PBS employees, thanks to YoPro, recently had a chance to peek into the daily hustle and bustle of the PBS NewsHour studio at the WETA Arlington, VA. The day started with an inspiring question and answer session with anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff and Executive Producer Sara Just. On our tour of the studio we also stopped by the offices of political correspondent Lisa Desjardins and White House correspondent John Yang. The NewsHour offices are filled to the brim with broadcast and digital news resources and employees hurrying to meet their deadlines, but not too busy to flash us tourists with a quick smile.
Here are a few quotes and takeaways from the day.
On political coverage, then and now
Judy Woodruff: Now there’s a demonization of the other side, that ‘They don’t love this country. They aren’t a patriot.’ It’s a lot meaner. For example the Virginia Governor race ads. Before Washington was divided, but now people all over don’t want their candidate to work with the other side. ‘If he supports him, he is selling out.’ I’m a big believer in debate, it makes our democracy strong, we can argue healthily and express our opinions. Thinking someone else is evil is troubling.
On minorities in the news business
JW: I wish Gwen Ifill was here to answer this, because she would give you a hug.
We need more women and minorities on camera and production and management, the news should reflect the viewership and the world.
How do you take in information and remain unbiased?
JW: - We are drowning in news, it’s a lot to keep up with. I depend on people that work at NewsHour to help me gather all this information. People that focus on their specialties. If we leave information out, that is making a choice. Credibility is the most valuable thing we have. Everything we put out there we are being judged on.
How do you figure out what bias is?
JW: Figure out what are the facts we can mutually agree on. Focus on information that’s right and not get carried away with biased opinions.
Final advice from Judy
JW: The importance of public media is so strong. We needed it in the beginning, and we need it now. The media needs to be open to debate, willing to examine tough questions, come down in a fair way that won’t be encumbered by the demands of commercial media. We need to respect the American people, lifting them up and showing them the best of American life.
How do you define success at NewsHour? The metrics can’t be the same as ABC.
Sarah Just: Commercial networks ratings are how you get paid. We want bigger audience. Important to funders and us. Didn’t have a lot of data and demographics when I started. Nielsen had monopoly over that area.
People are turning to outlets like ours for civil coverage. PBS NewsHour isn’t just the news your grandparents watched. It’s nerdy cool. The craft beer of news. People in the know, know it’s really good.
On project management and day to day tasks
SJ: I use online tools, calendar, planning list, staff list of who is where, trello, and try not to make things too exclusive. There are too many decisions every day not to. Planning meetings ahead of time, although meetings can be deadly.
On switching from ABC, where she was for 25 years, to NewsHour
SJ: I used to compare roles to previous organization, figure out who does what right away, leverage skills, change is scary, people are change averse. NewsHour has a shared sense of mission, cynicism runs deep in commercial, here everyone here wants NewsHour to succeed.
When Sarah came on board to NewsHour it “signaled that we were making changes, such as changing the pace of the show. It’s important that while making these changes people feel secure enough to do their best work.”
