And the Other Side (Patreon)

While WWBT Reporter Eric Perry says he didn't like our story and that it was incorrect, here are a few emails that FTVLive got from people about that story. 

Email 1: 

While many producers are complete assholes and lack any real concern for story content, it was completely millennial of that reporter to brag about going to the news director to get the :10 back.  Here’s a guarantee:  No one who works as a reporter in Richmond writes a story so tight that a good copy editor couldn’t find :10 to cut by trimming bites or by re-phrasing a few sentences.  No one.  So the message to this guy would be:  Try to find the :10.  It might just make your story BETTER and YOU a better writer.

Email 2:

Thank you for your post calling out the Richmond reporter who went over his producer's head.  Take a look at some of the responses if you haven't already; a few people are calling him out as well for his actions.

I sometimes get into back-and-forths with reporters about their story lengths.  I don't think every story can be told in one minute and 30 seconds.  Some need to be told in two minutes.  Others need to be told in 15 seconds.  I give extra time when I feel the story warrants it, and most of my reporters know if they come to me with a good reason, I'll generally say yes.  However, the mandate at my station is shorter stories.  Anyone who tries to go over my head to the news director will probably be told "No, keep it to a minute."  If only they went to me first, I could have been reasonable and given some extra time if needed.

The other reason why I'm happy about your post is because it focuses on the bigger picture.  Producers are the proverbial government mules of the newsroom.  Everyone rides them hard but they still somehow get the job done without the glamour or the glitz or the recognition.  Ever wonder what would happen if all the producers decided to leave the newsroom and never come back?  Who's going to put the shows on the air?  Who's going to make the "talent" look good?  Who's going to find that "content" to fill the shows so the salespeople upstairs can sell that advertising that keeps the station running?

Think about that.

This business is a team effort and all of the cogs in the machine deserve appreciation.

Email 3: 

The Reporter might have thought it was funny, but it was not. Thanks for pointing this out. 

Email 4: 

Maybe this guy should spend a few days producing a newscast and see what it's like. 

Email 5: 

If a reporter went over the producer's head and came into my office to whine about getting an extra 10 seconds in a package, he would find himself getting no time in the show and also on VO patrol for a a few weeks. 

Signed,
Grumpy News Director