Austin360 blogs > TV and Radio Blog > Archives > 2011 > August > 02 > Entry
KVUE scaling back on live scene reports due to extreme heat
KVUE, Austin’s ABC affiliate, will temporarily reduce the number of live scene reports in its newscasts to protect the station’s reporters and photojournalists from record-breaking heat.
Tyler Sieswerda, co-anchor of KVUE’s 5, 6 and 10 p.m. news broadcasts, posted a couple messages on the station’s Facebook page Tuesday evening, including this one:
“It’s important to give our crews some props because they do spend hours and hours outside. Some stories are completely outside. Tough to do when you are dressed up and trying to look presentable. Rest assured — no story will go uncovered. If we need to be outside, we will be. We are just lucky enough here at KVUE to have management that cares about the challenging conditions our crews must deal with.”
The high temperature was 107 degrees Monday and again Tuesday, making them the two hottest days so far this year, according to KVUE chief meteorologist Mark Murray.
At the start of the station’s 10 p.m. newscast Tuesday, Murray told viewers it was still a searing 96 degrees outside.
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By AusTexan
August 3, 2011 11:00 PM | Link to this
News reporters here dress too conservatively (IE: hot) anyway. Go to a bigger TV market and the reporters there dress in cooler and much more modern attire. And while I'm at it, will someone please get the on scene reporters in Austin some wireless mics! Standing there holding a microphone with a station name block on it is soooo 80s.
By Mia
August 3, 2011 9:43 PM | Link to this
Really !!! Isn't this what you signed up for... isn't this your job? Why is it that kids are out practicing football for hours? Or school band out practicing for hours as well? AND you all can't be outside for a little bit of time? Really!!
By Photographer
August 3, 2011 8:37 PM | Link to this
As a person who works for a competing television station in town, I applaud KVUE's management for doing this. You have to understand that standing outside in front of an empty building with ABSOLUTELY NOTHING happening behind you at 5, 6 and 10 pm is completely pointless. As viewers, who cares if a reporter is standing outside in the sun with NOTHING to show behind them? Sounds to me like the management at KVUE cares about their employees.
By concerned citizen
August 3, 2011 6:34 PM | Link to this
Be safe. They should not be subjected to this over-bearing heat for a story.
By interested
August 3, 2011 6:30 PM | Link to this
No reason for them to be subjected to the horrendous heat. Be safe
By Mark
August 3, 2011 2:33 PM | Link to this
people report from 120 degree war zones with bullets flying overhead. They are either lazy or a bunch of prima donnas...
By Too Hot To Handle
August 3, 2011 2:16 PM | Link to this
What a bunch of wimps! Suck it up KVUE!
By What?
August 3, 2011 2:07 PM | Link to this
Just give them some wide brim hats with KVUE on them and they can hold portable misters and wear polo shirts. Bring back Olga Campos as a late afternoon heat reporter so she can be home for dinner with her sweet heart Kevin.
By larry
August 3, 2011 12:36 PM | Link to this
In most cases, the news people are just standing in front of where something happened a few hours ago. For example, they will be in front of where a fire was in the morning and are reporting a 6 or 10 pm. So, it sounds like a good idea to me.
Let them report from the news room, as long they tell the story. Very few of the stories have to be reported from outside.
By AvgTexan
August 3, 2011 12:07 PM | Link to this
Why, not green screen them like the Daily Show or Colbert? Or some sexy swim wear.
By SeriousJane
August 3, 2011 11:41 AM | Link to this
Are you serious, KVUE?? You embarass yourself! If this is true, I certainly wouldn't TELL anyone about it. There are people who HAVE to be outside -- I don't think they can crawl into an air conditioned van once they stop talking. Give me a break!
By Livin' in the AC
August 3, 2011 11:37 AM | Link to this
APD officers wear shorts. KVUE folks can too. A polo shirt would do nicely as well. We don't need to see a coat and tie. Same for the ladies. Put the KVUE logo on the shirts. Voila! Work clothes for Austin. Dress cool. We understand.
By Dave
August 3, 2011 11:06 AM | Link to this
Let me get this straight, this is a news story of about other people not reporting on news? Must be a slow news day. Certainly the Statesman has another story about Rick Perry and his "I'm not running for president, but still collecting money and stumping" campaign.
How about running a story about why half of downtown Austin is either closed or down to one lane due to city having to fix EVERYTHING at once?
By dB
August 3, 2011 10:18 AM | Link to this
Why don't they play like Anderson Cooper and not report a story unless they're standing in water?
By What Are They Earning?
August 3, 2011 9:43 AM | Link to this
How can they be earning trust or excellence when they can't even crawl out of their lairs to do a story? Sorry, but I'm sticking with KXAN, Jim Spencer, and all.
By GeorgeK
August 3, 2011 8:31 AM | Link to this
What a bunch of sissies. We're still practicing football in our town!
By tallbeartx
August 3, 2011 7:08 AM | Link to this
A suit and tie do nothing to make the reporting of a story any better. In this heat, in instances where the story must be reported from outside if the reporters were to wear nice t-shirts, I'd say good for them.