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One doesn’t normally think of local TV news and its marketing as a source of inspiration. But lately, it’s had its moments.

“We started with user-generated videos from local comedians, radio personalities and restaurants,” said WCIU’s Steve Bailey. “The videos are real people talking about one of Chicagoans’ greatest passions, their food. We are delivering Chicago Food To Go on multiple broadcast platforms to maximize our support for local restaurants.”

“With so many schools canceled and families looking for way to keep their students engaged we were proud to offer this learning opportunity to our community,” said Ike Walker, KVLY’s general manager.

For those watching KAIT on TV or on the station’s Facebook page Saturday, the coverage no doubt saved lives. It’s about as riveting live weather coverage as you’ll see.

CBS 46 Cares, The World of Weather, conducted weekdays at 1:15 p.m. by WGCL’s Chief Meteorologist Jennifer Valdez, is designed to help parents keep their children entertained while learning about the weather in a fun and innovative way.

WISH, Circle City Broadcasting’s CW affiliate in Indianapolis is airing an hour-long, commercial-free, live discussion about how the city’s crime rate has climbed to its current level and what can be done to help make the city safer.

The interactive watch party hosted by WCMH, Nexstar’s NBC affiliate in Columbus, Ohio, was also made available to all the Nexstar TV stations. “So if they were watching on desktop, they could click the options with their mouse, or if they were watching on their phone, they could tap the screen to vote,” said Haley Townsend, WCMH’s digital director.

In a ground-breaking, comprehensive series of broadcast and digital reports, Nexstar Broadcasting sent a team of journalists on a 10-day mission to offer viewers a unique and revealing look at life along the border from one end to the other. Nexstar’s Border Report Tour started in San Diego on Sunday, Sept. 22, and concluded on Tuesday, Oct. 1 in Brownsville, Texas. Along the way, the team generated more than 50 pieces of original content for digital, hundreds of news stories and more than 130 live shots for broadcast.

“Thank you for coverage during Hurricane Dorian. The calm, practical, truthful, sage educational advice and professional coverage is very much appreciated. No doubt you and our community/state agencies have guided millions in the most organized, well-coordinated efforts I’ve seen in my four decades of living in Florida,” is how one viewer characterized WPTV’s coverage.

One of the most revealing and relevant sessions at the Promax Station Summit in Las Vegas last month was Five Tips For Winning Viewers with Social Media. Today, it’s not likes, shares and comments that measure success on Facebook, said Apryl Pilolli, head of innovation at Social News Desk. “You need reach and ratings. You don’t need likes. Awareness, preference, loyalty and sales are more important.”