Who’s On Twitter, Question Asked and Now Answered
One of the things we have done to make our organization more visible is to get on Twitter. At first, I thought it would be a fun way to send out our information so it could reach a larger audience and allow our audience to see some of the inner workings of a TV station.
I was blown away by the feedback we got right away from the people using Twitter in Columbus. I had heard about social networking and didn’t really give a thought to what it meant or the possibilities.
What Twitter has meant is that we have connected NBC 4 to a larger audience. We have brought new people to the channel. We have increased the number of story ideas we get. The single most important thing, though, is that we have started having conversations with our customer. Zappos is the poster child for this kind of behavior, and what it can do. I have become an absolute believer that we need to connect to people in Central Ohio with the people that work for NBC 4 as people first, and then introduce them again to our product. In the last 8 weeks, I have seen the power of these relationships that we are building, and I’m hungry to meet more people. If you want to see all of these twitterers together, go to http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news/nbc4now.html to check them all out.
On Twitter the other day, @mlydy asked what everyone at NBC 4 does, so here’s the rundown in no particular order:
@NBCSquire is me. I share responsibility in deciding content, I am our elections champion, and I like to innovate and teach. I am the manager of our assignment editors.
@amanda_wcmh is our AM assignment editor. She’s in at 430 every morning listening to 10 police scanners, answering phones (if you call 263-5555) you usually talk to her. Some people call her Sgt Murphy, because she likes to keep people in line. I consider her the reason NBC 4 functions so efficiently every day, she makes it possible. Mandy gets photogs and reporters to where they need to be, when they need to be there.
@donna_nbc4i is a rock star. No seriously. Donna is high energy, kind of shy at first, but once she gets to know you she opens up and shows her crazy side. She is extremely reliable, and the reason that NBC4i.com is beefing up its content. Donna will do just about anything you ask of her.
@denise_wcmh is the brains behind nbc4i.com. She is a hard worker who pushes content and is trying to get more people involved in posting on the web. Denise and Jason like to fight like brother and sister, and it’s kind of fun to watch.
@jason_wcmh is our nightside assignment editor. He rolls in around 2pm and leaves around midnight. Jason gets our live shots on the air, posts stories to the web, and picks on @denise_wcmh. Jason is a natural network builder; it is what he does better than anyone else I know.
@nbc4i.com is our RSS feed from nbc4i.com. It seems to have a lot of news about Central Ohio. Whoever is behind that is a genius.
@andyL_wcmh is a photojournalist for NBC 4. Andy is the definition of photojournalist, actually videojournalist. He can report a story as well as anyone, he is a trailblazer in finding new ways to get information to people, and he is extremely web savvy. Watch for @andyL_wcmh working on building a local media empire in Clintonville.
@rickrogala is our General Manager. He’s my boss’s boss. He is by far the most inspiring leader most of us have ever worked with. Rick will be the reason we make the change to the media company that you want in Columbus.
@cbooker is Chris Booker, our dayside Executive Producer and in charge of our Targeted Special Reports. Chris is the reason I still have a job, because he gets all of the work done while I dream of better ways to do things. He is an awesome person and has an awesome sense of humor.
@jcatalfino is the EP for First @4 and our 11pm newscast. Julia is a detail champion, and is a great teacher for our producers. If there is something that Julia needs to take care of this year, or has taken care of in the past 10 years, a manila folder exists with all of the information on the issue.
@laurendiedrich is a reporter for us. She has a great sense of humor and an ability to tell a story in a way that makes the subject feel at ease. But don’t let that fool you, if you screwed up, she’ll call you on it and usually there is a camera rolling.
@pschneid is our operations manager. I think that if everyone at WCMH had to agree on one person that this building would shut down without, it would be Phil Schneid. Phil is the manager over the photographers and an innovator. He’s an expert at keeping costs in check while advancing technology.
@angie235 is an assignment editor. Angie is our newest assignment editor, but you wouldn’t know it by her work. She has a way of getting a lot done in a short amount of time. Angie is also a law enforcement officer, so she offers a unique perspective on a lot of stories. Angie writes a lot for nbc4i.com and does much of the research and backgrounding for our stories.
@jganahl is, of course, Jym Ganahl. Jym was just inducted in to the Ohio Associated Press Broadcasters Hall of Fame. Jym is a great person and one of those people you could talk to for hours.
@marshallmcpeek is weekend anchor/meteorologist Marshall McPeek. Marshall is a good meteorologist and takes care of all of our graphics for the newscast. I think he is an even better reporter. He goes between the two with ease.
@mhunt is reporter Mikaela Hunt. Mikaela is an awesome reporter with a very good understanding about what stories affect Central Ohioans. Mikaela is a great communicator. She is one of those people you wished you had around every single day.
@abasista is anchor/reporter Amy Basista. Amy is probably the nicest person I know. She is passionate about health and telling stories that can help people feel better or understand why they don’t. She will always make you smile.
Geez there is a lot of us on twitter. Wish we updated a bit more/had more conversations with people using it. In good time…
@paul_stelzer is an NBC 4 reporter. Paul is currently assigned Delaware County as his beat. Paul came to us from Toledo, Ohio and was here the morning of the big snow storm March 8, he and Tacoma did an awesome job.
@maryellen is our 6 pm producer. She is the most efficient and effective producer I have ever met. Mel is also a good manager and pushes me to do better work. We will probably loose Mel as she is destined to do something huge.
@tnewsome Tacoma Newsome is a reporter for our AM shows. Tacoma is an amazing person, and extremely innovative in her storytelling technique. I think Tacoma is the most fashionable person I know, and yet the least assuming person I have ever met.
@awenger is the producer of Central Ohio’s first newscast at 4pm, NBC 4 First @4. She is an awesome talent and will really be able to show that off in her new role. Allison previously produced NBC 4 Today at 6 am.
@jsmalley is the one, the only (that I know) Jerod Smalley. Jerod is a good sports anchor, a great storyteller, and an even better dad. Jerod will be the reason that NBC 4 Sports continues to be on the air and flourish in tough economic times.
@kristenWCMH is our 5pm producer. She actually does the 5 and 530 pm newscasts. Kristen is an awesome producer with a lot of talent and potential. Kristen is another one of the nicest people you’ll get to know. She genuinely cares about Central Ohio; she grew up here, and has interest in any story that affects people, especially the 16 to 45 crowd.
@bgelber is Meteorologist Ben Gelber. Ben is absolutely one of the smartest people I know and the quintessential team player. Ben is always there when you need him, to talk, to listen, or to tell you accurately if your Saturday BBQ will be rained on.
@nicoleNBC4 is on of our 5 AM producers and producer of NBC 4 Weekend Today with Mindy and Marshall. Nicole is one of those key players on the team that plugs away and makes NBC 4 what it is.
@elliemerritt is our newest anchor and the first anchor of NBC 4 First @ 4. Ellie and First @4 are a match made in heaven. She cares so deeply about our community and about the people she reaches out to. She will build an empire of Moms and people downtown around our downtown studio.
@ldschmoll is our newest producer; she is producing the AM shows on the week and the weekend. Lauren is always smiling and another team player that makes NBC 4 tick.
@Stan_WCMH is our news director. Stan is by far the smartest newsperson I know. 80% of what I know about this business and about being in the right place at the right time, I learned from Stan. He is passionate about your money and making sure that government is being good stewards with it.
