The Inbox....

Lots of interesting emails coming into FTVLive.

Let’s take a look:

This Nexstar staffer is a bit frustrated with the company’s lack of communication about COVID:

Hey Nexstar,

I’m sure you have the story that even Fox News is requiring employees to declare their vax status.

While many broadcasters are addressing the uptick in cases, not a single word from Nexstar. The largest owner of stations has not communicated one word to their employees. Nothing about vaccinations, nothing about visitors to the buildings, nothing about masks.

Perry even emailed everyone about a couple stations getting Murrows but not a peep about Covid.

I’m sure we will get repeated marching orders about the new News Nation morning failure but how about someone sending an email about Covid.

This email is in reaction to FTVLive’s Patron story about WSMV in Nashville:

Damn Scott:

         WSMV’s “Call for Action” volunteers hit a nerve with me. 

         Most TV stations, mine included, are not letting anyone who is not an employee or a contractor in the building except for rare circumstances.  Certain employees are required to work out of their homes, and I don’t think any self-respecting station would even consider letting volunteers in.  When was the last time you saw “volunteers” at a station phone bank taking pledges for a charity, or having an expert give advice on taxes or medical conditions.  That's all done via Streamyard, Zoom, or Facebook live.

         As an investigative reporter who occasionally does consumer reporting, I’m offended.  It takes a skill set, refined over time to know the difference between legit complaints and bad customer service.  The best consumer reporters know how to say “no” to someone who may have a legitimate complaint, but not enough evidence to make pursuit of the story worth the investment of time.  That’s why these “CFA volunteers,” are going to be spending most of their time talking with aggrieved people who believe they are scam victims, but whose stories will never be told.

         Of course, Meredith likely thinks this a beta test, and if it works, look for all the stations in the chain to follow.  But it won’t work.  It will die a relatively quick, painful death.

         I feel for those who sign up to be CFA volunteers: Retirees who still watch TV news regularly and want to help people, and college age types who might see this as a gateway to a career in television.  The retirees will quit when they realize they’re work is being wasted, and the collegians will go shortly after they figure out their volunteerism is not a ticket to a TV gig.  Or they get the ‘rona.  This idea will will result in a sad ending to a bad idea, with loyal viewers-turned-volunteers feeling disillusioned.

That’s my two cents worth.

This email is directed at PJ Matt at WTTG in DC:

NOTE TO CAPPUCCI: Scott Jones is correct. You need to look professional doing your weather job.

It's that simple. I'm not saying that you should jump into the Clark Kent suit at 2:30 in the morning, but you should at least wear a shirt when you're warning people about something as serious as flash flooding. A plain dress shirt will do. That IS what you wear at work, isn't it? You shouldn't have to be reminded of this... where's your boss? What you did was juvenile. It's distracting. People are not listening to what you're saying.. they're adjusting to the fact that a "media folk" is wearing pajamas to warn us about flooding. That's 5th grade stuff, dude. And unless you're in a power outage or your lights are disconnected, you should be lit (there is a wine connection there with the glasses, but I'm not going there right now).

TV is not play-acting. It's a serious business. What if a tornado had blown through your neighborhood, your boss calls up and tells you to go live. You're gonna do that in pajamas, wine glasses and candlelight when your lights are obviously working? Seriously? You're kidding, right? Grow up. You're not playing TV anymore. If you want to play TV, go back to 5th grade.

And in defense of Scott and FTV Live... yeah, he "frequently bashes media folks." But he frequently bashes media folks because they're doing something stupid... like broadcasting about flash flooding in pajamas and candlelight. Do your job professionally or risk getting bashed.

And would someone please tell Miss Manners (oops.. Miss Matter) to mind her own business. Once again, she's in grown folks' conversations.

And another FTVLive reader chimed in:

Good morning,

Despite not being the business any longer I still have a love for it. I think your comments about Mr. Cappucci and Ms. Matter were spot on. They should be more concerned with their own behavior than FTVLive. From their responses, one can see they have a radically different view of how to be journalists than others who work in this profession. Those journalists who are working with integrity, and professionalism understand their personal brands and those of their employer and behave appropriately serving their stations and communities.