Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 88

SMART LIVING The Arizona Republic SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2(MK) E7 Ch. 3 aces, 15 flunks FEELING A LITTLE newscast survey lis FORT MEDIA NOTES i IKIcD well he best TV news in Phoenix is the half-hour 6 p.m. news on Channel WELL COME TO THE FORT WHERE IT'S ALL ABOUT CRAB! CASINO cellence in Journalism has a clear agenda. It does not match the agenda of most local TV news departments. They are resentful of that, and they do studies to support their resentment." This from someone whose newscast got a good grade.

By the way, the time period was chosen, according to Gottlieb, because it had the highest cumulative rating for news. But the study made at least one mistake: The 10 p.m. newscasts by far have the highest cumulative rating I I SUNDAY BRUNCH NOW FEATURES SNOW CRAB FROM EVERY SUNDAY FOR ONLY $10.95 ON TUESDAY NIC HTS YOU CAN ENJOY ALL YOU CAN EAT ICING CRAB for only $13.95 RECEIVE $2 OFF WHEN YOU PRESENT YOUR CLUB CARD TO THE CASHIER. in the Phoenix area. It would have been in teresting if Channel 3 had been judged on the basis of the NewShow.

Around town 1 -800-f Hl-IFOit? www.fortmcdowellcasino.com 2 Miles north of Shea Blvd. on the Beeline Highway. Just minutes from Mesa and Scottsdale. lit jJL Cokie Roberts will be in town on Tuesday to accept the annual Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in By Mike ClancyThe Arizona Republic issues, institutions and everyday incidents; the least focus on everyday crime; and plenty of coverage of the immediate area. Reflecting the station's short stories, Channel 15 had no investigations, lots of stories about prearranged events, most stories with no sources, least use of experts and fewest stories with conflicting opinions.

Bob Morford, news director at the station, had little good to say about the study, especially because its authors never talked to him. "Can I do a story on Intel without talking to someone who works at Intel? I give them an 'F for failing to follow their own rules." Even worse, in a publication that usually issues "darts" to news operations for conflicts of interest, former Belo news executive Marty Haag writes a glowing review of Belo-owned Channel 3's approach to news. Morford said his station should not be downgraded because it follows a different format from the other four stations offering news in the Valley. "Is the community better served with a fifth copy of the same format? I don't think so." His major gripe, however, is that the survey failed to cover some basics. "Nothing in there says we are unfair, inaccurate or unbalanced," Morford said.

Mark Casey, news director at Channel 12, says, "Local television news is better than it ever has been," thanks to improvements in technology, greater reach and better personnel. "The Project for Ex- Journalism and Telecommu nication, handed out by Ari 3. So says the Project for Excellence in Journalism, a think tank affiliated with the Columbia University Graduate School and funded by the Pew Charitable Trusts, which for three years has conducted an ongoing study of local television news. This is the first year Phoenix has been included in the survey. The project critiques and ranks the four Phoenix stations that produce 6 p.m.

newscasts Channels 3 (KTVK), 5 (KPHO), 12 (KPNX) and 15 (KNXV). The results: Channel 3, A Channel 5, Channel 12, Channel 15, The grades were based on six categories: focus, enterprise, credibilityexpertise, number of sources, viewpoints and local relevance. Not included were graphics, promotions and likability of the anchors. "We look at journalism," said Carl Gottlieb, one of the authors of the study, which is detailed in the NovemberDecember issue of Columbia Journalism Review. Channel 3 earned good marks for enterprise, credibilityexpertise, number of sources and viewpoints.

It did not do so well in focus, referring to the types of stories the station favors, and local relevance. The station had the least coverage of the geographic area and the most useful information and national stories. At the other extreme, Channel 15 had the lowest grade ever handed out by the study, even though the station had the most focus on ideas, zona State University. Roberts is the chief congres sional analyst for ABC News and co-anchor of This Week with Sam Donaldson Cokie Roberts. The award will be presented during a luncheon at the Phoenician resort in ZgKifri Phoenix.

(480) 965-5847. Arizona Highways has opened a gift shop at 7235 E. First Ave. in Scottsdale. i -a 4 Marino has joined the staff of KPTY-FM (103.9) af ter spending the past year at KZZP-FM (104.7).

He be comes Garrisons assistant program director, music director and afternoon host. i mm Susan Stone has joined the staff of KSLX-FM (100.7) 7--V;" i from a station in New Jersey. She will cover nights. 4 1 tfc fc- fipgB3ir Contact the reporter at mike.clancyarizonarepublic.com or at (602) 444-8550. AM RADIO 9 mm KPXQ (1360) Religion KSUN (1400) Spanish KSLX (1440) Classic rock KPHX (1480) Spanish KFNN (1510) Business KASA(1540) ChristianSpanish KMIK (1580) Children Top 40 KFYI (550) Newstalk KSAZ (580) Adult standards KTAR (620) Newstalk KIDR (740) Spanish newstalk KMVP (860) Sports KGME (910) Sportstalk KCTK (960) Newstalk KXEG (1010) Gospel KDUS (1060) Sports KFNX (1100) Talk KCKY (1150) Spanish KMYL (1190) Adult standards KOY (1230) Adult standards KTKP (1280) Newstalk KXAM (1310) Talk FM RADIO KLVA (96.3105.5) Christian KMXP (96.9) Rock adult contemporary KRXS (97.3) Adult alternative KUPD (97.9) Album rock KKLT (98.7) Adult contemporary KAJM (99.3104.3) oldies KESZ (99.9) Adult contemporary KDDJ (100.3) Modern rock KSLX (100.7) Classic rock KAZL (101.192.7) Classic hits KZON (101.5) Adult alternative KNAIKPHF (88.3) Spanish regionalChristian KEAR (88.9) Christian KBAQ (89.5) Classical KFLR (90.3) Christian KGCB (90.9) Christian KJZZ (91.5) NPR newstalkjazz KKFR (92.3) Urban Top 40 KDKB (93.3) Album rock KSWG (94.1) Country KOOL (94.5) Oldies KYOT (95.5) Contemporary jazz KNIX (102.5) Country KLNZ (103.5) Spanish regional KPTY (103.9) Top 40 KZZP (104.7) Contemporary hits KSSL (105.3) Spanish contemporary KHOT (105.9) Spanish regional KEDJ (106.3) Modern rock KMJK (106.9) Urban adult contemporary KVVA (107.1) Spanish contemporary KMLE (107.9) Country i i i Dada dada dada dada dada dada dada Bats, man.

3SM Holy cave dwellers! The Arizona Science Center's newest exhibition is all about bats. Drop in and discover the amazing truth about bats. Your kids can try on bat ears, draw bat pictures, and make echoes like a bat. Then, just when you think you've done it all, POW, there's more. Quick, to the Bat Cave at the Arizona Science Center.

ly A -tmf initial in a i isit mm wtimw 1 ARIZONA Xfi Masters of the Night: SCIENCE fdpj TheTrueStoryofBats 1 CENTER pISJ October 21 -January 7 I hands-on, eye-opening fun 5 ri 7.