Behind The World-Herald's Creighton U. Coverage

From top: Omaha World-Herald cover page (design by Josh Crutchmer), back page (design by Tim Parks), cover story (design by Ben Vankat), inside photo page (design by Tim Parks) and inside double truck (Crutchmer).
On SportsDesigner.com, Josh Crutchmer explains the collaboration behind the Omaha World-Herald's special sports section which previews the Creighton University men's basketball team's NCAA Tournament games.

Crutchmer writes: "Among the highlights: Tim Parks getting the white type atop registration black on the Nick Porter poster to read as though it came from a laser-jet printer ... Ben Vankat wrestling a 35-inch story to the ground with little help from me ... and Dave Elsesser, me and photographer Rebecca S. Gratz cutting out the masks from foam board the night before Friday's photo shoot ... the pop-culture page toppers, which include the Bluejay mascot ('What's your best pick-up line? I usually just wing it.') ... and getting buy-in on the theme from the entire Creighton team."

Unfortunately, even the World-Herald's state-of-the-art printing presses cannot do justice to the excellent design. Saavy marketers at the newspaper would be wise to have the section printed on high-quality gloss paper stock and sell it as a souvenir collectible.

Omaha World-Herald, Lincoln Journal StarRecognized For Sports Sections

The Omaha World-Herald and Lincoln Journal Star newspapers each came away with several awards at the recent Associated Press Sports Editors' (APSE) writing and section contests.

The World-Herald, Nebraska's largest newspaper, competed in the 100,000-250,000 circulation division. The Journal Star slotted into the 40,000-100,000 division.

The Journal Star won for its daily sports section and special sports section, while its Sunday sports section garnered honorable mention.

The World-Herald garnered honorable mentions for its Sunday section and for its special sports section, as well as a win in the investigative category (for newspapers of all sizes) for an entry by Rob White, Henry Cordes and Matthew Hanson.

Two other winners with ties to Nebraska are former Nebraska Sports Magazine editor Kalani Simpson, who is now a sports columnist for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Simpson won for sports column. And former Omaha World-Herald sportswriter Elizabeth Merrill won for feature story. She now writes for the Kansas City Star.

The winners will receive their awards in June at the APSE convention in St. Louis.

Two Native Omahans Among Radio Ink'sMost Influential African Americans In Radio

A pair of native Omahans are among Radio Ink's list of the "Most Influential African Americans In Radio."

Published in the March 5 edition of the magazine, Alfred Charles Liggins III is listed as No. 1 and Catherine Hughes is second.

Liggins was born in Omaha but moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of seven when his mother, radio mogul Catherine Hughes, took a job at Howard University. He hosted a talk show on WOL when he was 16 and worked in sales and management for Light Records and as a production coordinator for singer Patrick Anderson in 1983 and 1984.

He later returned to WOL behind the scenes and rose to sales manager while purchasing FM stations in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, M.D., to form the beginnings of the Radio One Empire. In 1999, Radio One went public and made history as the first female African American owned company on the stock exchange. In 2004, he expanded Radio One's media sphere when he launched TV One, a cable network for African American adults.

Hughes began her career in radio in 1969 at KOWH, a black radio station in Omaha. Her success there led to a teaching position at the Howard University School of Communications. In 1973, she was named general sales manager at WHUR in Washington, D.C, and eventually became the station's general manager. Under her guidance, it increased its annual revenues several times over - to more than $3.5 million. In 1978, she left for WYCB, where she served as the vice president and general manager of the station.

She, too, helped found Radio One, the largest black-owned radio chain in the nation (65 stations).

Two Nebraska Stations Up For Crystal Radio Awards

The National Association of Broadcasters is out with its 2007 finalists for the Crystal Radio Awards. Since 1987, the Crystal Radio Awards have recognized radio stations for their outstanding commitment to community service.

Among the 50 finalists are two stations from Nebraska: KFOR (1240 AM) in Lincoln and KCSR (610 AM) in Chadron.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges representing broadcasting, community service organizations and public relations firms. The winners will be announced at a luncheon on April 17 during the NAB convention in Las Vegas.

Last year, Omaha radio station KBBX (1420 AM) was one of 10 stations to win a Crystal Radio Award. KFOR has won two Crystals previously, in 1991 and 2004.

KETV News Director Weighs In With 'What's News'

KETV (Cox Channel 9) News Director Rose Ann Shannon is the author of this month's "Profiles in Journalism" feature in March issue of the Omaha Press Club newsletter.

Shannon poses the question of whether the death of Anna Nicole Smith was a "big news story."

You really don't have to tell me what you think," Shannon writes. "I have a pretty good idea. It used to be when somebody told you they only watched public television or 'MacNeil /Lehrer NewsHour' or 'the Hallmark Hall of Fame,' you pretty much had to take them at their word. Not anymore. That was before the Internet -- before you had the ability to choose what your own personal newscast or newspaper would look like."

Shannon relates her personal experience of the afternoon when The Associated Press sent a news alert that Smith had died.

"I relayed the news to a couple of people in the newsroom," Shannon writes. "I saw jaws drop. Let me say that again: I saw jaws drop. It is not often as a journalist you can report something that causes jaws to drop. In fact, I may be able to count those moments on one hand."

To read more of "Profiles in Journalism: What's News? You Decide," click here and scroll to page 3.

KXSP 'Big Sports' Forum Offline

The much-maligned forum on the KXSP (590 AM) "Big Sports 590" website is no longer online.

Instead, a message tells site visitors the web space is "under construction."

The forum, which featured sections such as the "Big Sports Big Forum," "The Big Show w/Matt Perrault" and "The Travis Justice Show," seemed to be visited by spammers as often as the station's listeners.

Some sample threads before the plug was pulled: "Hey sweetie, hope you're well," "Come get some kinky lovin" and "Any useful ideas?"

Hagel's (Non)Announcement: What Others Said

KFAB (1110 AM) morning talk show host Scott Voorhees called him "Senator Chuck Y2K Hagel."

Another media member summarized today's press conference by Hagel like this:

"My announcement today is to announce that I will not be making an announcement today. I will now take questions for 30 minutes."

The Leavenworth Street blog, which describes itself as "The Talk of Nebraska Politics," wrote: "Uh, what was the point?"

Steve Clemons, publisher of the popular political blog, TheWashingtonNote.com, wrote: "Senator Chuck Hagel is at this moment launching a "non-campaign campaign."

Omaha Bureau Associated Press writer Margery Beck wrote, "In an odd twist, the Nebraska senator called a news conference to say he would decide about his political future later this year, saying a late entry into the 2008 race is still possible."

The Wall Street Journal's Jackie Calmes, in a story headlined "Hagel Says Never Mind," wrote that "the maverick Republican may get the prize for the best announcement tease in a 2008 cycle that’s already been full of them."

The National Journal Hotline brought up something many Nebraska media outlets have seemingly ignored: that during Hagel's 1996 Senate campaign he said, "I support term limits. However, I will not need term limits. Twelve years in Congress is enough for anyone."

For years, the Omaha World-Herald has taught its reporters to refer to "news conferences" as "press conferences." Now we know why.

The Game Plan: CBS' Coverage of March Madness

The e-mails have been pouring in: What is KMTV (Cox Channel 5) going to offer for coverage of the NCAA Basketball Tournament?

The answer comes from Journal Broadcast Group Executive Vice President for Television and Radio Operations Steve Wexler, who is also general manager of KMTV.

"Due to the NCAA's agreement with DirecTV, CBS affiliates can only air the assigned game on both our analog and HD digital signals," Wexler said. "The good news is that Cox HD customers can watch the CBS coverage in high definition on Channel 805."

Those "assigned" games will be determined once the tournament field is announced Sunday afternoon. Wexler said KMTV has the ability to choose one game over another for broadcast if it is a game of significant local interest.

"For example, we can choose to carry a Creighton game over another game if both are being offered," Wexler said.

As far as watching the NCAA basketball tournament on your computer, CBS Sportsline.com promises it will be even better than last year.

"March Madness on Demand" allows users to watch every game (except whatever the local TV market blacks out).

Last year, more than 1.3 million tuned in, recording more than five million visits. Some 265,000 signed up for VIP priority, which amounts to having a "fast pass" at an amusement park.

This year, VIP signups have already passed last year's mark, and the goal is to allow 400,000. If the site exceeds the allotted number of streams, excess viewers will be shuttled off to an online waiting room where they will wait until someone else leaves.

CBS SportsLine is increasing the size of the video player screen by 50 percent (to 480-by-360 pixels) and has added live audio from the Westwood One radio broadcast for those who can only listen instead of watch (or want to listen to one game while watching another).

Returning by popular demand is the "Boss Button," which allows a user to immediately pause video, silence audio and put a fake spread sheet up on the screen.

Only the first three rounds of the tournament will be streamed online.

Tom Becka Launches Video Blog

KFAB (1110 AM) talk show host Tom Becka is now offering his opinion via video blog entries on the station's website, KFAB.com.

In his initial entry, Becka says he hopes the new offering will lead people to "start people talking, get people off their butts and say they're mad as hell and not going to take it anymore."

"I know I stole the line," the former stand-up comedian says.

More Omaha World-Herald Typo Troubles

Sent in by an alert reader:Source: Feb. 24 Omaha World-Herald, metropolitan edition.

Local Stations Will Carry Hagel Announcement Live

An announcement Monday by Nebraska Republican Senator Chuck Hagel - one which he says will regard "his future plans" - will be carried live by several Omaha media outlets.

WOWT (Cox Channel 8) announced on its 10 p.m. newscast Wednesday that it will stream Hagel's press conference at 10 a.m. at the University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Center live and on its website, WOWT.com.

It is widely speculated that the that the two-term senator will announce his plans for making a run for the Republican presidential nomination.

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) will interrupt "The Price is Right" to cover the event, as well as stream it live on its website, action3news.com.

KETV (Cox Channel 9) is also promoting that it will carry the announcement live both on-air and on its website, KETV.com.

KPTM (Cox Channel 10) plans to carry the press conference live, but will not stream it on its website.

Radio station KFAB (1110 AM) will broadcast the announcement live and will offer video of the press conference on KFAB.com.

Radio station KKAR (1290 AM) will not only provide live over-the-air coverage of Hagel, but it will also provide the feed to the Nebraska Broadcasters Association radio network for stations across Nebraska.

On Wednesday night's 10 p.m. broadcast, WOWT reporter Brian Mastre interviewed former Nebraska Congressman and Omaha Mayor Hal Daub, who is a member of the Republican National Committee. Daub said he doesn't know what Hagel will say.

The Omaha World-Herald seemed overly excited by the news. The state's largest daily newspaper printed the same story about Hagel's announcement twice in one section (pages A5 and A12) in Thursday's metropolitan morning editions:

911 Tried To Hide Powder Scare From Press

[Updated: March 8, 2:20 p.m.]

KMTV (Cox Channel 5) investigative reporter Joe Jordan was first to reveal Wednesday that Douglas County Emergency Services Director Mark Conrey and his department deliberately tried to keep word of Tuesday's powder scare at the Douglas Courthouse a secret from the press.

In his stories at 5, 6 and 10 p.m., Jordan got Conrey to admit that mistakes were made during the emergency response and investigation, including sending the wrong hazardous material truck to the scene.

KETV (Cox Channel 9) also reported on the story, beginning with its 6 p.m. newscast.

Conrey told both stations that law enforcement took extraordinary measures to keep details of the incident quiet, including the use of cellular telephones, instead of standard two-way radio equipment, to communicate with 911 dispatch. Most emergency radio frequencies can be monitored through the use of scanners by local media outlets and the public.

'The Big Show' Now Available As Podcast

"The Big Show with Matt Perrault," an afternoon sports talk show on KXSP (590 AM) is now available as a podcast through a new website, podcast.bigsports590.com.

The podcasts are divided by hour and segment (the show runs weekdays, 2-6 p.m.) and feature a brief description of the content.

KETV.com Makes Blogs A Home Of Their Own

The nearly half dozen blogs produced by on-air talent at KETV (Cox Channel 9) now have a home of their own on the station's website, KETV.com.

Webmaster Shiloh Woolman said it made sense to consolidate the blogs into one location. KETV's first blog, "Julie's Diary," penned by evening news anchor Julie Cornell, was launched nearly five years ago.

The KETV.com blog page can be found here.

WOWT Viewers Grade Snow Removal

WOWT asked viewers Monday at 6 p.m. to provide a grade for how well snow removal was handled in the Omaha metropolitan area.

Viewers were directed to use the station's "Six Online" feedback feature, which provides the opportunity for both e-mail and phone responses.

At 10 p.m, the results were announced by anchors John Knicely and Tracy Madden, who led off the newscast by saying, "The grades are posted. The grades varied greatly from an A to an F."

A handful of viewer responses were read, but no mention was made of how many comments were received. Nor was there a disclosure of where the respondents lived, save for one woman - who volunteered that she lived near 96th & N Streets.

Reporter Jaime McCutcheon interviewed Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey, who said, "I think if you look at the effort that was made, it's certainly an A."

City Council President Dan Welch told McCutcheon if any streets remained unplowed Monday night, the city should get a failing grade.

"It's not acceptable because people pay for that service," Welch said.