Confessions of a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ rookie
I’ve been working for the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ for a grand total of three months. The main lesson I’ve learned so far is just how much MORE I have to learn about this place, so no broad conclusions will be found here… just a few observations from a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ rookie.
I came to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳, after 24 years as a producer for CBS News in the US, to launch a new nightly news programme (beginning 1 October) presented from Washington DC by veteran ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ reporter Matt Frei and to air on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ America, and in the wee hours of the morning on News 24. That’s the introduction… here are the random observations:
• The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has a different word or phrase than American networks use to describe almost every function of television production, and it may yet drive me crazy. I’ve already used one: Matt’s not an anchorman, he’s a presenter. Fine. I’m good with that. But in the control room – sorry, gallery – when someone yells out OOV or DTL or cotted interview or v-point, they’re so far getting blank stares from me. I know, I don’t get to import my own lingo, and I’m learning, slowly… but it makes my head hurt.
• Somewhere between Peter Horrocks’ office and Peter Barron’s, I got hopelessly lost inside TV centre on my first visit. Had to find an exterior exit (thank God it wasn’t alarmed), walk through an alley to the street and back to the main entrance, and start over. Not a great way to make a first impression.
• I’ve become grateful for little things, like forceful speakers. Because I’m usually in Washington, I’m on a lot of speakerphone conference calls with London. It’s often hard to hear what people are saying, but it’s never hard to hear Jon Williams. Thanks, Jon.
• I don’t know if the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ has ever put together into one book all of its personnel policies and its rules and regulations about working conditions; if it exists, I’ll bet I can’t lift it.
• I left the comfort of CBS and joined ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ News mainly because I was inspired by its great ambition – it really does aspire to be the best news organization in the world – and because its people from top to bottom work hard to make that aspiration real. I wanted to be part of that and part of them. Nothing in my vast three months’ experience has made me regret that choice. OK, maybe for a minute or two, when I was lost in that hallway.
Comments
I enjoyed reading your blog Rome. Your phraseology sounds authentically American which made me smile.
I hope you are enjoying your time here and wanted to ask if you have experianced any of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s fabled anti-americanism? Have you got any wider thoughts on the way the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ relates to America in general?
Let's hope you, Matt and Justin Webb will continue blogging about life on the other side of the pond.
As Ed R. Murrow might have said, Good Night ! Good Luck !
The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s fabled anti-Americanism is just that - a fable.
a vocal minority of the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s viewers, that's another matter :)
You're stuck there now, and you can't even use the advice of Graham Norton's show when on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ America - use closed captioning :)
When can we expect a new nightly show from Paris or Berlin or is this just yet more worshiping at the alter of all things US?
Having seen Fox News how can anybody complain about the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ and bias?.
You made the right decision.
i am a Brit living in the USA and you made the right choice defecting to the UK and to the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳.
Over coiffed female models and loud people read the news here in the USA and it gets on my nerves!
Also that fake nodding and agreeing with each other when two people are presenting ... oops ... *anchoring* the news.
Ick.