Showing Tag: " news" (Show all posts)

Working to define, not be defined

Posted by Misty Montano on Monday, May 30, 2011, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 


Almost three months have passed since I last wrote and announced my decision to leave CBS4 News after 10 1/2 years On the News Desk.

I’ve been waiting for my feet to find steady ground.  I’ve been finding my new place and how exactly I fit.  I’ve been too exhausted at the end of the day to write.

I have composed many blogs in my mind and seriously need to start recording my thoughts so they aren’t lost!

My personal blog has been just as neglected, which is truly sad because I had pla...


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I signed off the news desk at CBS4 News for the last time

Posted by Misty Montano on Tuesday, March 15, 2011, In : Assignment News Desk 

I signed off from the CBS4 News desk for the last time last night after 10 plus years as an Assignment Editor because I’ve accepted the position of Digital Content Manager at 9News. When I think of my life, channel 4 and everyone at the station is right there along with thoughts about my family.  I can’t picture life away from there, but now I must. 

I grew up at channel 4 on the news desk.  I thought I knew everything when I started here right out of college and it turns out I knew ver...
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10 press release etiquette tips and requests

Posted by Misty Montano on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, In : Assignment News Desk 

Recently I had the pleasure of participating in a media round table luncheon hosted by PRSA Colorado.  I was asked questions about newsroom staffing, editorial decision making, press release preferences, best newsroom contacts, best times to call, and much more.   It seems I’ve taken a lot of questions about press releases lately; or maybe it’s because the luncheon happened not long ago so it just seems like a lot more than normal.

I haven’t written much about press releases sin...
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Facebook page admins be wary of mind control tactics

Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, March 4, 2011, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 

If you’re a facbook page administrator like I am I bet you were ready to pull your hair out yet again at some of the recent changes to facebook pages.  Some of the changes I welcomed with open arms, such as being able to post as your page.  I love this as I see the increased marketing potential.  One change reaffirmed my suspicion that facebook is trying to take over the world. 

Facebook started deciding what was most relevant and important for each of us.  MIND CONTROL.


This didn’t happe...
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Twitter note to my fellow area Journalists

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, February 26, 2011, In : Twitter 


In the last few weeks I’ve seen a surge of journalists throughout the metro area creating Twitter accounts.  Some are using the accounts.  Some are letting them sit stagnant.  To my fellow journalists who have now decided to at least take a look at Twitter:  Welcome.  This post is not meant to be a lecture, but more of a friendly, “here are some tips.” 

I don’t know why the sudden surge from several media outlets from newspaper to TV (broadcast, public and cable), to radio, has been h...


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I am an assignment editor

Posted by Misty Montano on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, In : Assignment News Desk 


I can't resist posting this xtra normal episode by spexorama: I Am An Assignment Editor.  It so nicely describes what I do on the news desk.  The frustration I sometimes feel when I try to explain my job shows eloquently.  Of course I know how important the position of the assignment editor is in the newsroom, and in trying to explain/show that importance, I admit a tiny bit of embellishment may be added.  There are certainly days where I feel like a glorified telephone operator, or intern!

...
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A Social Media Outline for any Journalist

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, August 28, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 



It’s really been quite hard for me to maintain a train of thought these last few months of pregnancy.  That’s obvious by my lack of blogging, and the fact that I’ve mentioned this before!  To handle family, home, work and the rest of life I didn’t force myself to write other than necessary tasks.  I did, however, need to write out the below Social Media Outline for any Journalist.

This need was for myself as I needed to formalize a basic goal plan of what I want to achieve in my o...
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Alien abductee email news tip

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, July 10, 2010, In : Assignment News Desk 
“John Doe

Denver
555-555-55555
Granting an on air t.v. interview about alien abductions.  An abductee requesting an interview.  How does this work?  Can someone contact me to explain the process.  555-555-5555 and ask for John Doe over at No Name Modeling & Talent Agency”

Yes, the above is indeed a news tip/request that the station received last week via email.  To protect the identity of the tipster, I changed the name and a few other details.  All of my changes are in italics.

Every once in...
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The crazy caller is the one constant

Posted by Misty Montano on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, In : Assignment News Desk 

“CBS 4 News this is Misty.”

“Do you know the difference between a deer and an elk?” CLICK.

As my thought of “did we air a picture and get it wrong?” was forming the caller hung up.  I have no idea why he called.  He sounded upset.  He didn’t sound like he was prank-calling.  With the phone silent against my ear I went ahead and did a search of the rundowns just to check for any possible mistake we could have made.   There had been no pictures or stories of deer or elk for days.

I...


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We live in a fractured technological society

Posted by Misty Montano on Sunday, June 6, 2010, In : Assignment News Desk 


I have repeatedly mentioned this in my posts:  I take calls weekly from viewers upset because they don't have easy access to a computer, let a lone the Internet.  They are upset because our newscasts direct them to our website for further information on the stories.  The calls are mostly from elderly folks, but increasingly the calls are from younger people.  Due to their economic situations, the computer or the Internet, was an expense they could no longer afford.

I try to give out all the i...
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Using Ustream in news collaboration

Posted by Misty Montano on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 
Two more news collaborations have been completed.  Each utilized Ustream, but in different ways.  The first was Monday where we invited local artists Laurie Maves and Nemo to watch an investigative story by Brian Maass that looked at an art gallery in Aspen accused of plagiarizing art work.  They met Assistant News Director Kristine Strain, watched the story and asked some questions.

Soon after they left the station they broadcast their discussion of the story on Laurie's Ustream channel.  The...
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Start the conversation early with news collaboration

Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, May 13, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 

We invited law enforcement officers and community members to come to the station to watch our story on Distracted Drivers BEFORE it aired Friday night. After they watched the story the panel reviewed and discussed the story amongst themselves and on their personal social networks. The discussion was broadcast live on Ustream allowing more participation from those who watched.

This is one of the news collaboration projects of which I’ve been writing. Those on the panel became supplem...

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Journalists, let's talk social media as marketing efforts

Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, May 13, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 


When I say news collaboration out loud in the newsroom I get looks of confusion, uncertainty, and doubt as the response. When I say news collaboration through social media the looks tell me I’m crazy. Recently I’ve been trying a new tactic.

I’ve found it easier to explain why I chose to work with social media as a journalist by discussing it in marketing terms. I’m not sure why this is. I’ve said it before; rarely do we in the newsroom get in on the marketing plans for the ...

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News collaboration provides supplemental resource for viewers

Posted by Misty Montano on Tuesday, May 11, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 

Friday Dr. Robert Forto posted a blog that shared his thoughts, insight and personal story in reaction to watching a story that aired that night. We invited him to come to the station the day before the story was on the news. We asked him take the story to his social networks, website, and/or blog in any way he felt appropriate. We did not ask for any editorial control in any way he chose to share his reaction and opinion on the story.

Robert's blog: Forget Me (Not) Ca...

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News collaboration can be a business plan

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, May 8, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 
CBS4 News is not new to using social media. The station has been at it for well over a year. (Hey it’s longer than some, shorter than others, but more aggressive than other local media outlets.) I think though that I’m the only one who uses the actual term “news collaboration.”

Collaboration is exactly what we've been doing. From the surgery shared live through Twitter to the Join the Conversation campaign to the Interactive HelpCenter we’re collaborating with the public in our ne...
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News collaboration could cause giant shift in news time continuum

Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, May 7, 2010, In : Social Media in the Newsroom 

As you probably know I believe in collaborative news projects. News is not dying. People are information hounds who will search out the information they want. The traditional news model is changing because of this. We must find ways to be relevant.

A coworker said today that the one benefit television news still has is the immediacy of live video along with the human contact. Notice she tagged on human contact. Twitter, facebook, YouTube, etc. may beat news crews to the scene and start sha...

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Logistics and emotions of covering a school shooting

Posted by Misty Montano on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, In : Assignment News Desk 
I’ve been on the news desk for almost 10 years at CBS4 News.  By now it’s routine and instinctive on how to cover big breaking news events.   First it’s the adrenaline and the rush of semi-controlled chaos as I work to confirm information, move news crews, keep the newsroom informed of every development, etc.  Eventually my silent thoughts of “is this really happening?” creep in and are later followed up by the emotions and thoughts everyone at home watching the event unfold have ha...
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Anyone know how to deprogram a producer?

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, January 9, 2010, In : Assignment News Desk 

It seems though I may have programmed the producers too well.  I’ve written how I proudly wear the Dream Killer Tiara as I often have to tell producers they can’t have desired live shots because logistically they’re just not possible. Everyone knows though that I, and the others on the news desk, work hard to make all the requests come true.  

So I was quite surprised yesterday when a producer cancelled a live shot without even talking to me about a way to make it happen. "You’ve go...
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I'm not sure I'll ever believe in UFOs now

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, December 12, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 

“I’m in Longmont. Have you received any calls on lights in the sky?  My wife and I and two or three others saw this light that looked like a shooting start until it split into two and then crisscrossed each other until the lights faded out!” 

The caller went on to explain more about the lights.  He said Longmont Police had said the lights were from pyrotechnic skydivers but that he didn’t believe it.  I told him that I couldn’t confirm that but there was a group of pyrotechnic sky...


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"I've been stabbed! uh, I mean I stabbed myself" and the news coverage

Posted by Misty Montano on Thursday, November 5, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 

Monday night (Nov. 2) after 6 p.m. I heard a call to respond to a stabbing in Jefferson County. Several agencies were called to send crews, including K-9, set up a perimeter to search for suspects. Immediately my new antennas went up and I was on alert. I had few crews – let me rephrase – NO crews, available to send to just check out the scene. I needed information and I needed logistic plans A – D.

I waited a few minutes to give dispatchers enough time to do their jobs before I bothered...


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A preemptive strike from a PIO or PR rep can prevent mishaps

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, September 26, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 

I understand how difficult it is to be a PIO or PR rep during breaking news or a developing situation.  (For rest of post I will use PIO-Public Information Officer-to refer to all media reps.)  I relate to your job as I compare it to that of my own as an assignment editor.  I only know what is happening by what I’m told by news crews on scene, witnesses or PIOs; or by what I hear on the scanners. 

Producers, writers, editors, managers, reporters, photographers constantly ask me for more det...


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Today I yelled at the interns & then I apologized

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 27, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 

"I NEED ALL THE INTERNS IN THIS NEWSROOM TO ANSWER THE PHONES!!!!"

I'd cupped my hands around my mouth to amplify my voice and shouted out into the newsroom in a very stern voice.

I didn't even think.  I just yelled.  The entire newsroom went quiet.  Then a couple of the producers chimed in, "Please. Please help answer the phones." 

The phones were ringing constantly and the afternoon storms were just starting to cause havoc.  My coworker on the desk and I were working to gather information and...


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Future of news/media & how Twitter is moving me there

Posted by Misty Montano on Saturday, June 20, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 
I started this blog over a week ago and every time I sit down to write it, I can't seem to get out what I want to say. This block has left me feeling like there's nothing else I can blog about until I get this out. So please, if ramble and take tangents, remember it's my way of trying to connect the dots. I'd love your feedback and ideas.

I agree Lacey, it's been too long since I blogged.

Last week was a horrible week for journalism in Denver. The Rocky Mountain News closed. There were lay offs...
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Breaking News?

Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, June 19, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 
Sometimes breaking news is only covered because of timing and resources. Shootings, bank robberies, fights, chases, searches, stand offs, auto/pedestrian accidents, etc happen regularly on a daily basis. There is simply no way to cover everything that happens. Plus, this may be cold but true, who really cares about all of this? Incidents happen and resolve without injuries or without road closings, school lockdowns, evacuation. Sometimes there are injured victims, sometimes there are road clo...
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I am an assignment editor

Posted by Misty Montano on Friday, June 19, 2009, In : Assignment News Desk 

Thursday, January 29, 2009

There really is no better look to describe my feelings about my job than my profile pic - taken of me on my wedding day as a pin stuck me in the process of fixing a strap on my dress. Anticipation. Excitement. Pain. Emotions a bride can experience on her wedding day. Emotions I live through on the job. At the end of the work day though, the job isn't going to be sweeping me away for a honeymoon.

The honeymoon in my career ended just a short three months after I la...

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Misty Montano


Evolving Journalist I am a Journalist using Social Technologies and Interactive Media to connect with news consumers. I am taking on the new exciting and challenging role of Digital Content Manager at 9News in Denver, CO. Previously I was an Assignment Editor at CBS4 News in Denver where I won an Emmy for my work and spent the first 10 years of my career. I truly grew up on the news desk.

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