Back to School

Cute spots from WDRB in Louisville.  Not sure I love the music, something more fun may have worked -- but this sounds kinda sweet.  Or is it creepy?  I can't decide.

I do love that is shows some personality with the clever titles.

The World of Chicago

Nice writing for this spot from WMAQ in the Windy City:

Summertime

The folks at WQRF in Rockford would love your opinion on their new summer image spot:

"Terrific Blog!" -- says Newsblues

A few days ago - I blogged about a promo that had several lines of copy that were identical to a spot from two years earlier. Today, the industry website Newsblues wrote about it:

In our journeys through the internet, we came across a terrific blog out of Sacramento called "I Do Promoz," which features the best (and worst) of local television promotional spots.
The anonymous author of the blog points to a 2010 promo on CBS-owned WCCO-4 in Minneapolis (Market #15) that was replicated word-for-word two years later on KCTV-5-CBS in Kansas City (Market #31). Forget about imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, says the blog. "I call it stealing. And what's worse to me is when producers claim it as their own, put it on their reels, enter it for awards. They get recognition for ideas they didn't originate.
"We've all been inspired by others. But if you're going to borrow an idea -- make it your own, make it better, rewrite it, retool it. Don't steal it. We all have YouTube. You're going to get caught."
The KCTV promo has since been removed.

Thanks Newsblues for the mention - although I'm anything but anonymous. My career highlights, picture and name are all over the blog. Oh well, I'm sure he just didn't believe my name was really "Don Smith" :)

Awesome Spot!

This is the best spot you'll see all day. Great copy. Great concept. Well executed.

See the Possible

I love this new campaign from WKYC in Cleveland.  They've latched on to a feeling and are selling their product through that filter.  Well written...well shot... these are really different from your typical news promo.

Reminds me of the Graeme Newell speech below.

Check it out and let us know what you think.

Sound Familiar?

This is a problem I've blogged about in the past. Producers "borrowing" from other stations - whether it be a concept, a visual style or copy. Here is an example of "borrowed" copy, 4 lines word for word.

Here is the original WCCO spot from 2010:

Here is a spot from KCTV in 2012:

So what do you guys think? Is it ok to "borrow" from others? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?

I call it stealing. If they had taken the idea and rewritten it - I'd have no problem. WCCO doesn't own the idea of a strong, prideful community. But I believe they do own the exact words they worked hard to write.

And what's worse to me is when producers claim it as their own, put it on their reels, enter it for awards. They get recognition for ideas they didn't originate.

We've all been inspired by others. Heck, that's what this blog is all about: being inspired by others to do more great work. 

But if you're going to borrow an idea -- make it your own, make it better, rewrite it, retool it.

Don't steal it. We all have Youtube. You're going to get caught.