Random NAB-RTNDA observations

Cory Bergman April 15th, 2008

- I don’t have any hard numbers yet, but RTNDA’s attendance appears to be significantly down, thanks to the economy and the Pope visit.
- Where are the big names at NAB? Several folks have remarked how few heavy-hitters are speaking at NAB. Although I will attend Hulu CEO Jason Kilar’s keynote on Wednesday evening.
- Broadcasting & Cable is shooting video! Look, they interviewed Safran.
- I’m growing weary of young reporter wannabes who quickly glance down at my name tag and walk away. Coming soon: reporters who seek out web managers instead of news directors — and land better jobs.
- Why aren’t NABShow.com and RTNDA.org optimized for mobile? Geesh.
- Note to self: while interviewing people as a VJ, don’t let them grab the mic. They think they’re doing you a favor, but they’re hijacking the interview.
- My new thing here is walking around with a drink in my hand. Because I can. Once a year. And let me check with my boss… yep, go right ahead.

14 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Contrarian  |  April 16th, 2008 at 4:17 am

    “I’m growing weary of young reporter wannabes who quickly glance down at my name tag and walk away.”

    I’m growing weary of local web people who have an inflated sense of self-importance.

  • 2. tdc  |  April 16th, 2008 at 7:17 am

    get use to it.

  • 3. tdc  |  April 16th, 2008 at 7:54 am

    yikes!

    steve safran is “tdc” on b&c… Top Dead Center, that is!

    wondering if that is mike malone doing the voice. anyone?

  • 4. odon  |  April 16th, 2008 at 8:02 am

    Cory,

    Perhaps you should put that drink down. It seems to be impairing your ability to use proper grammar. Regarding your interview subjects, “they’re” hijacking the interview, not “their.” Simple mistakes like this really hurt your credibility.

  • 5. Cory  |  April 16th, 2008 at 8:44 am

    Wow, a typo hurting my credibility, after blogging 16 hour days here? Odon, plueeze.

    And contrarian, interactive producers and managers are tired of being called the “web guy” and downplayed in TV stations — if that’s an inflated sense of self purpose, so be it.

  • 6. Contrarian  |  April 16th, 2008 at 10:50 am

    No, Cory, an inflated sense of self-importance is when web guys are insulted that job seekers who want on-air positions aren’t interested in talking with them.

    Perhaps the right term would have been to say your inferiority complex is showing.

  • 7. Contrarian  |  April 16th, 2008 at 10:52 am

    By the way, I *am* an “Interactive News Producer,” and I don’t mind being called “the web guy.” I can’t imagine actually using my real job title in a conversation. For one thing, it would be pretentious.

    But I suppose you don’t get that.

  • 8. JT  |  April 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    Cory, Thanks for all your efforts to bring the latest from the NAB. I know how un-web-friendly the convention can be - its meant more for engineers and news directors than web producers - uh, I mean “Interactive News Producers.”

    I appreciate you digging through the crap to find and share and all web nuggets.

    I wasn’t able to make it to NAB this year, and I’ve found your blog from Vegas to be very helpful. I have already created a list of things to try out in my own newsroom.

    Thanks

  • 9. Stephan  |  April 16th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    ‘interactive producers and managers are tired of being called the “web guy” ‘

    The worst is being called the “I.T. guy” or the “I.T. department”.

  • 10. JT  |  April 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Most of the people in the newsroom think I can help them set up their printers or figure out why their email doesn’t work.

    The whole “web guy” and “I.T. guy” thing comes from an ignorance of what it is that we do.

  • 11. Safran  |  April 16th, 2008 at 7:55 pm

    Cory being accused of ‘not getting it.’ Now that’s funny.

    I remain incredibly proud of the LR Faithful to see through the commenters who add nothing to the conversation. 10 years in, and we’ve seen them come and go. Mostly go. You guys do realize this free site is a labor of love that you don’t have to visit, right? That it’s rude to visit someone’s house and insult them, right?

    Debate away. Add to the dialogue. Share your ideas. But insults reflect on one person, and it ain’t my former LR boss.

    I’ll take my inflated sense of self-importance and Cory’s selfless donation of his time and money to report on this event over anonymous trolls’ inferiority complexes any day.

  • 12. Contrarian  |  April 17th, 2008 at 4:53 am

    “Cory’s selfless donation of his time and money to report on this event…”

    Yeah, he’s a regular martyr.

    One who quotes himself to prove a point and uses this site to express his displeasure when job seekers looking for an on-air position refuse to bow to him (and the fact that he may be “niche famous”) despite the fact that he does not hire for on-air positions.

    When Cory reports, he rpovides a worthwhile service. However, when his musings head into this territory, he shows a remarkable inferirority complex.

  • 13. Safran  |  April 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am

    Hey - quick - “odon” - the guy above me just made a typo.

  • 14. Contrarian  |  April 17th, 2008 at 11:47 am

    Two, actually, but I do know the difference between “they’re” and “their.”

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