Raw, but c*nsored blabbing and blogging of a young journalista
and local news producer in Southern New England.
email topstorylive % at # gmail + dot = com

Friday, April 15, 2005

My Profit Margin

NPR : Perception and Reality: The Business of Media by NPR's David Folkenflik:

...former Sinclair Washington bureau chief Jon Leiberman recently had to return $1,000 in unemployment benefits to the state of Maryland. ...

Sinclair then held Leiberman to contractual language that blocked him from seeking a job at any television stations in the 39 markets where it has operations.

Out of work, and hampered from finding work elsewhere, Leiberman accordingly applied for unemployment benefits. And he got it -- until Sinclair challenged his right to get them. The company's challenge was successful, and Leiberman had to return the benefits he'd received.

Sinclair gave Broadcasting and Cable a report by the Maryland Department of Labor. The agency found the reporter's conduct "was either a deliberate and willful disregard of the standards of behavior which the employer has the right to expect" or "a series of repeated violations of employment rules" with a "wanton disregard' of his obligations to Sinclair.

Folkenflik also talks about CNN Newsource's practices of selling bandwidth to VNR clients.

Later, he notes that print media has typically a 20 to 30 percent profit margin. Knowing what I do about my business and my shop, I am DYING to know what the stations' profit margin is... on one newscast, on a year of broadcasting, whatever. Perhaps I should calculate my own personal profit margin.

Labels: Originally published

... Scribbled by Bill T ... 4/15/2005 01:44:00 PM ... Email this entry ...
...
..........