Journalism

TV stations are arming themselves with software that allows them to slice and dice social media to gauge audience interest in stories, share viewer feedback and even predict what stories will become larger issues in the future. Other software speeds social integration into newscasts.

Lori Bentley Law: In order to make big change, you have to take a big leap. It’s scary, especially when you’ve had security and a rewarding career for 24 years, starting in 1994 at NBC affiliate KSBY in San Luis Obispo, California, and ending at KNBC Los Angeles. I tell ya … pulling the trigger has been the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. But I’m making it. I’m moving on from my career as a photojournalist.

While Google, Facebook and Twitter face scrutiny for spreading misinformation, Apple has avoided scandal by using people to pick what news to show. Is that good for publishers?

“We always have a studio that is ready to go on air at any moment,” a CNN insider familiar with its logistics says. Following yesterday’s discovery of a pipe bomb at its New York headquarters, the cable network managed to remain on the air as the network’s live feed jumped between anchors in Washington and New York — with Big Apple reporters doing the bulk of their work from phones and hot-spot connections on Manhattan city streets.

Megyn Kelly is expected to wind down her 9 a.m. Today show hour by the end of the season, according to a source close to the situation. Sources say that Kelly has met with network executives in recent weeks to discuss the future of the show and expressed a desire to cover more news and politics.

NBC News is joining the parade of traditional news outlets trying to capture the interest of a rising generation of news junkies who get their fix with mobile devices and streaming video. The network has been testing shows, including two hosted by Steve Kornacki.

ABC News says that it is treating midterm election night coverage as if it were a presidential year, promising Wednesday to get a one-hour jump on its broadcast rivals by devoting the entire primetime schedule on Nov. 6 to reporting results.

CNN’s Time Warner Center office was evacuated on Wednesday in response to the discovery of a suspicious package, the network’s journalists reported on air. “The New York bomb squad unit right in front of the building, they are taking this very seriously,” morning anchor Jim Sciutto said. The package was found inside the mailroom, after it was delivered. Sciutto said the network is not aware of any injuries.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregory Jones on Tuesday reversed his earlier decision barring media from reporting on search warrant documents in the case of Dr. Grant Robicheaux, charged with sexual assault. Robicheaux and his girlfriend Cerissa Riley have pleaded not guilty to charges of rape, kidnapping and other crimes.

A.G. Sulzberger, the still relatively new publisher of The New York Times, says this is an “all-hands-on-deck time” for journalism. And he is in charge of one of the ships. Sulzberger took the reins from his father Arthur O. Sulzberger, Jr. about a year ago. He worked in the newsroom and in the business ranks of the paper before taking the top post. Now he’s in charge of growing the digital footprint to The Times and managing the decline of the print edition.

A suspected intruder was shot trying to break into Fox O&O WTTG’s building in the Friendship Heights neighborhood in Washington, D.C., Monday. The station said all of its employees are safe following the incident.

48 Hours producer Susan Zirinsky has emerged as the front-runner to become the new executive producer of 60 Minutes at CBS News, sources say. Zirinsky is now the favorite to fill the shoes of veteran producer Jeff Fager, who was fired last month amid accusations of inappropriate conduct and sexual harassment, according to insiders briefed on the situation. An announcement is expected as soon as next week