Surack Who?

Here's tonight's challenge: What is a "Surack"? Chris Darby quotes "Surack" but does not identify him/her. Do you know what a "Surack" is? (heavy sarcasm)

by: Chris Darby

Posted: Dec 10, 2020 / 06:05 PM EST / Updated: Dec 10, 2020 / 06:05 PM EST

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – A continued lack of negotiations between the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and its musicians has left the future of the orchestra yet to be seen. While the chairman of the board has called for getting back to talks, musicians have taken part in picketing to spread the word.

“We’re trying to bring visibility to our community and to our civic leaders to let them know of the movement afoot to reduce this orchestra,” Campbell MacDonald told WANE 15 Thursday.

According to the Philharmonic, the organization is facing a nearly two million dollar loss in revenue because of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the musicians, furloughs announced in July were illegal and the Philharmonic is not hurting for money.

The musicians have said a new deal introduced in September would cut 63 musicians down to 15. It would have also cut back on wages and other benefits like health insurance. Surack said the musicians are welcome back at the table to talk about how many people can be employed.

“Everybody is hurting right now,” Surack added. “It’s been a tough year. I just want nothing more than for the musicians to come back to the table so we can talk to them and figure out a solution going forward. I just want to have an orchestra for the next 76 years, just like the last 76 years. I want to hear great music in our community again.”

“This is what our lives and our careers are built around,” MacDonald said. “Many of us moved here. Many of us have families. Many of us have every interest in maintaining and growing as a part of this community and there’s nothing that we want more than to be able to work and continue to do that.

Both the musicians and the Philharmonic have posted information about the contract negotiations on their websites.

If you know what a "Surack" is, please give the WANE-15 news room a call, or drop them an email. They don't seem to know.

You can find their story here: 

https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/future-of-philharmonic-unknown-as-contract-still-not-agreed-upon/

Fort Wayne's Forgotten News Operation

The first time the Maven saw this, it was dismissed as poor writing. 

But upon further review, someone has to ask the kids at WFFT 55 if they have any clue what they are saying?

The first line "with no concrete plan for combating the coronavirus"...is either an editorial opinion or a statement of confounding ignorance. Maybe no one at WFFT 55 has tried to buy a drink while sitting at their favorite bar (or maybe they are underage)? Maybe no one at WFFT 55 has tried to sit in the bleachers to watch their niece or nephew play in a high school basketball game? Maybe the kids at WFFT 55 don't get out of the studio much? To say that the city, state, the federal government has "no concrete plan" is absurd. For most normal people, the efforts of government and scientists to combat, control, and stem the spread of the virus are all around us. 

Further, this paragraph is so poorly written, that it makes the reader believe the streets of Fort Wayne are responsible for fighting the virus. 

Finally, it's really a bullshit story and helps us understand why the general public is so confused about the virus. On one hand, the City complains they are losing money because no one is coming downtown and using the parking meters, and on the other hand they are telling people to stay home. 

Just another example of how inept reporters regurgitate the statements of inept public officials, all the while confusing and poorly serving the people they claim to champion and represent. 

Can You See Me Now?

Regular WANE-15 viewers have seen this blue banner on their screens for quite a while. 

The annoying banner is the result of a corporate pissing match between WANE-15' corporate owner and DISH Network over retransmission fees. 

What is not clear: DISH dropped WANE-15 on December 1. Meaning anyone in Fort Wayne with DISH service can't access WANE-15. They can't see it. 

So, why continue to run the banner after December 1, imploring DISH viewers to call and demand DISH Network return WANE-15 if those viewers can't see the banner?

Forget Something?

 Good story, but...

Would you kids mind naming the individual? Who is he?

Not everyone has the time to wait through the commercial and then listen to your entire story. Some people are driving, some are at work (where blaring audio is a no-no) and some people's devices won't handle your video.

Why not name the player in the body copy of your story?

Here's the story from the WPTA ABC21 web site:

https://wpta21.com/2020/11/08/former-snider-star-to-miss-twelve-weeks-of-season-at-louisville/

Things I Learned Watching The Local News

1. Voting at the Coliseum continues on Wednesday, following an election on Tuesday.

2. Johnathan Weinzapfel is the former mayor of Evanston.

3. Louie Tran and Lou Tran are the same person. Although it is entertaining watching the anchor call him one name and Lou/Louie identifying himself another.

4. FWCS School Board candidate William Critell's name rhymes with the word "brittle". 

5. Ken "FRY" was among the candidates running for "Allen County City Council".

6. Most local "on-the-scene" reporters have very little "ad-lib" experience. 

7. Most local "on-the-scene" first words are "yeah" or a regurgitation of what the anchor just said.

8. According to one of the 6pm female anchors "the leaves have not started falling yet".

9. The difference between "felony criminal charges" and "serious felony criminal charges" apparently, is the addition of an extra adjective. 

10. When a female anchor's wardrobe and hair style change from one newscast segment to another, and back again, we should not notice nor call attention to the fact, even though it is a "live" broadcast. 

11. A college law professor, somewhere, is calling for an overhaul of the Electrical College. 

12. "Facts I just uncovered" by the breathless live shot reporter are really being read right out of the Journal Gazette. 

13. BB guns shoot "bullets". 

14. The U-D-S-A performs the same function as the better-known U-S-D-A.

15. Live reports always go better when the female reporter screams at the camera. 

16. B-roll has no expiration date. Even 10-year-old stock footage is acceptable. 

17. B-roll doesn't have to match the story being read by the anchor. Extra points if the B-roll includes an accused child molester or politicians.

18. Local anchors are experts at remaining clam during a technical FUBAR.

19. Clip-on microphone placement is critical to avoid the sounds of digestion and impending flatulency. 

20. Windom Hotels are not synonymous with WIDE-mun Hotels. Whatever that is. 

21. "Consertive" appears to be interchangeable with the word "Conservative". Also note, they never, ever screw up the word "Progressive" or "Democrat". 

22. Courts have the ability to uphold the "connection" of someone convicted of a crime. 

23. We wonder if ABC News with David Muir is really live, when we often see the 4-3-2-1 electronic slate count-down before it begins. 

24. The mayor or Indianapolis' name has been changed to HOG-zit.

25. On 9/11/2020, tone-deaf anchors wonder, out loud, why all the flags in a downtown weather shot seem to be at half-staff. 

Ignorance You Can Count On

The media are human. They make mistakes. We expect "journalists" to give us the facts and to know what they are talking about. Sometimes, their ignorance of a subject ruins an otherwise good story.  

Here's the issue, kids: BB guns don't shoot "bullets". They shoot, wait for it, BB's. Little round balls that anyone who has viewed the Christmas classic movie "Christmas Story" would know. 

Let's all say the classic line, together: "you'll shoot your eye out, kid".

For the kids in the news room, here's a visual:

For comparison, check the news story in the Auburn Star, it makes no mention of "bullets":

https://www.kpcnews.com/thestar/article_96e6026d-04ed-5e05-8919-38b5e91e6466.html

The kids in the WANE 15 news room must have "created" the "bullets" reference on their own...from their "real world" experience with the workings of the world. (sarcasm light is illuminated).

That Other Guy...

Working hard to keep Indiana a two-party state, the Journal Gazette seems to forget about "that other guy" running for Indiana Governor. 

While the Journal Gazette conveniently left his picture on the cutting room floor, the MediaMaven is happy to show you Donald Rainwater the Libertarian candidate who also appears on the ballot running for Governor of Indiana.

Please note that this morning's story does mention Rainwater, giving him the paltry last six lines of the story, with the JG noting the candidate's support for the legalization of marijuana, an obligatory "poison pill" that the media always attaches to any Libertarian candidate (including those running for dog-catcher). That "silver bullet) is designed to discredit any Libertarian candidate among Indiana's "conservative" voters. This, designed to ensure that only Republicans and Democrats will achieve elected office. 

Why? 

Easy. 

The established media has long enjoyed the lazy luxury of pitting one party (and their supporters) against the other and creating conflict and turmoil between them and then reporting that conflict and turmoil for greater readership, more advertising sales, and more profits for the stockholders they are beholden to.  If a third party were to emerge as a substantive threat to the other, more dominant parties, the current "divide and conquer" tactics the media has enjoyed for years would be compromised, and the media industry would have to actually commit journalism to engage their audience.  

Are They Really That Clueless?

Those kids at WANE-15 gave the Maven a little chuckle. 

Apparently, there's a nationwide outage affecting some Microsoft products that use the "cloud". 

So, when the youngsters in the newsroom needed something for a graphic, they pull a stock picture of Windows software in boxes on a big-box retailer's shelf. 

Same thing? Right?

The fun continues as Fort Wayne City Utilities will revert back to their Pre-COVID business practices of enforcing disconnects and pursuing collections. 

 

Nice graphic, kids, but Fort Wayne City Utilities provides water and sewer services, not electric service.

And not to be outdone, the forgettable news kiddos at WFFT 55 also seem to think that Fort Wayne City Utilities provides natural gas and electrical service.

 

Sloppy

The Governor's seemingly endless Executive Orders can be confusing.

Either a WANE - 15 staffer is confused or is a fat-fingered typist. No matter what the explanation/excuse, this looks like sloppy work. 

Note the start time for Phase 5:

Now, compare the the "official" document from Governor Eric Holcomb:

Sure, this nitpicking but this illustrates the point that the accuracy and credibility of the WANE -15 news brand often times rests upon a lazy reliance on technology, or a failure to check one's work. 

Inept Reporting Hurts Homicide Survivor's Families

The families of homicide victims suffer more than the loss of a loved one. They often must suffer the long road to finding closure for their loss. Often, that road is a dead end. 

Another indignity they must endure is the often well-meaning media's mistakes and inaccuracies. 

On September 16, WANE-15 published and aired this news story.

WANE 15 offered a list of local homicides by victim names followed by the word "no arrests have been made".

Just one problem:

The list is incorrect since, in three of the homicide victims cases listed, ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. In fact, WANE 15 reported those arrests on their own air and on their website. 

Rather than rely on WANE's own reporting, the Maven has used the more credible reporting of the Journal Gazette's Jamie Duffy to highlight WANE 15's errors.

According to WANE 15’s list: 

Kenneth Frierson II, 28, was killed June 19 in the 5400 block of Werling Drive, Fort Wayne. No arrests have been made.

But the Journal Gazette shows otherwise:

According to WANE 15’s list: 

Allen Lamar Ruffin, 31, was killed on July 21 in the 2500 block of Lillie Avenue Fort Wayne. No arrests have been made.

But the Journal Gazette published this:

According to WANE 15’s list: 

Frederick Sanders, 29, was killed on July 26 in the 1100 block of East Lewis St. Fort Wayne. No arrests have been made.

But the Journal Gazette reported this:

WANE 15's list also included the name of a suicide victim who died in a murder-suicide. Honoring the long-standing journalistic practice of not naming suicide victims, the Maven will not list the name but will point out to WANE 15 that making an arrest of a perpetrator of a murder/suicide is not only unlikely, but it's also physically impossible. 

Andy Trolls For A Co-host

The TV commercials are relentless. Andy Beckman lands on his feet at WAJI Majic 95.1. 

You may recall that Andy was rather unceremoniously pushed out the door at WMEE 97.3 three months ago as management indicated it was 'going in another direction' which is code for 'we've lost confidence in you, please clean out your desk'. 

The more effective (annoying) of the 2 commercials running now notes that Andy does not have a co-host. 

Of course it's a well-executed publicity stunt, but the question remains...why does Andy's co-host have to be a woman? Is this a possible EEOC violation? Or is it setting the stage for the possible return of Andy's former co-host while she sits out a non-compete clause? Or maybe Andy's new co-host hasn't yet found her way to Fort Wayne from another market. 

Whatever happens, keep watching for an updated commercial flight to tell the story. 

After surviving the infamous FedMed talent-grinder for a number of years, the Maven wishes Andy well, as he transitions to a radio operation known for it's values and ethics and respect for their employees. 

Pet Peeve #16

Things that drive the Maven crazy: When the headline misleads the reader. Or, as an old, grumpy journalism professor used to say "when the carpet doesn't match the drapes". 

According to WOWO's headline, Fort Wayne Community Schools might see a tax increase.

However, reading the story, it's property owners living in the Fort Wayne Community Schools area that could see a tax increase. 

So, kids, which one is it? You credit the Journal Gazette, the least you could have done is not distorted the facts in their story you copied and pasted. 

 

It would be helpful if those writing the news (or copying off of someone else's paper) could actually bother to check their work before releasing it to the general public. 

The story can be found here: 

https://www.wowo.com/fwcs-could-see-2-tax-rate-increase

WFFT Geographically Challenged?

In the arena of local TV news, it's pretty easy to write a news story. 

An official authority releases a notification (Press Release) to the media, and the media basically regurgitates the information fed to them. 

Note the address in the official coroner's release:

Because TV and social media require some sort of graphic to entertain the eyes of the audience, a map is created. This consists of entering the address provided from the official press release into Google Maps or an equivalent application. 

Any Fort Wayne resident who has lived here for more that one TV rating period should note that 1500 Old Mill Road in Fort Wayne is NOT equivalent to 15000 Mill Road in the Poe/Hoagland area. The CORRECT location is plotted here:

For the kids at WFFT: the "cut and paste" style of TV journalism only works if you include all the zeros in the address when you enter it into Google Maps. 

Just one of the reasons why the Maven often forgets that WFFT has a newscast. 

The original story is here:  https://www.wfft.com/content/news/Mill-Road-fire-victim-identified-by-Allen-County-coroner-572283241.html?fbclid=IwAR0B9501VP2aaLWod1aI3Q28B3uu5eN40FxRIfC

WANE TV New Antenna and Eric Holcomb

TV news, especially local TV news has a bad reputation for taking a very simple story, and through ignorance, laziness, or inexperience, they totally screw it up. 

It's particularly embarrassing when the story is not only about your own industry, but about your own TV station. 

WANE TV is getting a new broadcasting antenna, replacing a temporary antenna installed last year. Viewers watching over the air should see an improvement in reception. 

However, the reporter seems to be burdened with the assumption that Governor Eric Holcomb also heads the Federal Communications Commission. While the governor does seem to be inserting himself into the everyday lives of Hoosiers' lately, he does not enforce technical standards and practices for local TV stations. He may think he's the all-powerful Oz, but he's not.

Yes, reporters are not experts, and no one expects them to be. However, reporters should, at least, be able to take simple facts and not screw them up. Like most local reporting, things might have been more clear if the reporter had simply cut and pasted the press release from WANE TV. 

The original story is here:
https://www.wane.com/news/local-news/new-antenna-allows-for-better-signal-at-wane-15/

WOWO News Never Disappoints the Maven

"WOWO News, depend on it".

A very true statement. The Media Maven can always count on the kids in the WOWO news room to take a simple, straightforward story, and still manage to confound and confuse their listeners. It might be different if the WOWO news room actually did any real digging and reporting, but as most people know, WOWO gets their news ("from our partners in news") from other news sources as well as regurgitating public press releases from government sources. 

On July 17, the Allen County Coroner finally ruled that the death of Demarcus Walker, who was beaten with a baseball bat at the Apple Glen Walmart in March, and died in April, as a homicide. 

http://www.allencountysheriff.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Damarcus-A-Walker-Press-Release-7-17-2020.pdf

Here's the Journal Gazette story by the capable Jamie Duffy reporting the death of Mr. Walker. Please note the date of the story as April 11, 2020.

But WOWO news seems to have missed that point, instead they give the impression that Demarcus Walker died on July 17. 

Please note the date of their story, July 17, 2020. 

Mr. Walker is dead, buried and his family continues to grieve and heal. 

But the kids in the WOWO news room add insult to injury to the victim's family.

Uh, kids, you're a little late. 

Helping Out Their Friends?

While the Maven is no fan of Jim Banks, WPTA's story on the Congressman's fundraising compared to that of his rival has a peculiar smell to it. 

Are the kids at WPTA ABC21 playing the "class envy" card, using strained, tortured math calculations to portray the congressman as a rich, evil Republican, ignoring the fact that Banks is an incumbent with an established reelection organization?

The 66 to 1 statistical analysis is curious, if not rare.

Or are they just helping their friends in the opposing party? 

During a Facebook Live broadcast of the infamous Coliseum Boulevard traffic stop-arrest of two downtown protestors/activists (one of which is a democrat candidate for Allen County Council) a few weeks ago, it was stated that "we have people at the TV station(s) on our side to help us". 

Sounds legit.  

Which One Is It, Kids?

The kids at the Fort Wayne TV station that has no call letters, AKA Fort Wayne's NBC, are doing such a great job supporting and promoting their fellow Millennials with the on-going protests in town. However, this post seems to confuse the Maven:

However, the Fort Wayne Media Maven has just one question for Louie Tran and Karli VanCleve:

Which is it? The ambiguity of the cutline under the picture would make a reasonable person ask "Is there one or are there three plaintiffs in the recent ACLU lawsuit against local law enforcement?"  Your social media posting seems to confuse. Shouldn't it have said "One of the plaintiffs in the ACLU case..." 

No Regional Emmy on This Story

From the kids at WANE-15:

Good story, but no Regional Emmy.

New Meaning to LATE NEWS

The Media Maven doesn't mention WFFT 55 News very often. Not because they are particularly bad, it's just that the Maven tends to forget they exist. 

Every now and then they do stand out. Like today's Facebook post. 

Just one problem. The City issued a press release in March announcing this change. 

March 19, 2020 - "Beginning Monday, March 23, garbage and recycling crews will collect only City of Fort Wayne-issued carts used for residential collection. Workers will not pick up additional personal containers, bags, boxes or bulk items. Following public health guidelines, these restrictions are being instituted by refuse hauling companies across the nation to protect workers and help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus."

Why it took the kids at WFFT 55 a couple of months realize this is anyone's guess. 

LAX, That's the Los Angeles Airport, Isn't It?

Maybe you know what lax means. The Maven did, as well ... until the kids at Regional Emmy Award-winning WPTA ABC21 tossed this story out there:

What does the dictionary say about lax?

Apparently to well-informed sports experts in the area, lax means Lacrosse. And not a city in Wisconsin. 

But remember, as Alexis says: "the facts don't matter, our newscasts save lives". 

WOWO News Has Gender Issues?

From the kids in the WOWO news room:

According to the Allen County Election Board, Erin Fogg (Vafiades) is a woman running for public office. The Maven reached out to other knowledgeable individuals in both political parties who verify that Erin is a female. If Erin Fogg (Vafiades) now identifies as a man, that should have been noted in the WOWO news story. 

Not sure why the kids in the WOWO news room identified her as a man. 

The WOWO news story is here:

https://www.wowo.com/fwpd-makes-protest-related-arrests/

Leaving Out An Important Step...

"Wane 15 never attempted to contact the YMCA to get the facts."  
- YMCA of DeKalb County.

One would think WANE-15 might be a little more careful, considering they reported the "permanent closing" of the Redwood Inn a few weeks ago because a news writer misunderstood a Facebook posting on the Redwood FB page. Redwood is open, but struggling to recover, in part, due to WANE-15's mis-reporting. 

Living With The Results...

When the dust settles,

The Journal Gazette will have to live with the fact that the first paragraph of this morning’s story on-line strongly implies the peaceful protest was interrupted and ruined only after those thug police officers showed up and gassed the peaceful crowd. While the JG does give some lip service to last night’s broken windows and vandalism, their photos, on-line, only show protesters, their signs, and protesters with police. No broken windows, no vandalism. Doesn’t fit their narrative, I guess.

WANE-15 will have to live with the fact that they heavily promoted this event in news promos, made it their top story live, and treated it like a promotion as opposed to news story. The only thing missing was the phrase “bring the whole family, plenty of free parking, and free balloons for the kids.

WPTA ABC21 will have to live with the fact that they made it all about themselves, with their male anchor safe in the studio, and his wife and confused co-anchor on-scene. The male anchor even once saying "this is not about us". Maven calls Bullshit! While the lady was experiencing clouds of tear gas hubby continually asked her about her "feelings". Facts don't matter in TV, only "feelings". During the jerky and haphazard live broadcast from approximately 9pm to 10pm, WPTA’s coverage seemed to focus on the female anchor, who was clearly overwhelmed and confused even unable to even identify the street/intersection they were broadcasting from. Why the "experienced" male anchor sat in the safely in a locked studio miles away and the seeming distraught female was placed in harms way, is a decision that WPTA ABC21 Quincy Communications will have to answer for. WPTA’s fiasco last night has more than eclipsed their “active shooter at the Three Rivers Festival” panic from a few years ago. While their newscasts may “save lives”, apparently they did not save Jimmy John’s front window.

Media Ignorance

Cinco de Mayo must have started early at the Journal Gazette. 

Mr. Archer's Facebook post eloquently explains the problem with the Journal Gazette's front-page headline: 

As the sole, remaining, surviving daily newspaper in town, one would think the Journal Gazette would, at least, appear to know what they are talking about. 

Thanks to Mr. Archer for the use of his Facebook post. 

Get Your News From Facebook? It's No Wonder You're Confused

Spell-check would not have saved this goof. Only someone reading and checking their work before hitting "send" would have accomplished that. 

The Media Maven is old and buys reading glasses at the Dollar store but the word "shortly" seems to not belong. No?