Making of a Newscast: In the field
EUGENE, Ore. - Reporters and photographers begin their day in the KVAL newsroom talking about story ideas and what is going on in the community. Then a call arrives from photographer Alan Dale at a crime scene.
"He's not real sure yet but there's plenty of activity," says Dawn Marie Woodward, the KVAL news assignment editor.
She assigns the story to reporter Meghan Kalkstein.
It's almost 10:15 a.m. as Kalkstein heads out the door to plan a live report from the scene for the noon news.
"So I'll call you as soon as i get more information on it so that you can tease it," Kalkstein says.
ON SCENE
Photographer Dale has been on the scene shooting video and gathering information. He shares information with Kalkstein.
"The crime scene was just from right here all the way down the road clear past where see that van down there just clear down there," Dale tells her. "There was stuff in the road. I got good video. You wouldn't believe what this place looked like just a little while ago."
Kalkstein works to sort out the information for her report.
Live truck operator Loren Ruark prepares to feed video back to the station for a live report at noon.
It's getting close to news time as Dale edits the video that viewers will see in just a few minutes.
"OK, Loren," Dale tells Ruark. "We can feed this any time, buddy."
"Hi, this is Loren," Ruark tells the station. "We're ready to feed."
Kalkstein and Ruark get themselves in place and ready for the live report.
FOLLOW THE STORY
After the noon news, Kalkstein and Dale head to City Hall at 1 p.m. to get the latest information from police.
When they get back to the newsroom, Kalkstein writes the script, goes through video and sound, and keeps an eye on the clock as deadline approaches.
"Since I'm going to be in the field someone's going to need to check the website to make sure it's still accurate when we go on at 6," Kalkstein tells her co-workers.
Kalkstein goes over her script with news director Jenny Kuglin.
"Is that why they had the streets blocked off? Because they were looking for him?" Kuglin asks.
"They also had to just do the crime scene investigation stuff," Kalkstein said.
With just over an hour to go before newstime, Dale edits the footage to fit the script while Kalkstein heads back to the scene to report live for the evening newscasts.
It makes for a busy day - an exciting, busy day.
