Bob_Grip's Blog

Careful planning and hard work get results in any business, especially the news business, but often luck plays a role, too.  That's what happened Wednesday when I was shooting my weekly series, Fox 10 News Fugitive Files (now celebrating its 15th year BTW).

My photographer Robert Brown and I had just finished an interview at Mobile Police Headquarters, and I started a conversation with an officer whose patrol car was parked next to our newsvan.  Suddenly, he put his car in gear and zoomed across the street to the Food World parking lot.  I could see an armored car there and a growing number of marked and unmarked cars with their blue flashing lights on.

I told Robert we needed to get across the street.  Now.

A few seconds later, we were on the scene where deputies and officers already had 3 men in custody.  I pulled out my iPhone and started taking photographs, getting as close to the suspects as possible, while Robert started shooting video.


One of the men, with a large tattoo on his neck, looked at me and said, "Whoa.  Bob Grip!" as he was put in the back of a Mobile Police car.



I asked a sheriff's deputy what was going on, and he just said, "probation violation".  (It turns out the armored car just happened to be there.)

The arrest was great video, but without any context, I wasn't able to do anything with it.  (Imagine the story:  We have great video of 3 men in custody.  We don't know why they were in handcuffs, but here you go.)

Later that afternoon, I found out just how lucky we had gotten.  Not only was one of the men (the one who said, "Whoa. Bob Grip")  wanted for murder, attempted murder, robbery and burglary, but I had profiled him twice on Fox 10 News Fugitive Files. I hate to use a TV cliche, but, that's not all! I was told he surrendered because of Fugitive Files.

The takedown couldn't have worked better if we had planned it. We didn't.  But sometimes, you make your own luck by keeping your eyes open.

Before heading to the class I teach at Spring Hill College this morning, I had the honor of, once again,  moderating the legislative panel discussion at Congressman Jo Bonner's annual workshop for high school leaders, held this year at the University of Mobile.

This year, the students heard from 4 members of the Alabama House, Randy Davis, Jamie Ison, Chad Fincher and "Coach" Harry Shiver.

As you might imagine, the students were very concerned about the fate of PACT, Alabama's pre-paid college tuition program which has lost about half its value in the economic downtown.  The lawmakers all agreed that the program has enough money to cover student tuition for this year and next, but after that, some state intervention would be required.  One option being considered is using some of the revenue from the unclaimed property fund.

They also told the group they expect to get a revised budget from the Governor, based on the amount of economic stimulus money the state can expect.  Even with that one time injection of funding, with sales tax revenue down, Alabama can expect a lean year or two in the future.

I was glad to get an invitation to read at Dodge Elementary School's "Leadership Day".  I read to Mrs. Williams' First Grade class.  They were great listeners!

 According to the Associated Press, "The Obama administration advised federal agencies Thursday to release their records and information to the public unless foreseeable harm would result."

      "Attorney General Eric Holder issued new guidelines fleshing out President Barack Obama's Jan. 21 order to reveal more government records to the public under the Freedom of Information Act, whenever another law doesn't prohibit release."

      "The new standard essentially returned to one issued by Attorney General Janet Reno during the Clinton administration. It replaced a more restrictive policy imposed by the Bush administration under which the Justice Department defended any sound legal argument for withholding records."

      I've used the Freedom of Information Act in the past to gather information for an article that was published in a periodical called The Merton Seasonal.  I was the first author to search government archives to see if the Federal government kept tabs on the Trappist monk and best selling author, Thomas Merton. (It did).

      Unfortunately for the researcher, there is no clearinghouse for access to all Government information.  The researcher must apply to each individual agency in what becomes a protracted fishing expedition.

      By law, the agencies must "reply" within 20 workdays.  Unfortunately, the "reply" usually means a postcard or letter saying, "We have received your request.  We'll get back to you."

      There were other roadblocks.  In one case (the CIA), it took a year to get a useful reply.  The Secret Service said I needed Merton's permission to check his records.  That would have been very difficult, considering he had been dead for years when I made the request (I sent the agency a copy of his obituary from the New York Times, instead).

      The wait for information got longer during the Bush administration.  Maybe today's announcement will make it easier to find out what your government is doing. 

Once a year, the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism issues its "State of the News Media" report, which goes on for 700 pages.   Despite the discouraging economy news, there are signs that local news organizations are investing in their websites.

As the report points out, "The Web is becoming more than a newscast on line." (All graphics are courtesy the report)


Look at the increase in the use of still pictures and audio.

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Stations are making better use of one of their best selling points, video.

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TV websites are also making better use of interactive features, like the blog you are now reading.

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In addition to being a clearinghouse for all things local, stations are also looking toward the future when you can receive your stories on a handheld device.  Here at Fox 10, we're already there for all you iPhone users :).  

The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press does great, timely research and doesn't have an axe to grind.  That's what makes its latest survey so interesting in terms of media trends.

In a study entitled, "Many would shrug if their local newspaper closed", the report looks at the trends that explain why newspapers have fallen on hard times.

In part, the report says, "When it comes to local news, more people say they get that news from local television stations than any other source. About two-thirds (68%) say they regularly get local news from television reports or television station websites, 48% say they regularly get news from local newspapers in print or online, 34% say they get local news regularly from radio and 31% say they get their local news, more generally, from the internet."

What is even worse for the future of newspapers is the attitude of young people toward them.  The study continues, "A recent analysis of newspaper readership by Pew Research found that just 27% of Generation Y – those born in 1977 or later – read a newspaper the previous day. That compares with 55% of those in the Silent or Greatest Generations, born prior to 1946...Less than a quarter of those younger than 40 (23%) say they would miss the local newspaper they read most often a lot if it were to go out of business or shut down. That compares with 33% of those ages 40 to 64 and 55% of those 65 and older."

If you look at the circulation figures released by the Audit Bureau of Circulations, you can see the trend locally.  The average paid circulation of the Sunday Pensacola News Journal has fallen from 75,498 in December, 2005 to 66,175 in September, 2008.  Its daily circulation has also slipped in the same time period (60,839 to 52,289).  

The Mobile Press-Register hasn't lost as many Sunday subscribers, but sales are down from 114,154 in June, 2005 to 106,142 in September, 2008. Monday through Friday sales are up, though (91,527 to 92,162).

Do I think local communities would be worse off with fewer or no newspapers?  Absolutely.  I can see papers cutting back on daily editions and perhaps trying to charge for their on-line content, but I think it will be hard to start charging for what they've been giving away. 

In one of the classes I've prepared for a series of in-house training I call Fox 10 News University, I talk about the importance of service.  

The idea for the class came to me after I read about a company in Paris that trains employees who work at luxury hotels.  It said while all hotels provide the same basic services like housekeeping, it's the level and degrees of service that keep customers coming back.

That came to mind this morning when I answered my home phone.

On the other end was the friendly voice of Dave, working for Other World Computing in Woodstock, Illinois. I had sent the company a note the night before, complaining about one of its products that had failed, twice.  The first time it died, I spent $10 sending it back, and I told them I was going to write it off this second item because spending another 10 bucks would come close to matching the total cost of the item.  To me, it wasn't worth the aggravation and I told them so.

To be honest, I didn't expect a reply. It was a surprise when I received, not an e-mail but a phone call.  Not only was the company going to replace the item, but it would pay for the return shipment of the defective product.

That gets back to the idea of service.  Will I think of that company again when it comes time to buy something else?  Sure.  In the end, what did it cost them?  Return postage--$10.  But to me, the personal service was priceless.

Saturday, my wife and I took advantage of the beautiful weather for a ride to Pensacola.  We did a little shopping and enjoyed a great lunch of Japanese food.

On the way back,  I was driving north on I-110 which has been under construction for 15 or 20 years; at least it seems that way.

Anyway, I thought I would see what would happen if I set my speed control at the speed limit of 45 miles per hour.  I can say without exaggeration that every car and truck on the highway zoomed past me, including a Pensacola police car that zipped past without lights or sirens.  No one was getting stopped.

Bill Clinton was President the last time I covered anything personally from the White House. He was extremely personable and ready to talk at length to everyone in the room (including me).  On the other hand, President Carter was very much "just the facts" and not much for the social graces.  Ronald Reagan was a commanding presence and had a great sense of humor.

You still need a sense of humor to work out of the White House Press Office.  The briefing room, built over what used to be the White House swimming pool, was much smaller than I had pictured from TV.  Those lucky enough to have office space worked out of something the size of a small, walk-in closet.

While it is the most visible job you can have as a television reporter, it is also the most confining.  You are not free to wander around the West Wing, unless you don't mind being tackled by a Secret Service agent.  You have to work the phones trying to get comments from people who don't want to talk to you, while you wait for the daily news briefing.

I'll bet this report by Comedy Central's The Daily Show is closer to the truth than many reporters would like to admit.

I was in court today when Judge Charles Graddick agreed to accept a guilty plea to 4 counts of capital murder from Lam Luong, accused of throwing his 4 children off the Dauphin Island Bridge.

Judge Graddick made it painstakingly clear, through an interpreter, that Luong knew what he was doing.

There will be a jury struck in the case starting Monday, not to decide Luong's guilt or innocence, but rather to give Judge Graddick a recommendation of either death or life in prison without parole.  The Judge will make the final ruling.

A broadcast pioneer died this past weekend, and really didn't get the attention he deserved.

Paul Harvey was a unique talent who worked for ABC Radio for more than 50 years.  His trademark lines, "Stand by for news!", or "Page Two" when he was going to a commercial or his concluding line, "This is Paul Harvey.....Good Day!" set him apart from everyone else on the radio.

He simply didn't sound like everyone else and he commanded an audience like no one else.  Critics thought his delivery and story selection were just plain corny, but his audience of 24 million listeners far outnumbered them.

It really was the final edition today for Denver's Rocky Mountain News.

The Scripps owned newspaper went out of business, another victim of the economy.

Denver is known for its outstanding videography, and the Rocky Mountain News is one of the few newspapers I've seen that really knew how to tell a story with video.


Final Edition from Matthew Roberts on Vimeo.

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The internet isn't just a great way to receive information.  It's also an increasingly important way to transmit it.

We're expanding our live coverage here on fox10tv.com and Fox 10 News by using Skype.

The technology has been used in the past to make free or nearly free phone calls all over the world.

Similar to Apple's iChat, it also enables users to send video and audio, and we will be taking full advantage of that.

This week, reporter Chasity Byrd was able to send a live report from the scene of a woods fire in western Mobile County.  It was an area off the paved road, impossible to reach with one of our live trucks.  She was able to send her live report with just a camera and a laptop using wireless technology.
 
The bottom line?  It will enable you to get more information, faster. 

You'll be seeing more Skype reports in the weeks and months to come.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - A British bishop whose denial of
the Holocaust embroiled the pope in controversy left Argentina
Tuesday after the government ordered him out, calling his
statements "an insult" to humanity.
      A local television station showed Richard Williamson angrily
pushing the reporter as he hurried to catch his flight to London.
      Argentina's government on Thursday ordered the traditionalist
Catholic bishop to leave the country or face expulsion for failing
to declare a job change as required by immigration law. The order
also cited his denials of the Holocaust.
     Images broadcast on Buenos Aires' Todo Noticias television
showed Williamson - wearing a baseball cap, a black fleece jacket
and dark sunglasses - hurrying through the airport as television
reporter Norberto Dupesso moved alongside to ask a question.
      Williamson, his lips tightly pursed in a grimace, raised his
hand inches from the reporter's face, then pushed past, shoving him
into a pole with his shoulder. Two men accompanying the bishop then
grabbed Dupesso by his shoulders and held him back while Williamson
hurried away.

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Keep in mind, he can't blame the media for his trouble.  He willingly gave the interview which got him thrown out of Argentina.  He also can't claim to be misquoted.  The video is there for all to see.

Rocco Palmo strikes again.  The author of one of my favorite websites, Whispers in the Loggia, just managed another scoop.  He knew that Archbishop Timothy Dolan would be named the new Archbishop of New York before most of the world. Weeks before.

It's not surprising.  He was the first one (to my knowledge) to find out that Archbishop Thomas Rodi would be named to the post in Mobile.  Fox 10 was the first local outlet to name Rodi, thanks to Rocco.  We talked frequently in the days leading up to the "official" announcement, and he called me in the wee hours of the morning that the word came out.

Keep in mind, information like this is under what's called the "pontifical seal".  It means that it is secret, period.

Rocco is frequently the "go-to" guy for solid information about what's happening in the Catholic Church, simply because he lives and breathes it. He writes for a British weekly called The Tablet, and also writes a column for Busted Halo, a website run by the Paulist Fathers that is not your typical (read: dull) Church website.  For example, a recent headline on Busted Halo read, "Five Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day without Bling or Booty".  See what I mean? :)