dennisk's Blog

The 50's?
The 60's?
The 70's?
The 80's?
The 90's?
The New Millenium?

I vote for the 1970's.  Starsky and Hutch, MASH, Charlie's Angels, The Love Boat and Battlte of the Network Stars.

Five years ago today (August 14th) the worst blackout in North American history turned out the lights on 50 million people.

The blackout effected people from New York to Michigan to Canada.

Where were you when the power went out?

Share your story in this blog.

I for one was working at Fox 2 when the outage happened. At the time I was planning segments for the Weekend Morning Show. My office was separate from the news room, and my area only lost power for a brief moment. The back-up system apparently powered my area first, so I didn't realize that the black out happened until I saw people running past my office. I got up to see what was going on and the hallway was dark.

I headed to the news room where chaos ensued. Then as my colleagues so often do, the producers, reporters, engineers and our whole company came together to find a way to broadcast the news. There were some areas of our viewing area that had power, plus other satellite and broadcast mediums that allowed people to view our newscast.

The show had to go on., but our broadcast tower and studio were out of commission, not to mention all of our computers.

Someone had the bright idea to power up a live truck in the parking lot and microwave a signal to be picked up for broadcast.

Our anchors did a marvelous job of ad libbing what they knew. The producers, myself included, did everything we could to get information about what was happening. This included making cell phone calls, which was difficult, tying into our affiliates not affected by the black out and some limited access to the internet. We sent reporters into the streets to find out what was happening.

Our printers and tele-prompters were down, so we updated copy the old fashioned way, using a manual type writer or simply hand writing scripts.

I am proud of the job my colleagues performed that day. I will never forget it.

Dear Mr. Mayor PLEASE READ THIS. Some free advice about the media.

Dear Citizens, decide for yourselves what's right or what's wrong.

"Rumors sell papers," Cox said. "My attorneys who walk in the
courtroom ... need witnesses and solid evidence. That's a big
difference."

That's what Attorney General Mike Cox says about recent claims concerning a rumored 2002 party with strippers at Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's official residence.

Cox's statement brings up an interesting point. What is the media's role in this situation? We can report the news and attribute the information to what a witness claims. In a court of law, a judge and a set of rules determines what's admissible. A good journalist always attempts to get eye-witness accounts of events, and a good journalist always attributes the information to the source, be it a witness, official or otherwise. The problem is, if the witness is lying, the damage done by the report may already be done.

It's important for a viewer or reader to pick on the attribution of a story before they make judgments, just as it is important for television stations and publications to make judgments on the sources before they publish or broadcast a story. "Considering the source" is vital.

In a court of law, witness testimony is only allowed if it's relevant to the trial, and it is also refuted by opposing attorney's. If the witness is lying they can be charged with perjury. That's important to understand.

But what's right is not always what's legal. It's not illegal to NOT help an old lady to cross the street, but it's probably the right thing to do. It's not illegal to witness a crime and say or do nothing about it, but it's the right thing to do. It may be not illegal to cheat on your wife, but it's not the right thing to do. Indeed even what's right and what's wrong can be debated, but there are certain standards most people adhere to.

In the end, there may be no formal charges filed against the mayor, or if there are, he may be acquitted of all of them. This does not necessarily mean that the mayor did nothing wrong, it's just that he did nothing illegal. The people will decide how he performed and express themselves best in the voting booth a year from fall.

The mayor blames the media for it's lynch mob mentality. Maybe that's true. But you make it easy to write headlines with your actions. How do you deal with this Mr. Mayor. I offer this free advice on how to deal with the media :

• Get back to the business of the city. It's too bad that you ended your speech with a personal tirade. You had a great speech going, and could have changed the headlines. They may have looked like this: KILPATRICK FOCUSES ON MOVING CITY FORWARD, IGNORES GROWING CONTROVERSY. Indeed what you laid out in your speech was all about the business of the city, until the end, then it became about the your business. Take the tirade out of your speech and I for one would have written "Mayor takes high road".
  

• Asking the media to leave you alone will not work. Fair or not, you just threw gasoline on the fire. Whoever is advising you should be fired, for either giving you bad advice or not being strong enough to stop you from hurting yourself. Call me if you want some real media advice, I am happy to offer it as I would like to see the business of the city become the headline. This will not happen until this controversy is addressed.
  

• The media should be debating the pros and cons of the 300-million dollar bond plan (by the way we are), not the party. Want to help the media to do that, then only talk about specific issues of the city OR answer all controversy questions once and for all and be done with it.
  

• Keep your appointments. You told our Fox 2 reporter on the air that you would come to our station and read through documents and explain in detail what they mean. You never showed up. Want to try again? We're ready when you are.

• Know that the media will continue to investigate all that you do. You are the mayor, you are in the public limelight, you are elected by the people. Understand it. Work with the media, set meetings with all the outlets. If you have nothing to hide, then appear on the shows, address the issues and move on. The you can say "asked and answered" and focus on more important matters of the people.

• Recognize that ratings are likely up for all local media because of this controversy. Believe it or not, you can still effect the headlines - -deal with the day's controversy, address them one at a time -- and keep promoting the agenda you laid out during your state of the city speech.

• Face the music without anger. It serves no one in the end. If you are innocent, act like it. Call my mother a whore and I cold care less because it could not be further from the truth. It's ridiculous and I can't get angry. I would think you're a fool. Don't get me wrong, I love my mother, and if you tried to harm her in a real way I would defend her. I understand how you feel about your family, but lashing out encourages the morons that would threaten them. Attention and reaction is what they want. Don't give in to that. Confront the issues one at time without anger. Give nothing away.

FINALLY THIS PERSONAL NOTE: Rely on the truth if it is your ally. If it's not, the time has come to move on. If your goal is to help the people of Detroit, then search your heart and recognize that there may be a time to step down so that the citizen's issues can once again rise above your personal traumas. Maybe you can serve the city better as a private citizen and businessman. Your legacy is in your hands. You control your own destiny. Not GOD, not the media, no one but you. God may grant you the strength and talents to do this, but it is your choice to make. You choose the path to take. Blame no one, JUST DO.

Dennis Kraniak
Senior Web Producer
MyFoxDetroit.com

Consider these facts:

· A Washington-based consulting firm estimates that the U.S. environmental industry generated more than $340 billion in sales and almost $50 billion in tax revenues in 2005. The 5.3 million workers in the environmental industry outnumber pharmaceutical workers ten to one.

· A British company specializing in improving the energy efficiency of homes was floated on the London Stock Exchange last June and now employs 4,000 people who once worked in nearby, now closed, coal mines.

· A study prepared for the German Ministry of Environment estimates that employment in the German environmental technology industries will surpass employment in the automobile industry by 2020.

· China has some 1,000 solar thermal energy firms, generating sales of $2.5 billion and employing 600,000 workers in manufacturing and installation.

· The Indian city of Delhi is introducing new eco-friendly compressed natural gas buses, which will create an additional 18,000 new jobs.

Has the time come for Michigan to put more resources into Green Industries? What incentives can our state government provide?

Clearly, change is in the air. Our responses to climate change must have a social dimension. Workers, employers and governments must engage in dialogue to put in place the social policies which ensure that green jobs are decent jobs.

 

Here at Fox 2 and MyFoxDetroit.com we offer you the Monday Morning Quarterback, (log on every Monday from 8:30a- to 10:30a). These guys offers something else.

Do you think this very warm October weather has anything to do with global warming?

HOW PEOPLE WEAR THEIR PANTS IS BECOMING A HEATED POLITICAL DEBATE IN ATLANTA.

LAST NIGHT HUNDRED PACKED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO SOUND OFF ON PLAN TO OUTLAW BAGGY PANTS.

THE PROPOSAL WOULD BAN PANTS THAT SHOW BOXER SHORTS OR THONGS. PEOPLE BUSTED WOULD BE FINED... BUT NOT JAILED.

SUPPORTERS SAY ITS MATTER OF PUBLIC DECENCY.

CRITICS SAY IT'S A NEW FORM OF RACIAL PROFILING THAT WOULD ALLOW POLICE TO TARGET YOUNG BLACK MALES WHO WEAR THEIR PANTS FAR BELOW THE BELTLINE.

A SIMILAR PROPOSAL IN STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT  WAS REJECTED THIS WEEK AFTER CRITICS CLAIMED IT WOULD BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNFAIRLY TARGET MINORITIES.
   

THE ATLANTA MEASURE WILL LIKELY FACE ANOTHER PUBLIC  HEARING BEFORE IT COMES TO A VOTE.

 WHAT DO YOU THINK?  SOUND OFF AND BE HEARD.

I was at the Fox 2 studios today when the storms hit.  Check out the raw video on the home page  CLICK HERE

This is definitely the closest I've ever been to a storm like this, and given that this storm spawned Tornadoes, I'm not surprised.  I kept thinking that we were going to see a Tornado here at the Fox 2 studios.  The wind was incredibly loud, and the rain was whipping.

If you took our poll on the home page, I'm wondering how you answered?

Do you take cover immediately when the severe weather sirens go off?

Please tell me why you do or don't.  I would also like to know if these storms scare you or do you get exhilarated when the dark clouds roll in?

I never want anyone to get hurt when severe weather hits, but I have to admit, I do enjoy a good storm.

What do you think?

 

 

Did you see the last Friday episode of Sportsworks?  The show is off the air after Woody Woodriffe clearly crossed the line with some interns.  (see the video evidence)

The question is what happened to Woody?  Did he make it out of the parking lot?

Tell us what you think, we'll post the right answer next week.


 

 

 

Did you see the ending of the last Friday night SportWorks show?  Woody Woodriffe clearly crossed the line with his interns, and now  -- the show is off the air.  What happened?  Where's Woody?  What's your theory?

Anyone know of any good road games to play with your kids while you travel in a car on a long road trip?

I have a few long trips ahead of me this summer, love to hear some ways to pass the time.

 
Thanks.
 

 
 

An urban coyote, captured downtown following an
hour long foot chase in downtown Detroit, has been granted a stay of
execution. Soon, the female predator will be heading for the
country.

Thanks to all the Fox 2 viewers and MyFoxDetroit.com users who answered our cyber poll question... "Should the city of Detroit euthanize the coyote?"

95% voted NO!  250 have commented on blogs.  Dozens of you have e-mailed or called.

We relayed your sentiment to city officials, and the people whose held the fate of the coyote in their hands, and we believe your efforts helped to turn the tide, and save the coyote.

THANKS TO EVERYONE -- AND POWER TO THE PEOPLE.

Detroit Tigers fans have proved their loyalty over the years. The Old English D could stand for devoted. After more than a decade of essentially being the worst team in baseball, the team bounced back this year to make it all the way to the World Series.What a sweet treat for the fans who stayed with the team through the lean years. A well deserved reward for their loyalty.

It's a shame you can't say the same thing about the corporation whose name is on the gate of the ball park where the boys of summer play. Comerica Inc. is leaving the region that helped turn the company into one of the most powerful banks in the world. Today the company announced it will soon set up its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. They say it brings them closer to their customer base. So much for Loyalty.

The Detroit Tigers represent the people of Detroit. The company that holds the title sponsorship to their playing venue clearly does not. It has a deal with the Tigers through 2030 at a price of 2.2 million per year, but maybe it's time for the team to re-negotiate.

Should Comerica park get re-named? I for one say YES! America's Pastime is about being loyal to the home team, not some corporation who cares only about profit.

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Who should decide what books your kids read in high school? That's the question being raised by a community activist in Howell. Vicki Fyke of the Livingston Organization for Values in Education has filed a complaint with the U.S. attorney's office that the Howell Public School teachers are violating state pornography laws by assigning students certain books to read. The case has since been referred to the FBI.

Fyke states that books written by Pulitzer Prize winner Toni Morrison, Kurt Vonnegut, as well as the novel "Freedom Writers Diary" by Erin Richard Gruwell are pornographic in nature. She maintains that the graphic descriptions of sexuality and profane language are not appropriate to minors.

Chuck Breiner, Howell School Superintendent: "The danger in eliminating controversial books is that the world becomes more narrow, less expressive, less educational and less challenging for the students."

David Morse, the Livingston County Prosecutor plans on spending this weekend reading the books in question and says he will offer his opinion next week.

Currently school officials and teachers make the decisions, and they insist that all books are carefully reviewed and those that are chosen are done so to expand students minds.

What do you think? Is this about censorship or decent morality? Who should decide what books teachers assign? teachers? parents? school board? the law makers? who? Before you respond, read the entire story titled "Howell Book Controversy", it's posted on the news page. You can also see Bill Gallagher's report from Thursday's Fox 2 News @ 5 p.m. show.

Then Sound Off, and share your comments in this blog. Some of them may be used on the air during a Fox 2 News broadcast.

Michigan residents could be asked to pay a two percent sales tax on certain business-to-business services.
Republicans say the general public won't buy it. The Granholm
administration also is to deliver a proposal for replacing the
Single Business Tax. What do you think?.... are you willing to pay a tax to help bail the state out of trouble, or will this tax just continue to drive businesses and people out of the state?