Alex Wiebel

Comments, discussion boards and polls are all ways to spread involvement with users. However, to generate user provided content on tv.ku.edu there needs to be a way to receive feedback. I look at the addition of putting our videos on YouTube and how it's opened doors for our students. It can only get better.

Why are sports message boards popular? Maybe it's because members or subscribers can have their voices heard...online. People are more inclined to participate when it's free and easily accessible. Look at espn.com for example; they have audience involvement on the web and on television. They implement user-generated content through video from fans, as well as comments on all stories on the web. It all revolves around having a consistent product that is listening to what people want.

If tv.ku.edu can take advantage of having 29,000+ students at its disposal in providing unique/audience-driven story ideas then the sky is the limit. In doing so, it starts with a solid base from which to work from. KUJH-TV on YouTube is a good start and we can only hope that this model can expand into making the KU Broadcasting product more popular.

Today's atmosphere in the Newsroom is a little glum to say the least. Everyone in Journalism 693 and 694 are putting the final touches together for the In-Depth projects. We are all feeling the effects of deadline pressures for our stories and multimedia web elements. There really isn't much else to say about that.

As for the newsroom shift, I've come to the conclusion that students want the semester to be over with. After 11 or so weeks of the 2007 Fall semester complete, it seems as though everyone is having a hard time keeping up with assignments. I know it's tough, I feel the same way. The stories for today include: KU Success in Business, Alternative Breaks and a Pharmacist Shortage in Kansas. According to the Kansas Pharmacist Association, there are 7 Kansas counties without any pharmacies. I learned something new today.

All three of these stories I've done to some effect at KU. Last semester in 692 I did a package on how the KU School of Business cranks out many students into the job market, with quite impressive pay salaries. I did a story that didn't air about pharmacy because of faulty equipment. And back in 415 I did a package on Alternative Breaks as they prepared for the Winter Break and its respective sites across the country.

That's my flashback on today's stories and I'm happy to see them being recycled on the newscast.

Is KUJH-TV a blooper factory? I'd like to think so. Some days are just destined for mess ups. I can recall faulty camera moves, anchor slip ups and video problems all recorded on-air just this year. It is pretty much inevitable for amateur journalists not to make mistakes on a consistent basis. Even the professional news stations aren't perfect, and they make errors as well. But as far as being a blooper factory, you just have to catch them at the right place at the right time. Having experience in both on-camera and behind the scenes work, I've noticed the difficulties in television production (or the worst of both worlds if you will). Sometimes you just can't help but laugh at yourself and others. I crack myself up when I watch blooper reels from newscasts. You feel for the person messing up, but on the other hand you know they would be pointing and laughing if the tables were turned. So, don't feel ashamed to laugh at me when I want to be "one less woman, one less."

How about the Wieland's Wacky Winner of the Week segment or the Knowlton Knows Best? I'd watch this quirky stuff, probably comment on it and hang on the edge of my seat if I can see a water-skiing squirrel. We could ask our handful of loyal viewers what they think, so we can better understand what our audience wants. Until then, we'll just satisfy our hunger by watching our mistakes each and every day.

Today Bryan Wilcox introduced a comments section, new to tv.ku.edu. This new feature allows any visitor to the Web site a chance to comment on a selected story they choose. I would like to say that I was the first to comment on a story, but that is yet to be determined.

I wanted to really check and see if this comment box worked, which it did. Kudos to Bryan for putting this together, and I think this will further benefit content capabilities for tv.ku.edu. And people all across the globe can laugh at my anchor stories and let me know about it.

Well, it's Tuesday, November 20th and Thanksgiving is practically upon us. I won't be heading home for the holiday to eat our traditional fried turkey or barbecue in Texas. Instead I'll be heading over to B-rad's in Lenexa for a good-ol' Midwest-style feast. I can't wait.

As for today's production in the Newsroom, I got a great jump start on posting stories to the web. I have a feeling that everyone wants to get started on the break, and the reporters had stories complete in a timely manner.

Wiebs' Prediction for Saturday's Border Showdown:
KU 44
MU 33

Fights: 14
Death toll: 7
MIP's: 59

Well, all good things must come to an end. Just like KU Football's 11-game winning streak and William Hung's American Idol reign; the J-694 blogs are no more. In my farewell to the Newsroom I'd like to reminisce on the good times, but I don't want it to sound like a resume either.

I started out at KUJH as a bright-eyed freshman running camera, audio, teleprompter and whatever else was needed for the KUJH Newscast and Jayhawk Sports Talk. Since the first day I stepped foot into Lawrence I wanted to be a part of KUJH in some form or fashion.

The opportunities here at KU are endless and I felt like I took advantage of as many as possible. Working for TBS for 3 days at Arrowhead for Kansas vs. Oklahoma, traveling to the 2006 Big 12 and NCAA Basketball Tournaments, and driving to Austin, Texas for a KU and UT Football game were some highlights. Again, I couldn't have done it without the skills and knowledge I gained from the J-School.

Whether it was shooting post-game press conferences, doing stand-ups, or editing highlights, I got a feel for it all. Both behind-the-scenes and on-air were areas that I contributed on a daily basis. Now, taking a step back I realized how much time and effort was spent on the 2nd floor of the Dole Human Development Center.

However as I leave the Newsroom, I know there will be better days ahead, but I'll never forget where I came from. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
-Alex Wiebel KUJH-TV News

Well Tuesday Nov. 27, 2007 was probably one of the busiest days I've had in my life. But once I made it to the Multimedia Newsroom it was time to get to work.

The 3:00 Update was pretty eventful in its own right. Sam Knowlton did it well, but when I looked back on the Final Cut timeline, it was not him talking. Instead it was that off a national story for the newscast, which was playing by accident.

Other than that and being a hectic day all around, the second to last Newsroom Shift went by pretty quick.