RTDNA

Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and executive producer of 60 Minutes, will receive RTDNA’s highest honor during the Excellence in Journalism 2012 Conference in Fort Lauderdale this September.

WPTV’s Lynn Walsh: “I feel it is important for us as journalists to hold freedom of information and public information laws to the laws and statutes that they are. So, with that in mind, here are a few things to think about when trying to obtain information.”

Edward R. Murrow was born 104 years ago today in North Carolina. His legacy is abundantly prevalent in our industry. On this day, we like to take a few moments to reflect on Murrow’s contributions to our profession. There is perhaps no better way to do that than by listening to and reading Murrow’s 1958 “Wires and Lights in a Box” speech from the then RTNDA Convention.

When there is a big local trial it usually means team coverage, lots of live interviews with your legal expert and more use of file video than you would probably like. Whether it was a murder or a corruption case, the community wants to know all the details about the person or people in their town that is involved. Here are some tips on how to create a special website for all that coverage.

12 small The Radio Television Digital News Association has been honoring outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Edward R. Murrow Awards since 1971. Murrow’s pursuit of excellence in journalism embodies the spirit of the awards that carry his name. Murrow Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Edward R. Murrow made a standard for the broadcast news profession.

RTDNF has produced public service announcements for station to air the week of March 11-17, Sunshine Week, and throughout the year. The PSAs are :15 or :30 in English and Spanish.

After a relatively quiet few years, the organization is hoping to raise its visibility with its new executive director, an experienced broadcast news veteran who can speak out on the First Amendment and other issues affecting electronic journalists and perhaps restore the annual conference to its former stature.

The landscape surrounding non-complete clauses has changed in recent years. This affects such clauses in contracts involving staff in TV, radio, cable and, now, even Internet and satellite services.

The key to an active Facebook page for your station is the same as it is for your own personal page. If you have interesting things to say and engage people in conversation, your Facebook audience will grow and the participants will value the page. If your Facebook page is used as a marketing tool, and the only way you get “likes” is with contests, nobody is going to bother with it. Here are some pretty basic things you can do to improve the number of fans and the activity on your station’s page.

The Supreme Court of the United States will soon hear arguments for and against one of the most debated and polarizing pieces of legislation since Roe v. Wade — The Obama health care reform law. If there has ever been a time to open the Supreme Court to the citizens it serves, now is the time.

The journalism organization says the appointment of the 25-year media veteran reaffirms its commitment to providing best practices for the journalist and advocate for journalism in Washington.

Kevin Benz, editor-in-chief of CultureMapAustin.com, a lifestyle site serving the Texas capital, assumed the leadership of the Radio Television Digital News Association yesterday during its joint convention with the Society of Professional Journalists. Benz is the first pure-play digital editor to lead RTDNA.

How do you manage a newsroom? How do you tell a real video from a bogus one? How do you use social media to cover your beat? These are among many questions addressed in sessions at the joint RTDNA/SPJ Excellence In Journalism conference taking place in New Orleans this week.

In ceremonies at its conference in New Orleans last night, the Radio Television Digital News Association gave its highest honor, the Paul White Award, to broadcasting pioneer Linda Ellerbee and presented CBS News Correspondent Lara Logan with its John F. Hogan Award for distinguished service.

After teaming with the NAB for its annual conference, the Radio Television Digital News Association has a new partner this year, the Society of Professional Journalists. It’s a move RTDNA Chairman Kevin Benz says gives the group an opportunity to present a conference “that is absolutely and totally journalism-based. We believe that we will be putting on the most important journalism discussion in the country.”

The network’s chief foreign correspondent will receive the journalism group’s John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award at its Excellence in Journalism 2011 Conference on Sept. 26.

The Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) announced Wednesday that Jeff Fager, chairman of CBS News and executive producer for 60 Minutes, will […]

The Nick News executive producer-writer-anchor and former ABC and NBC correspondent will receive the Radio Television Digital News Association’s highest honor for “a lifetime of hard work and leadership” at its September conference.

In light of the recent arrest of photojournalist Phil Datz in Suffolk County, N.Y., the Radio Television Digital News Association encourages police departments around the country to maintain an open line of communication with media outlets and, with RTDNA’s assistance, educate officers on proper media practices and First Amendment rights.

The latest RTDNA/Hofstra University Annual Survey found that 2010 marked a turnaround year for local TV news. Stations added 750 jobs last year, recovering all the losses of 2009 (400 jobs lost) and making a dent in the 1,200 jobs lost in 2008. In fact, the survey found that anticipated hiring in 2011 could bring the industry back to its precrash peak by the start of 2012.

The Gannett NBC affiliate in Buffalo, N.Y., is bucking industry trends with its focus on in-depth reporting. And that effort isn’t going unrecognized. It’s making steady gains in the ratings and was just honored by the Radio Television Digital News Association with an Edward R. Murrow Award for overall news excellence in a small market.

WTHR Indianapolis and WGRZ Buffalo won RTDNA’s Edward R. Murrow award for overall news excellence by TV stations in large markets and small markets, respectively. They were among 21 stations to win Murrows and four to win in multiple categories. For the third consecutive year, NBC News won for overall excellence in the network television grouping. In all, 62 news organizations are being honored with 95 awards.

RTDNA judges awarded 600 regional Edward R. Murrow Awards in 14 categories, including Overall Excellence, Breaking News, Investigative Reporting and Website.

As the FCC works on its Future of the Media Initiative, Attorney Kathleen Kirby outlines the state of electronic journalism’s relationship to the government. She says officials have no business making any recommendations as to how to enhance the quality of local TV news. What they should be doing is removing the TV duopoly rule that hinders smaller market stations from achieving efficiencies that can improve local news. Also important to boosting localism is avoiding complicated and unnecessary FCC paperwork.

The Radio Television Digital News Foundation will honor three news leaders for their commitment to the First Amendment and excellence in journalism at the 21st Annual First Amendment Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Washington. They are Hearst Television’s David Barrett, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Raycom Media’s Susana Schuler.

The Radio Television Digital News Foundation will honor three news leaders for their commitment to the First Amendment and excellence in journalism at the 21st Annual First Amendment Awards Dinner on Thursday, March 10, 2011 in Washington. They are Hearst Television’s David Barrett, CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Raycom Media’s Susana Schuler.