Former KMTV Reporter Quoted

Former KMTV reporter/producer Barry Kriha resurfaced in the news this week.

Now an account executive in the KETV sales department, Kriha was quoted in an article in the Southwest Nebraska News about Nebraska ranking second in a national survey concerning volunteerism rates.

"Whether through faith-based organizations, civic groups or other nonprofit agencies, Nebraska's strong national showing should be a source of pride for our state," Kriha said, speaking as commissioner of the Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission.

Click here to read the full text of the article.

Coulter Squares Off With Becka

Controversial conservative Ann Coulter will be a guest today on The Tom Becka Show on KFAB (1110 AM) at 2:35 p.m.

Coulter, best known for her often intentionally aggressive and controversial style, is pushing her latest book, "Godless: The Church of Liberalism."

She became a public figure shortly before becoming an unpaid legal advisor for the attorneys representing Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton. Coulter wrote a column about the Paula Jones case for the magazine "Human Events" and then was asked to help write legal briefs for Jones.

KETV's Jeff Frolio Remembered

A pair of carnations adorned the locker of former KETV photojournalist Jeff Frolio on the two-year anniversary of the on-the-job accident that took his life.

The 45-year-old died June 10, 2004 after being struck by a car while shooting footage of an intersection at 222nd and West Center Road where two teens had died. He was survived by his wife, Marianne, and their three children: Nicki, David and Carly.

Frolio's locker in the photographer's office remains preserved as he left it. Another constant reminder of his 20-year career at KETV is "The Fro File," a collection of meticulously archived tapes that he compiled after being frustrated looking for file video early in his career.

"Jeff is obviously not forgotten in this newsroom," said Peter Soby, National Press Photographers Association Region 9 Director and a colleague of Frolio's at KETV. "Not a week goes by when someone asks, 'Remember when Frolio covered that?' We really miss him."

Frolio is best remembered for his love of family, photography, music and theater. Following his death, hundreds of condolence e-mails poured into an online forum set up on KETV's website.

An influx of newcomers to the KETV newsroom may have pared the ranks of those who worked alongside Frolio, Soby said, but the memory of his death serves as a reminder of the dangers of the profession. KETV staffers are now provided with neon-colored vests to wear while covering roadside stories.

"We're a little more skittish about shooting in traffic," Soby said. "I know when I'm with a reporter, I always remind them to watch out for traffic. Sometimes we forget we're in the middle of the street because we are concentrating so much on doing our job."

Jordan Offers Election Insight

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) investigative/political reporter Joe Jordan examined the primary election from a behind-the-scenes perspective for the June issue of the Omaha Press Club's newsletter, "Beyond 30."

Here is the article, in its entirety (reprinted with permission):

Whether it's a single political story or a series of stories from a lengthy campaign, I constantly remind myself that "it's not my job to do the candidates' job."

Different candidates will have different views as to what their job is. (I think their job is telling the voters who they are, where they stand on the issues, what they'll do if elected, etc.) I'm convinced my job is to let the voter/viewer know what the candidate may not want you to know about them, and that includes a wide range of possibilities. I'd like to focus on just a few "tracking" devices: money and advertising (television, radio and direct mail).

It's been 33 years since "Deep Throat" told reporters something we should have already known and something we should never forget: Follow the Money.

Here is an example of how following the money can at least indicate to a reporter what's true and what's not. During the recent race for governor of Nebraska, it was widely believed that Gov. Dave Heineman's position on the Omaha Public School's "One City, One School" debate, would be a huge political plus for the governor. (Heineman sided with the suburban schools and was opposed to any expansion of the OPS boundaries.)

According to the conventional wisdom, since a solid majority of voters in the suburbs are registered Republicans, Heineman would easily win the county. As it turns out, Congressman Tom Osborne won Douglas County! There may be several reasons why (including Democrats who switched parties to vote for Osborne), but an examination of campaign contributions prior to the May 9 primary gave a clear indication that Osborne was, at the very least, holding his own in Douglas County.

In late February, an Action 3 News breakdown of the campaign contributions Deep Throat Was Right: Election Journalism in the suburbs (Elkhorn, Millard, Westside and Ralston School Districts) found Osborne receiving 82 contributions totaling $78,000. Heineman had received 35 contributions totaling $69,000.

It's the money, of course, that leads directly to the candidate's message. Campaign commercials are the modern day political stump speeches. It is impossible to cover campaigns without knowing what a candidate's television or radio ads are saying. (In smaller races, reporters also need to examine a candidate's direct mail pieces.) The commercials literally hand reporters a road map of the campaign.

If you're wondering which campaign themes are working, just watch the ads. It was no accident that in the final days of the Heineman-Osborne race, Heineman's ads focused in part on the issue of illegal immigration. Heineman's campaign (based on polling research) was obviously convinced they could mine some votes by pointing out the governor's veto of in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants (Osborne was in favor of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants). You didn't have to wait until the campaign was over to realize this was a hot button issue. Heineman's ads were screaming at reporters to pay attention to the immigration issue.

One final thought/suggestion: I hope news organizations (and this is aimed specifically at television news) will put an end to "candidate profiles." I haven't seen one of these in years that hasn't been a public relations tool for the candidate. Rarely is there any information in these "profiles" that isn't available on the candidate's web site. Please dig a little deeper. If nothing else: Follow the money and the message.

Joe Jordan is the Senior Investigative/Political Reporter for Action 3 News. In 2003, he received the "Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Reporting" for his exclusive investigation that exposed efforts by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to influence state and federal elections with an apparently illegal campaign tactic -- a TV commercial paid for by Pfizer featuring a congressional candidate promoting a prescription drug card for senior citizens.

In This Week's Print Edition

Find out who the winners were at the Omaha Press Club's "Excellence in Journalism" awards. Available on newsstands Thursday.

OPC Awards Ceremony June 3rd

Mike Hill, the Academy Award-winning film editor from Omaha, is the featured speaker at The Omaha Press Club's Excellence in Journalism Awards banquet Saturday, June 2.

The event is open to all OPC members as well as non-members. The cost to attend the banquet is $21 per person, which includes dinner, tax and gratuity. Call 345-8008 for reservations.

Omaha.com, KPTM Break Amber Harris Development

A print media outlet and a TV station with only one daily newscast were the first to break the news that remains found in Hummel Park were those of missing 12-year-old Omahan Amber Harris.

The Omaha World-Herald newspaper's online website, Omaha.com, posted the news around 4:45 p.m. that Omaha Police had notified Harris' parents of the positive identification of their daughter's remains.

At about the same, KPTM (Cox Channel 10) was the first TV news station to break the news, with anchor Tracy Jacim delivering a special report from the news desk that a family member had confirmed to the station that the body found in a shallow grave was Amber's.

About 10 minutes later, WOWT (Cox Channel 8) interrupted the final minutes of "Jeopardy" with a special report. Reporter John Chapman revealed that two policemen had visited the Harris' at their home and that Police Chief Thomas Warren would deliver an update on DNA test results in a 5 p.m. news conference.

When Warren finally stepped in front of the microphone to begin the press conference around 5:07 p.m., KETV (Cox Channel 9) was the only station ready to broadcast it live, in its entirety. WOWT was in the midst of airing a pre-produced story about the discovery of a body in the Missouri River, while KMTV (Cox Channel 5) Chief Meteorologist Ryan McPike delivered a weather forecast.

KXVO (Cox Channel 11), which has only one scheduled daily newscast, did not interrupt its programming.

WOWT acted quickly to get to live coverage of Warren's press conference from Central Police Headquarters while KMTV eventually tossed to reporter Michelle Bandur, who briefly advised viewers (via cell phone) that Warren was delivering information in a hastily-called press conference.

WOWT and KETV broadcast the press conference until its conclusion while KMTV used reporter Devon Patton, who was outside the Harris' home, to share some details from the press conference. However, it was not until the Warren's press conference was nearly finished that KMTV provided live coverage from Central Police Headquarters.

KMTV News Director Ken Dudzik and Executive Producer Mark Barmann did not respond to a request for information on why the station did not carry the press conference in its entirety. But a source close to the situation cited a "logistics problem," saying KMTV was told police would not start the press conference until all Omaha news agencies were in place.

"We raced down there (to Central Police Headquarters)," the source said. "But they started without us. We didn't have people there (to get the live shot ready) in time."

After being the first TV station to deliver the news, KPTM followed up on its special report with a phone update from reporter Julie Hong, as the press conference at Central Police Headquarters was wrapping up.

WOWT's decision to break into the final minutes of "Jeopardy" did not sit well with viewers. A woman who answered the phone at the station said the station was "flooded" with complaints.

Also:
Ketv.com’s online "Breaking News" e-mail alerted subscribers at 5:03 p.m. that "a body found in Hummel Park on May 111 (sic) appears to be that of missing Omaha 12-year-old Amber Harris." … During today's news conference, Police said the biggest break in the case came with the discovery of Harris' backpack behind a North Omaha home on Feb. 14. WOWT reporter Sheila Brummer was first on the scene that day and notified a police spokeswoman of the discovery when patrol officers were slow to arrive.

Pulling Out All The Stops

Omaha's Journal Broadcast Group is going to great lengths to boost the ratings of its top Omaha radio property and its only television station.

Since the May TV "sweeps" period began April 27th, one or more of the on-air news talent at KMTV (Cox Channel 5) have been regular "guests" on Journal-owned radio stations (KEZO, KSRZ, KQCH, KKCD, KOMJ, KBBX and KXSP). The cross-promotion is new to the Omaha market, with no other radio or television station ownership group having dual ownership across mediums.

At the same time, KEZO (92.3 FM) is offering a pricey reward for listeners who are tuned in during the current Arbitron spring ratings period. Each weekday morning, Todd and Tyler share a line of lyrics from a "Everywhere That Rocks Artist." When the song lyric is played later that day, the 92nd caller is offered a chance to correctly identify it. Each of the five qualifiers is eligible to win one of three trips to see a concert halfway around the world.

One of these three concerts is a package of tickets, airfare, hotel, travel transfers and trip coordination to see a Rolling Stones concert in Amsterdam. According to www.rollingstones.fanasylum.com, the retail value of a nearly identical prize package is $1,875. KEZO is offering trips to see Pearl Jam in Dublin and KISS in Tokyo, along with the Rolling Stones' concert in Amsterdam.

Ward Jacobson Leaving KFOR

Ward Jacobson's last day at Lincoln radio station KFOR (1240 AM) is June 7. The Stromsburg native is leaving the Capitol City to host the "Classical 24" series with Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media in St. Paul, Minn.

Jacobson has worked at KFOR since his days as a University of Nebraska-Lincoln student in 1984. He and co-host Cathy Blythe have worked together since 2001 and are the city's No. 1 morning show.

“I have mixed emotions about leaving,” Jacobson said in a press release from KFOR's parent company, Three Eagles Communications, Inc. “I’ve had the pleasure to work with a lot of great people over the years and my relationship with Cathy, Dale (Johnson) and Chuck (Stevens) on the morning show couldn’t be better,” Jacobson added.

News Director Dale Johnson will replace Jacobson and current news reporter Jeff Motz will join Blythe, Johnson and Stevens on the morning show as a news anchor.

In This Week's Print Edition

Find out which Omaha metropolitan area radio station is No. 1 in the latest Arbitron ratings and why KEZO can no longer claim to be Omaha's "No. 1 rock station."

Tom Elser Leaving KETV

KETV (Cox Channel 9) reporter Tom Elser is leaving the station to become a consultant for the Steier Group, national development consulting firm with an office in Omaha.

Elser has worked at the ABC affiliate since 1997. Prior to that, he was a general assignment reporter for KMTV (Cox Channel 5). He started in KETV's promotion department, then moved to the news department about a year later, advancing from working in KETV's Southwest Iowa bureau to nightside reporter.

Elser said looking back, his favorite stories were the ones where he helped make a difference.

"I remember a piece we did on orphans who live in the Ukraine (in late 2005)," Elser said. "Our story helped lead to an adoption."

His last day at KETV is May 24.

Editor's Note

The Reader's online Media Notes will be on hiatus beginning Thursday, May 11. Print editions of this column are available on newsstands beginning tonight.

Primary Election Coverage 2006: 10 p.m. Newscasts

The Reader examined live, Election Day coverage by the four Omaha TV stations which offer 10 p.m. newscasts. Below is an overview of what viewers saw, as well as individual reports on each station's coverage.

Here is a snapshot look at the coverage each station provided at 10 p.m.:

KETV

Live Reports:
Dave Heineman (Tom Elser)
Tom Osborne (Mike Digiacomo)
Don Stenberg (Carol Kloss)
Pete Ricketts (Todd Andrews)

Taped:
Dave Nabity (Brandi Peterson)
David Kramer (Owen Lei)
Douglas County Sheriff-Tim Dunning
Douglas County Sheriff-Dan McGovern
Sarpy County Sheriff-Jeff Davis
Senator Ben Nelson
(D) Candidate for Governor David Hahn

KMTV

Live Reports:
Osborne (Joe Jordan)
Heineman (Michelle Bandur)
Ricketts (Dave Roberts)

Taped:
Douglas County Sheriff's Race (Molli Graham)
Kramer
Nelson

KXVO

Live Report:
Governor's Race (Scott Patterson, Amanda Mueller)

WOWT

Live Reports:
Heineman
Osborne (Gary Johnson)
Kramer (Jaime McCutcheon)
Ricketts (Brian Mastre)

Taped:
Hahn
Nabity
Nelson
McGovern

Viewers who did not tune in after the late-evening casts signed off missed Governor Dave Heineman's victory speech and challenger Tom Osborne's concession statement, both of which were broadcast live by KETV (Cox Channel 9), KMTV (Cox Channel 5) and WOWT (Cox Channel 8) just after 11 p.m.

Editor's Note:
Did we miss something? E-mail omissions or corrections to: sweide (at) cox.net.

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.

KMTV Coverage Primarily Live

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) offered three live reports, with reporters covering Tom Osborne (Joe Jordan), Dave Heineman (Michelle Bandur) and Pete Ricketts (Dave Roberts). All three reporters filed several reports throughout the newscast, providing viewers with the latest information, one-on-one interviews and insight into what had happened behind the scenes.

KMTV stuck with its approach of not offering percentages with its on-screen vote totals. Anchors Deborah Ward and Greg Peterson did make mention of the percentage of the vote totals that had been counted.

Using a double-box graphic to shuttle between the Osborne and Heineman Election Day headquarters, Bandur and Jordan offered much of the first segment coverage. Jordan used a football analogy to break down Osborne's situation, saying Osborne had delivered "somewhat of a halftime rally speech for the troops."

Interspersed with live coverage, KMTV had taped coverage of David Kramer's concession speech to Ricketts, as well as taped comments from Democratic challenger Senator Ben Nelson

KMTV was the only station to devote a reporter to the Douglas County Sheriff’s race. Molli Graham delivered the details in a "look live" report. A full-screen graphic showing the results of the race, though, abbreviated it as "Doug Cnty Sheriff" while a similar graphic for a race in Sarpy County spelled out "Sarpy County Sheriff" in its entirety.

In non-Election Day coverage, reporter Devon Patton provided an "exclusive" interview with a woman who witnessed the robbery and shooting at an Omaha jewelry store in a packaged report. Video of an early morning house fire in Council Bluffs was also shown.

Even Sports Director Travis Justice contributed to the coverage as the newscast came to a close, saying Heineman "got the lead in the fourth quarter, ran the ball and ran the clock out."