoted and been the leader in the VJ movement.

Integration seems to be the best way. We should use any tool or approach that is best for the job.

It was one single word that I had a problem with. Perhaps I am wrong. You founded your company. You are leading the VJ movement. We all know there were folks into video journalism (small cams, one person) before. I am just trying to protect that history.

[AlexLucas]

Question for Alex, XChroma and others in similar situations -

What do you tell the station or production company you're interviewing with about your vj situation? You say you were one of the best photogs at your station, yet you were either let go (laid off, fired, whatever) or you decided to leave on your own because they were going vj.

How do you explain why you left your last job without talking bad about that station?

Warren

You don't. You can't. What can you say when you walk out one day? "Oh, that was a fluke! I'm not a hothead. I'm great with the public!"

See? It doesn't fly.

You pray to God Almighty that they've been keeping up with the trades.

The one question, the only one that would ever seal it was, "why should I hire you?"
"Because your photogs would. Go ask every one of them on staff. They all know me. If you get one negative recommendation, then don't hire me. Just trust that I have been here for years. Ask them about me, that's what you want to know. Go ask them. Ask big questions, like what my character is like. Ask about my honesty."

I know VJ scuttled my ship on a whole bunch of leads. I think, just maybe, that I was percieved as an attitude problem because of it. Nothing really could be further than the truth. My biggest problem is that I am a straight shooter, and a little bit of a spaz. It wasn't a good time to be a straight shooter at WKRN. I almost didn't get my current position because when I said, "well, things over at WKRN are screwy right now and the management team is doing some dastardly things," they ALMOST didn't hire me. It came out in the wash, but I was an early jumper for the last rope in town. They thought I was an attitude problem. How could they not? At the time I didn't come out on B-roll.net. No one was getting anything but, "EVERYTHING'S GREAT! WE'RE CHANGING W/ CITIZEN JOURNALIZM! ELEVENTY!1101!" text messages in the blogosphere. Alex? WTF? HE'S A H@TOR! An attitude problem! He can't see the future of journalizm! LOL!

The only real reason that I could get the job I got? The man that hired me was convinced that VJ would drive anyone to drink. So I gave him the straight dope. Didn't mince words, didn't pull punches. He believed me.

Works in every job interview I've ever had.

You see, a boss hates a liar. Can't stand them. They will hire an honest fool over a talented liar any day of the week. If you ring the truth bell on them, and never worm out, they'll always hire you, warts and all. Just keep up the honesty contract and at the end of the day, you're golden. That's what they really want.

[Mr MoOz]

Michael,
Are you using any of the thoughts and ideas from here to fine tune this VJ concept?

What I personally found bad, is that you sell this idea with what seems only a commitment from the news crews, not the company. maybe the explanation is bad; but, like McD's has a franchise rulebook on how the whole operation is run, from top down. that is why they succeed. With what you have presented, it was only a bottom change, leaving what many of us see as a rotten top remaining.





Somewhat tied in to this, especially if he (The GM) was offered a way out gracefully.

It was tossed to me recently a rumor that NBC is looking at KRON again... to buy? Anyone hear something like that?

I can not see why they would, except that NBC=4=KRON in the minds of the bay area

[Michaelrosenblum]

Mr. MoOz,
I am fine tuning the concept all the time. I have learned a lot from here and other forums (fora), and the input from lots of people. I dont think we are anywhere near there, but it is a very fast moving and fast changing landscape. I am working on a project now that is a totally clean version of how this might work - all web driven. Some of my insights on this are in the blog (www.rosenblumtv.wordpress.com) which you might find of interest.

In so far as the stations are concerned, I always present them with a full blown blueprint of how this works. They often take from it what they want - or believe works for them... or is as far as they are willing to go with it. Everyone wants some form or incrementalism here. I am sure in the end we will find a sort of hybrid with a mix of VJs and crews. This is all still in the organic stage - but now that stations and owners are getting more interested they are also starting to pay a lot more attention.

[PhotogFromFL]

I love it. Rosenblum, who has no actual field experience, and Sechrist, whose station was run into the ground by his decision-making, are telling people how to do their jobs.

Consultants in the true meaning right there!

Sechrist didn't make the decision to go VJ, Young Broadcasting did. Sechrist actually had to fight Young to let people out of their contracts if they didn't want to OMB.

[Buck]

I read on TVSPY that WKRN's news director is gone now too.

[eb]

Who has the scoop?

[Buck]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6442067.html
Young Broadcasting (http://www.youngbroadcasting.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=76078&p=irol-irhome) has named Gwen Kinsey the president and general manager of WKRN Nashville (http://www.wkrn.com/%5D,)in addition to her role as WATE Knoxville president and GM


"Gwen has been with Young Broadcasting for 14 years and has been a significant part of the management team," said Young Broadcasting President Deb McDermott. "I know that her strong leadership abilities and dedication will be invaluable for the success of WKRN."


The position became available when WKRN’s former president and GM, Mike Sechrist, announced he was leaving earlier this month (http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6438324.html?q=%22sechrist%22) to pursue new business opportunities.

[cameradog]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6442067.html
Young Broadcasting (http://www.youngbroadcasting.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=76078&p=irol-irhome) has named Gwen Kinsey the president and general manager of WKRN Nashville (http://www.wkrn.com/%5D,)in addition to her role as WATE Knoxville president and GM

One GM running two stations? Wow, that really IS cheap.

Maybe this is how Michael actually intends to deliver his promised 60% savings, by driving companies to the point that they consolidate management instead of laying off employees.

[Chicago Dog]

Maybe this is how Michael actually intends to deliver his promised 60% savings ...

Naah! One GM for two stations is only a 50% savings.
;)