Going the Distance
Summary: A Pittsburgh news anchor takes a trip to San Diego, where he makes friends with some Steelers fans. Station: PCNC Reporter: David Johnson When It Aired: Oct. 7 Running Time: 1 minute, 43 seconds Visuals: Inside Bub's Dive Bar & Grill, created by Pittsburgh natives. Highlights: * When anchor Vince Sims heralds, "The Steelers are getting charged for their game in California tomorrow. Steelers fans are also getting ready. They have a place out West to show their support." * When a mob of rowdy Steelers fans chants, "Here we go Steelers! Here we go!" just outside Bub's. * When Johnson explains, "This is life at Bub's Dive Bar & Grill." * When Johnson reveals, "[This bar] is all about Pittsburgh inside. Banners and signs everywhere. Rolling Rock in green bottles, and enthusiastic fans at every turn." * When Johnson attempts to ask the bar owner a question and is soon cut off by the loud, chanting fans again, and says, "In fact, whenever you try to talk to anyone, this happens." * When a "spokesperson" for a group of fans from Pittsburgh explains how they financed their journey: "We saved all year for this, we paid money each month ... to come out to San Diego to have a great time, boys!" And the boys respond, "Yeah!" * When Johnson speaks to a Chargers fan, who looks into the camera and says, "I respect the Steelers fan. Those guys won the World Series, and they deserve it." * When Johnson corrects him, "Well, it's actually the Super Bowl," and the man asks, "What did I say?" What We Learned: That Johnson may be hard of hearing after covering this event. Unanswered Question: Does Rolling Rock come in blue and pink bottles, too? News Value: 2. There is no one more dedicated than a Steelers fan. Even after Sunday, right?
Tiger Beat
Summary: Getting to "know" the two tiger cubs at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Station: WTAE Channel 4 Reporter: Kelley Frey When It Aired: Oct. 8 Running Time: 2 minutes, 14 seconds Visuals: * Video of the two "baby" cubs playing inside their den. Highlights: * When the visibly excited Frey says, "We're here inside the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium outside the Tiger Encounter exhibit." * When Frey points out, "[O]ver here, we're watching video of the two surviving Amur tiger cubs, the newest members here. And today, we had a chance to see them up close and personal." * When Frey continues, "Meet Petya, which means 'Peter' in Russian. He's the male. And this is his sister, Mara. She's named after her mom, Tamara, who we all know by the nickname Toma." * When Frey says, "The handlers held the cubs as they got their first look at the outside world. Kids gathered round -- cameras, flashes." * When Frey observes, "Mara, well, she wasn't so sure about it. But her brother, he looked pretty comfy." What We Learned: Judging from Frey's phrase "up close and personal," the English language lacks a way of describing close contact with animals. Unanswered Question: Instead of meeting the press, don't you think the tigers would have preferred to eat the press? News Value: 3. The exhibit is expected to open by Thanksgiving. When the tigers will be big enough to eat Frey.
Monday Mourning from the North Shore
Summary: Fans opine about the third straight Steelers loss, against the Chargers on Sunday. Station: KDKA Channel 2 Reporter: Alison Morris When It Aired: Oct. 9, "Live" at 5:03 a.m. Running Time: 1 minute, 21 seconds Visuals: Morris, standing in the dark of early morning on the North Shore, city lights in the background. Highlights: * When anchor Sonni Abatta preludes, "Steeler fans are startin' to talk about what they think needs to be done to get the team back in the win column." * When Morris states, "Well, [fans are] not too happy. Just when you thought things couldn't get any worse, the Steelers blow a ten-nothing lead ... and [stand at] third place in the AFC North. And as we've been mentioning, fans in town just aren't happy." * When the manager of a bar, obviously from a taped interview the evening before, says, "The beginning of the season has definitely been disappointing, especially with Ben Roethlisberger. ... [H]e had a very traumatic off-season, I think they should have gave him a little more time ..." * When a female Steelers fan remarks, "They're not doin' so good this year, but I still love 'em." * When Morris tries to end on an upbeat note, "If we can see any good in all of this, the Steelers may have lost three straight, but towards the end of last season, they dropped three games in a row and still managed to go to Detroit, and the rest is history. So hopefully, this year will not be a wash." What We Learned: That we had all better start praying that the Steelers don't wash up on the North Shore. Unanswered Question: Steelers fans are starting to talk? News Value: 1. I just hope our "boys" from the first story made it home safe.
