Station's Ratings
News Dirctors
Pat Brink
Like any new director, he has his moments but I can say he wants to see all of his reporters succeed and move on to bigger and better things after you do you two years at the station. He has worked in larger markers before but isn't as familiar with new tech as he could be. He had done a good job being the news director for a station that is fairly new to the market. He will tell you like it is but will make sure you grow from it. Pat is also good about giving construtive critisim when you ask. He lets the reporters have alot of creative freedom when it comes to storytelling and producing. Pat can have his bad days, but if you write your thoughts down and talk to him, he can be very responsive. In all, he isn't a bad guy.
This station is in the Ottumwa, IA/Kirksville, MO market -- DMA 200. It is a small newsroom of typically 3-5 reporters. Anchors produce their newscast (either FOX 9pm or NBC 10pm) and go out and do a story (a short package) Monday-Friday. There is a bureau in Kirksville where one reporter works out of. The bureau reporter has the most freedom when it comes to storytelling, they sometimes even have the chance to travel (drive and come back the same day) to big stories in Missouri, which are great learning opportunities. The bureau reporter also does a package and a VOSOT a day--- sometimes more depending on the amount of news that day. All of the reporters/anchors are on their own, unless they plan ahead and ask for help. You HAVE to know how to shoot steady video though, it will pay off in the long run.
There are times where it can be unorganized in the news room because the ND does not always clearly communicate (especially to the bureau reporter). Past reporters say, email the ND, document everything, and over communicate to him if need be.
The only time you will be live is if you anchor. Hopefully, in the next few months the Live-U systems will be up and running. Like stated before, this station is fairly new but there is a lot of room to grow. It may seem like the competition is the best out here but they have the same problems (short of staff, lack of seasoned reporters).
If you're into sports, you can report on sports but you will have to balance that out with news.
In all, this is a place for reporters who like independence and need a place to grow fresh out of school. KYOU is a station where you have to make the most out of your experience. What you do at KYOU will set the trend for where you'll end up next. For instance, past reporters are producers/ reporters in top 100 markets because they have a lot to show for what they did in Iowa or Missouri.
