Oregon Media Insiders

Okay... I'm busting out in excitement - Brian Wood debuted along with the new set and some graphics package modifications today at the First At 4 Newscast!

First off, my first impressions of Brian Wood are pretty good. He doesn't seem nervous nor has he faltered on a sentence yet. I think he'll be a great addition to the KATU lineup.

So I was just clicking over to KATU's website to check the weather when I noticed a complete dumbed down graphic theme for their header. What's going on?

I turned on the TV to catch the last few minutes of Leno and Letterman. When I clicked over to KOIN, their "Please Stand By" screen was up (or whatever you call it). I just know this ran from the end of Letterman to the beginning of The Late Late Show (just the little bit of time I had the TV on). Does anyone know what the problem was or how long it lasted?

I also had a side question about KATU. Occasionally during evening ABC Entertainment shows like Grey's Anatomy or such, the quality of the picture will become slightly static-like, sometimes even reaching a point where the KATU "Stand By" screen will pop up.

Hey, all. This isn't of utmost importance, however, I learned today that one of the rescued climbers on Mt. Hood this weekend was my very own Wilsonville High School sophomore English teacher last year, Kate Hanlon (as you can calculate, I am a Junior). It was crazy because in one of my classes today the teacher suddenly brought up the subject and everyone busted out with "OMG - Oh yeah, I heard about that!" (you know how it goes). I am generally a news junkie and know everything in the headlines before the majority of the people. I was definitely surprised to learn of my lack of knowledge as to one of my own teachers being part of a national media spotlight.

Finally! Today was really the first time I heard this on KATU, but I do believe they "altered" their sound scheme (opening, commercial updates, closing, etc). Hmmm... It sounds... Aural - whatever that means. A little more smooth and "new age" sounding. I can't remember in my head how it sounds exactly - and the descriptors I just gave might be completely wrong, but I do know that they've made a change. If I'm not mistaken, I think KATU previously had a unique sound scheme for their First News At 4:30 broadcast. I never really got around to watching it much so I don't know what that sounded like. I think this update to their sound scheme was due.