StoryTeller Media & Communications

Minneapolis/St. Paul Marketing and PR agency and video production company|StoryTeller

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Oh How Television and Radio Have Changed!

Jun

10

 By Ed Heil | Categories Media Observations, Our Blog No Comments

Ed Heil

I miss Sonny Eliot. When I was a kid you turned on the radio at home and our rock and roll station was different than the rock and roll station at my cousin’s house in New York. If you road tripped with your family in the station wagon, you could go through some states that didn’t even have rock and roll stations. Some states only seemed to have country music. When I’d get together with our cousins in New York we’d talk about the television shows “they got” versus the shows “we got.” There were always discrepancies and we’d say “Oh, man, you’ve got THIS show?” Or we’d say, “you DON’T get that show?” It made for great conversation in the first 30 minutes of a reunion.

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LeBron James to Announce Decision on ESPN

Jul

8

 By Chad Whisnant | Categories Media Observations, Our Blog No Comments

Chad Whisnant
James will announce his decision tonight on ESPN

James will announce his decision tonight on ESPN

I am going to keep this short, as there are thousands of words floating out there on blogs and websites discussing free agent NBA forward LeBron James, and his decision as to which team he will bring his unique skillset this offseason. I do think that the entire ordeal is a gross example of excess and narcissism, but that is not what I find most confounding.

Tonight, in a 60-minute special to be aired on ESPN during prime time, James will announce his decision. My question is, why ESPN would want to put themselves in this position? How can they cover the story, as a news organization, while also broadcasting what amounts to an hourlong infomercial for the LeBron James brand?

For example, if they were to get word of what James’ decision was going to be, before the special hit the air, would they reveal it? By doing so, they would be spoiling the surprise, which could lead to fewer viewers. But, if they held the news until after the special, they wouldn’t be acting as true journalists. It becomes a ‘no-win’ situation. On top of that, if ESPN doesn’t report James’ decision early, it could be perceived that they were holding the story for their own benefit, even if that weren’t the case. The perception could be just as damning.

Add to all this the negative backlash surrounding the entire thing. As I mentioned, there are plenty of articles and blogs providing their two cents, much of it dissing James for turning this into a spectacle. (My two favorites so far can be found on Yahoo and, ironically, ESPN.com.) By providing the airtime, ESPN is just feeding the beast.

Obviously, the entire episode of ‘Lebronwatch 2010′ is completely overrun with celebrity gazing, Twitter rumors, giant egos, overpaid athletes, and misplaced values. His decision, however, is still news, and should be covered as such by news organizations, both local and national. What I can’t figure out, is why ESPN would willingly move themselves from spectator and watchdog, to participant.

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How to Make Video Profiles for Award Ceremonies Work For You

Jan

25

 By Ed Heil | Categories Our Blog, Video Production No Comments

Ed Heil

In late summer of 2004, I found myself with an extremely expensive editing system and not a single client that could help me start paying for my new investment. Desperate for just about any work, the stars aligned and I found myself in a conversation with the University of Minnesota Alumni Association.  They were interested in producing a handful of videos for their annual athletics “Hall of Fame” banquet. StoryTeller Productions was in business!

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