Hearst

My first job at a TV station was as a writer/producer in promotions at WDSU. Then, in 1988, the station was located in the French Quarter. The historic building stretched an entire block from Royal to Chartres streets. The front entrance sat in a beautiful courtyard, said to be the most photographed in the city.

Chronicle: Pittsburgh’s Holiday Traditions highlights the remarkable ways the holidays come alive for families in western Pennsylvania.  The hour-long program follows the old customs, new traditions and hidden celebrations of the season.

Easy to recognize with their call letters emblazoned on the sides and their dish on top, perhaps no other hardware involved in the news gathering process says TV news like the news van. So it makes sense to use TV station news vans as part of the marketing. Here are some examples.

KSBW’s 32^nd Share Your Holiday event this year pushed the all-time total to $2,181,000 raised for Central Coast families in need. “Our Central Coast Community came together as one, and this year’s results will make a great impact to those in need” said Joseph W. Heston, KSBW’s general manager. “We are all deeply moved and humbled by the kindness of our viewers.”

WCVB, the Hearst ABC affiliate in Boston, raised more than $350,000 to help those still struggling in the aftermath of a gas line disaster in September that caused explosions and more than 80 individual fires in Massachusetts. “We experienced first-hand the staff’s warmth, sincerity, and generosity; and it is clear why WCVB Channel 5 is such a trusted community partner,” said Carol Lavoie Schuster of the  Greater Lawrence Disaster Relief Fund team.

WAPT, Hearst’s ABC affiliate in Jackson, Mississippi continued its annual Turkey Drive tradition with record numbers this year. “Mississippi has long been known as one of the most generous states in the nation,” said Mike Neelly, WAPT’s general manager. “When our neighbors need help, we step up to the challenge, and that’s exactly what we saw with this year’s Turkey Drive.”

KCCI, the Hearst-owned CBS affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa took the top spot in the Small-Medium Market category. Hope Wilson, KCCI’s social media producer, said the station likes to focus on finding personal moments and really incredible people.

Travis Sherwin will move from being the news director at Hearst’s WPBF in West Palm to head up the company’s national investigative unit out of Washington, D.C. Sherwin said that while he enjoyed being a news director, “this is where my heart is, telling stories that are compelling and that people care about.”

A devastating wildfire burning in California has claimed 42 lives, making it the deadliest in the state’s history. KCRA and KQCA held a disaster relief drive that raised more than $1,250,000 to support people impacted by the wildfires. “The devastation from the Butte County wildfire is just staggering,” said Lori Waldon, KCRA’s news director. “Most likely it will get worse.”

Randy Thurman, creative services director at KHSB in Kansas City, sent along some promos for the Kansas City Chiefs which feature a well-known Hollywood actor. Seems the actor is a big fan of the Chiefs and happened to be in town. “I guess the point of it all is never be afraid to ask anyone, even a Hollywood actor, to do something – they might actually say yes,” said Thurman.