| Topic Name: |
Waco, TX |
| Message Name: |
waco, temple, killeen |
| Date Posted: |
06/05/2005 |
| Message: |
Without knowing which station or job you are looking at... here what is see...
KWTX - The market ratings leader. The station is known for its good look and clean newscasts - although since new tapeless system went on air in Feb. that's not alwasy been the case.
Many people stay at KWTX longer than the other stations - this is good and bad. Good for the station - usually bad for the talent.
I think most reporters have trouble moving on there not because of their talent, but because of the stories they do.
KWTX focuses on topics rather than actual stories a good deal of the time. Lots of localized national stories - most of times with one "Expert." Lots of leads say "according to a new report"
They tend to ignore any story they didn't do first - which turns out to be many of them."
They of course cover the "Big Stories" that everyone does, but don't expect much digging.
Anchoring style is very slow and deliberate - that being said central texans watch - and in big numbers.
KCEN - NBC 6 is set up with all reporters and photogs in three bureaus in Waco, Temple and Killeen. This can cause a left hand not knowing what right hand is doing issue.
6 has a large staff with the most people in bell county (temple and killeen) and they are often seen as the bell county station. that being said they try hard in waco, especially john craven - a very good reporter.
I agree with WacoWX about the identity issues at 6. Intros say "Where local news comes first" then they lead with national or with state news. They send out a lot of messages.
A plus - KCEN has the nicest website of all the stations with lots of local news on it.
With the loss of their popular female anchor the Nov. book will be interesting. They had a bad feb. book dropping to 3rd certain newscasts. NBC not helping either.
KXXV - for full disclosure, i work at 25. the station is the little engine that could. 25 has a smaller staff - especially in reporter/photog department but holds its own. Most stories broken in market are by 25 and KCEN.
Production quality has improved over past two years - and even more with new production manager for the past 6 months of so. that being said - there are still issues. A new wave of investment in equipment would certainly help.
WacoWX is right about the morale - it goes up and down like everywhere, but for the most part people are happy. The ND is a good guy who cares about his staff. Main anchors are not full of themselves and are involved in all thier newscasts.
A new GM is on the way - should be interesting later this summer.
All the stations have good and bad points. There are nice, hard-working people at them all. Good luck.
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