THE JOURNALISM IS WHAT WILL MATTER MOST

posted by Michael Chihak

Seventeen days until Arizona Week launches on KUAT-TV, and we are deep into the preparations. Today's production meeting included:

-- Discussions of how we provide "connectivity" with studios in Phoenix to allow for timely interviews with state capital newsmakers and journalists.

-- Review of the graphic elements for the program, including those that will appear on the set and in the transitions between segments.

-- Theme music for the program's opening. It needs to sound "newsy," everyone agreed.

-- Whom we are lining up for newsmaker spots and the journalists' panel on the first program.

Many people at Arizona Public Media are working on these elements to make the first program and all subsequent programs strong and appealing. Yet in the end, AZPM Director and General Manager Jack Gibson said, what will make the difference is the journalism at the core of the program.

Agreed. And we are working hard on that. Stay tuned for your chance to take part in what we're doing.

GATHERING STRING FOR FIRST PROGRAM'S KEY TOPIC

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Week's first program on Jan. 14 will focus on the state's budget issues. In that, the week of Gov. Jan Brewer's State of the State address and the opening of the legislative session, we will explore the depths of what is clearly a dire fiscal situation.

Legislators must cut $825 million from the current fiscal year's budget, and do it quickly. Then they must turn around and construct a budget for 2011-12 that will take another $1.4 billion from where they end up for this fiscal year. That's a total of $2.25 billion in cuts for the next 18 months, or 23 percent less than the current fiscal year's original operating expenditures, as enumerated by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

On the Jan. 14 program, we will ask the governor and legislative leaders how they plan to make those cuts, and how the cuts will affect you and me. We have asked for an interview with Brewer, and we have confirmed an interview with Senate President-Elect Russell Pearce.

After hearing what they have to say, we will ask two veteran journalists to analyze and comment on the plans and what the impact will be. We'll let you know who those journalists are as soon as we confirm with them for the Jan. 14 program.

It will without a doubt be an important program to watch, as we strive to explain the fiscal situation and the consequences of what the Legislature and the governor must do.

THAT DEER IN THE KLIEG LIGHTS LOOK

posted by Michael Chihak

The crew for Arizona Week held its first dress rehearsal today in KUAT-TV's Studio A. All went fairly well for setup, lighting, camera work and every other technical aspect of the operation.

Of course, all of those tasks were handled with aplomb by the experienced studio crew, including several students who work for Arizona Public Media.

The host, yours truly, got more comfortable -- or shall we say less uncomfortable -- as the rehearsal progressed. Yet the feeling of relief was stronger than the feeling of confidence at the end of the 90-minute session.

More to come, including another rehearsal on Thursday, all aimed at get us ready for the Jan. 14 debut of the program.

We're looking forward to bringing viewers a solid half-hour of in-depth exploration and discussion of issues important to all Arizonans.

HOW WOULD YOU DIVVY UP A FINE TRUFFLE?

posted by Michael Chihak

Arizona Week will air in prime time, 8:30 p.m. Fridays on KUAT-TV, Channel 6. The time available for the show – sans intro, breaks and close – is 26 minutes, 45 seconds.

Planning the use of that time is akin to rationing a fine truffle. The chef must proceed with great care.

Segmenting the program will mean allocating appropriate time to each element of the story, including one or two one-on-one interviews with newsmakers and a panel of journalists to discuss and analyze the news and the newsmakers’ interview.

On many shows, we will do what we call set-up pieces to flesh out the background of a given news development and its attendant issues. This will be like an hors d’oeuvre to whet the appetite for the entrée, that is, the newsmaker interview.

Other times, we will go straight to the entrée, to be followed by background and further explanation.

Last will come dessert: the reporters’ panel provides the expert analysis that rounds out the program.

How to parse the allotted time will be decided week to week with the singular goal of getting as much information to the viewers as possible.

Always we will work for judicious use of the time for information, impact and balance, if we were using a precious truffle to flavor the meal.

ARIZONA WEEK ONLINE NOW; ON AIR IN 30 DAYS

posted by Michael Chihak

Consider Arizona Public Media's new news and public affairs show, Arizona Week, to be a program in a hurry. For while the KUAT-TV version will debut 30 days from today, we can't wait to start, so the online manifestations begin here and now, with this blog.

To follow later this week: a Twitter account, to be called @azweek. Later, we will set up a Facebook page, called AZWeek.

We will build the blog, Twitter and Facebook accounts as we go, using them to document the day-to-day activities of the staff making this TV show come to life, sharing the details of how we structure, plan and prepare for Arizona Week.

We will chronicle the effort, seek user and viewer input and, as we get closer to on-air launch, reveal the topics we will be covering, who our guests will be and the names of reporters on each week’s panel.

We envision the program as interactive via these venues. User and viewer comments and response will be a key element of the show, so bring ‘em on.