Results of 2003 Minnesota Broadcast Wire Performance Survey

STORY SHARING

1) How often do you contact the AP Bureau in Minneapolis with a story?

less than five times a month(10)
five to ten times a month(4)
more than ten times a month(3)

2) When you contact the AP with a story offering what method do you
use?

e-mail(5) (with follow-up on phone)
fax (10)
phone (5)

3) How many times a month do you call the Minneapolis Bureau for refeeds?

hardly any (13)
less than five (4)
five to ten __
more than ten _

4) When you request a refeed, what is the usual reason?

Garbled copy (2)
Computer breakdown (14)
power outages (3)
other (specify) - "something fed at wrong time"

5) Have you had any difficulties with the on-duty staffer when offering a story?
Yes (2)
No (15)

6) If "Yes", please explain. Did you report the problem to anyone at the bureau? If not, why not?

"It has been dealt with, staff appreciation of the true importance of a story." (reported to Pyle, Baenen & Glass)

"Because we contribute by e-mail - there is no person-to-person contact. However, my main concern is lack of use. I cannot understand why more stories are not used. In today's era of high-mobility, stories that may seem regional often have a broader appeal. I would like to see more stories put on the wire.

"on Sunday morning, DeLisseo in Chicago is not very helpful."

"They sometimes wait a very long time before moving the story. Also, I don't believe broadcasters should be sending news releases."

7) If you don't offer stories to the AP, why?

too busy (4)
don't want competition to have it (3)
don't feel comfortable with bureau __
feel story not of statewide interest (5)
other (specify) _
"failure to get it out in a timely manner."

"before I get to it, it's already there"

"I don't know if the story will be used, so I don't want to take the time to send it. I would like to see the AP come up with some guidelines on what stories need as far as content to be used. It seems stories of similar content from greater Minnesota are not used when the same type of story from the metro area or else by someone that is on the state AP board will be used. If the criteria is statewide interest, then I question some of the stories that are sent down. Don't forget there are a lot of outstate news directors that are looking for local news every day."

"Let other members have a chance to file it."

FIXTURES

8) Of the stories you've seen on the wire in 2002 ....

a) did you see some that you felt didn't belong? (6) ("no, I can weed through")

b) do you feel too many spelling and grammar mistakes are being made? (1) "some"

c) do you want to see more pronouncers? (10)

9) How do you rate the length of stores?

too short (2)* just right (15)too long __ other

* but, news agendas are too long

10) How do you rate the content of state stories?

(3)*too little info (12)just right too (1) much info
*sometimes

11) Please rate the following categories:

Metro News
(5)too much _not enough(11)just right _other

Non-Metro News
_too much (13)not enough(4)just right _other

Farm News
_too much (8)not enough(7)just right
_other :don't use

Sports
_too much (4)not enough (11)**just right
_other: more features_more Vikings & Twins

Legislature
(1)too much (3)not enough(12)just right
_other:more on higher ed

Weather
_too much (3)not enough(11)just right
_other: Weatherbank has become useless; it no longer feeds a metro forecast; think AP could save $ and drop it

Features
_too much (7)not enough(8)just right _other:okay

Weekend News
_too much (12)not enough(4)just right _other:okay

** Minnesota sports

12) Additional comments on Question 11:

"Of course, better member participation will help increase non-metro news. An additional AP correspondent who could float around the state to file reports on "the big story" of the day, and occasional
features would be a welcome addition."

"More from greater Minnesota is needed."

"Weekends could use more news information."

"would like to see more non-metro stories."

"maybe some of the stories rejected during the week could be saved for the weekend if they're still timely"

"I get very tired of Mall of America stories. Please use other centers and other cities for generic Christmas shopping stories."

13) Would you like to see more separates and fewer Newswatches? (10)Yes (6)No
rarely use Newswatches; would like more Int'l separates and more follow-ups

14) Do you want to see more NewsMinutes?
(8)*__**Yes (7)No
* only if they are fresh
** but with new information "they're okay"

15) Do you use the News Agendas?
(5)Hardly at all (10)Sometimes (2)Always

AUDIO

16) Have you used the audio-sharing service to offer or receive stories?
(3)Yes (13)No

17) Why or why not? List needed changes, if any.

"The nature of our organization - when a student covers a story, it's often covered as a feature and is rarely done in a timely fashion."

"I was told it didn't work."

"We're TV, so audio-only cuts are rare. We occasionally use telephone interviews with graphics and/or still photos in a pinch."

"It wouldn't work."

"I have used it lately, due to the VERY POOR audio quality. What is needed is a digital feed. Audio could be sent as an e-mail attachment (.wav or mp3), or contributed through a website, with stations accessing it through a website download. It would be quick and clean. Security could be maintained with a password.

"Called once, didn't understand system, staff there was also unsure - nothing in the system."

"If it doesn't work, it needs to be fixed - or make it so everyone can have access."

"I'm not technical-savvy."

"Rarely used, audio quality if poor, want to use more."

"We don't use many actualities."

"Not enough time."

18) Would you favor audio-sharing over the Internet?
(10)Yes (4) No

19) Would you be willing to offer audio on the Internet?
(10)Yes (4)No "No capability." "But we seldom have any."

20) Does your station have a Web site?
(14)Yes (3)No Address: www.in-forum.com www.radioK.cce.umn.edu
www.kwoa.com www.ktig.org www.klgram.com www.kttc.com
www.wjon.com www.1450knsi.com www.besttimes.com www.kfgo.com

21) If "Yes", do you post news copy?
(9)Yes (4) No __ "some"

22) If not, why not? "no one available to do posting" "we've been too busy to set it up yet…but it is coming in the future""(we're) not really promoting our website yet."

23) What audio network do you have?
(1)AP,- All News Radio (5) ABC, (4)CBS, (1)NBC, (1)CNN, (2)Other


SERVICES

24) Please indicate which AP service you receive:

(11)NewsDesk, (3)NewsPower, __APTV/NewsTalk, (1)Headlines,(1)DriveTime, (2)Other(WireReady)

25) Do you have more than one service?

(3)Yes (11)No
Which ones_CBS Newspath (TV),_MNN,_METRSOURCE,_MNN

26) How much of your newscast is made up of AP wire copy?

(7)less than 25% (6) 25-50% (4)50-75% (1) more than 75%

27) Of the wire copy you use do you rewrite it?

(13)Yes (2) No

If "yes", why? _"length"_"sometimes to
localize"_"need it shorter"

"sometimes to make it shorter, to make it easier for a student to read, to clarify a particular point. AP copy sometimes seems to have been written in haste and there are errors of grammar or phrasing which creep in from time to time. For the most part, AP does an excellent job."

"because AP copy is rarely written like people talk - sentences are too long - leads are often dull - too much irrelevant detail like the name of Freeborn County sheriff, etc."

"We use a more conversational style than traditional AP copy."

"Some gets rewritten simply for clarity, or to emphasize regional interest, or just for brevity."

"Sometimes because we need to localize it."

"To fit our style."

"I try to localize it or make it more timely."

"sometimes to 'localize' it"

"to localize and for style"

"usually no, but we re-write stories with local angle to emphasize that."

"sometimes - editing"


NEWSROOM

28) How large is your newsroom?
(10)1 to 3 people, (3) 3 to 6, (4)more than 6

29) How many are...
part-time_1_1_1_1_2_
full-time_1_5_13_1_1_1_24 _2_4 _21_1_13_1_1_4

"no full-time news people"

30) Do you offer internships?

(10)Yes (6)No
How many_no limit_3 per term_4-5 a year_1 per
semester_ 3 at a time_ 1-to-3 per year

"we're starting one this summer"

31) Do you plan to attend the 2003 Midwest Journalism Conference at the Holiday Inn Select in Eagan on March 28-29? (The Minnesota AP Broadcasters awards banquet will held during the conference on Friday night, March 28.)

(8)Yes (5)No
If no, why? _burned out on conferences_ unsure_maybe_boss cut the budget_time and money_not sure if our schedule
conflicts____________________________

32) Other comments:

Jeff Baenen is the best - very attentive - always courteous - a great person. AP is very lucky to have him.

"For the most part, as you can tell from my survey, I believe the Minnesota AP does a great job. I just want to know the criteria for stories that are sent down. If it is only stories of state-wide interest, remember a lot of those metro stories are not of state-wide interest - they are of metro interest. Maybe expanding the criteria would be an option. That would give outstate news directors more news and more likely more stories would be sent to the AP."


33) Station(s)_______ City _________e-mail
WDAY - FARGO - MIKE TANNER
KUOM - U-of-M - DAVE OLSON
WIZM/KQYB/KCLH - SCOTT ROBERT SHAW
KEYC-TV - MANKATO - DERRICK HINDS
KWOA-KO95-KITN - WORTHINGTON - DARRELL STITT
KTIG - PEQUOT LAKES, KCFB - ST. CLOUD - TOM BONAR
KLGR - REDWOOD FALLS -LAURA OLSON
KTTC - ROCHESTER - DENNIS GRANT
WJON/WWJO - ST. CLOUD - LEE VOSS
KSAX/KRWF - ALEXANDRIA/REDWOOD FALLS
WDAY/WDAZ - GRAND FORKS/DEVIL'S LAKE - A. AAMODT
KRCQ - DETROIT LAKES - BRYAN DOMHOLT
KVRR - FARGO - JIM SHAW
KLFD - LITCHFIELD - TIM BERGSTROM
KNSI/KCLD - ST. CLOUD - FRED COLBY
KBEK - MORA - COLLEEN McKINNEY
KFGO - FARGO - PAUL JURGENS