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Full-Court Press
FOR years, we tried to convince Robert Kekaula to come to the newsroom and be a sportswriter for a day, but for some reason, he never dropped by to see us. Something about not being video-friendly. 2001: A sports
synergy odysseyTrue, filming Kekaula sitting at the computer typing away as if the sentences were spilling out as easily as, "Oh wow," is not particularly interesting. And neither is video of a tape-recorded interview or looking over Kekaula's shoulder as he goes online.
It doesn't preclude us, however, from doing his job for a day. We often see sportscasters as celebrity panelists in newspapers, but you rarely find print guys -- there's that word again, video-friendly -- bringing you the weekday report.
But all that could change.
On Wednesday, it was announced that the Star-Bulletin will be partnered with KITV-TV (Channel 4), where it's hoped a synergy develops that benefits the media and the people each serves.
Initially, that was a frightening prospect for the newsrooms. True, we travel in similar circles, but we don't hang out with the pretty boys. It's just too humiliating at bars. While these guys thrive on compliments from the people they cover, a beat writer figures he did something wrong if a coach tells him the next day, "Nice job." They thrive on being celebrities. We're afraid the FBI will read us our rights if we run a mug with our story.
Most of all, we're afraid it's more difficult than it looks.
Kekaula has an easy way of filling eight minutes. He has the time to blend the national news with the local, the odd with the everyday. It's a gift developed through years of experience, as easy as flipping the remote.
A print guy, on the other hand, would flip out trying to develop all the catch phrases. You can't stand up there and say things like, "Make it so." when you cut to video. Not long ago, "It's outta here" would have sufficed in describing a home run. These days, the young guns wouldn't even know what that means.
Yard. Gone. See ya. Believe it. That has wings. Federal Express. Someone check the Doppler. Back-back-back-back-back. Bye-bye baseball. These are the phrases that fit the current scene.
As for me, well, I have a face for radio and a voice for mute. During my first television class at Texas A&M, my professor -- who was on David Letterman the other night as a guest interview in the audience -- pointed to each of us and said, as he walked around the room, "Talent. Production. Production. Talent." When he got to me, he said, "Print."
ABOUT 18 months ago, a close friend working for WFAA-TV (Channel 8) in Dallas described a just-completed deal between that well-respected television station and the Dallas Morning News, both owned by the same company. His eyes turned sort of misty as he spoke of the cross-promotion created by the city's two news giants.
I told him Honolulu had something even better -- the in-house relationship with KFVE The Home Team and KHNL (Channel 8). And how, at times, it was hard to distinguish between the two. His response? "Truly paradise."
As for our pending engagement with Channel 4, I'm not sure we at the Star-Bulletin are ready to smile for the cameras. Perhaps if some kind of trade can be arranged, say, where Robert writes a column and I do the evening broadcast.
"Hi, hope you're all having a pleasant evening. I'm Paul Arnett, sitting in for Robert Kekaula, who, as we speak is learning what it's like to have his story edited. Details at 10."
Now, you're talking synergy.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
Email Paul: parnett@starbulletin.com.