Wednesday, May 10, 2006

KETV Coverage Complete, Fast-Paced

KETV (Cox Channel 9) anchors Julie Cornell and Rob McCartney quickly ran through several full screen graphics (Governor, U.S. Senate, Douglas County Sheriff, Sarpy County Sheriff, Mayor of Bellevue, Ralston's Sales Tax, Douglas County Board, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, District 4 Board of Regents) to begin the newscast. When applicable, each graphic featured a photo of the candidate, along with vote totals and percentages. Music played under the graphics as Cornell and McCartney read the results.

While referencing the governor's race graphic, Cornell said "most of the vote has not been counted" off the top of the newscast, without mentioning a percentage or further specifics on what constituted "most."

KETV began its live coverage by teasing "a series of live reports," beginning with reporter Tom Elser at Governor Dave Heineman's campaign party. Viewers heard a portion of Heineman's remarks before Elser tossed back to the studio, but not before mispronouncing Tom Osborne's name as "Oz-BORN" once.

Reporter Mike DiGiacomo, reporting live from Tom Osborne's Election Night headquarters, offered a recap of comments Osborne had made earlier. Osborne was not at the podium when DiGiacomo was filing his report.

Brandi Peterson had a "look live" taped report from the third Republican challenger for governor, Dave Nabity, and taped comments were broadcast from the Democratic candidate for governor, David Hahn.

Reporter Todd Andrews, reporting live from U.S. Senate Republican Pete Ricketts' victory party, opened by saying "Pete Ricketts appears to be the winner" and invited viewers to listen in as Ricketts addressed the crowd. Instead, though, taped remarks were shown from an earlier interview with Ricketts. Andrews (talking over an extremely overmodulated microphone) tossed back to the studio just as Ricketts began speaking.

Reporter Carol Kloss offered a taped interview with Don Stenberg during her coverage from Senate challenger Stenberg's campaign headquarters, followed by a "look live" by reporter Owen Lei, who documented reaction from a third challenger in the race, David Kramer.

KETV also provided taped coverage of the Douglas County Sheriff's race, including an eyebrow-raising report that Sheriff Tim Dunning had earlier told supporters, "We have officially put Danny Boy down." Dunning's taped remarks sharply criticized opponent Dan McGovern, saying he would be the subject of an internal investigation. A complaint stemmed from the Fraternal Order of Police regarding McGovern's handling of an internal investigation, Dunning said.

The station wrapped up its first segment coverage of Election Day with a taped interview with Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis, who successfully won re-election.

KETV's other news of the day included the story of an Omaha jewelry store robbery and shooting (reporter Suzanne Deyo), featuring surveillance video taken moments before the incident, as well as 2003 file video of store owner Larry Gilinksy, who was shot.

The other local stories covered were University of Nebraska Regent David Hergert's impeachment trial, an early-morning Council Bluffs house fire and a "Crime Stoppers" surveillance video of a hotel robbery. National stories included high gas prices and a tease ahead to a special "Nightline" report featuring a follow-up to ABC's made-for-TV movie, "Fatal Contact: Bird Flu in America."

Later in the newcast, Elser interviewed Heineman live and one-on-one, while Andrews scored a live interview with Ricketts. Digiacomo, reporting one more time from Osborne's camp, said the former Nebraska football coach was still waiting for election returns from Lancaster and Douglas Counties.

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