Jeffrey R. Militzer

News Producer, KRCG 13, (CBS Affiliate)

Oct. 2016 - Present

 

I started working at KRCG 13 just ahead of the 2016 election, producing the noon and 5 p.m. newscasts. I started producing the 5 p.m. on my second day of employment at KRCG 13. Both of my shows came in first place in the mid-Missouri market in November 2016. Since then, only one of my shows came in 2nd place for a sweeps period, which was my 5 p.m. February 2017.

 

One of the best parts of working for a station with multiple shows throughout the day is getting the experience of producing every one of them (eventually). During the winter holiday season, I had to cover for a vacationing co-worker by producing the morning show. Eventually, because of my success in overall producing, personnel management, and my rating success thus far, my news director moved me to the morning show permanently beginning in February 2018. Since taking over, I've already made multiple changes with the show's formatting in order to best capitalize on viewership trends.

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In 2018, one of my KRCG 13 Live at Five newscasts was entered for several awards. That show ended up winning a Mid-America Emmy and an Edward R. Murrow for Newscast Excellence markets 100+. 

 

News Producer, Fox 5 News, KRBK

Dec. 2015 - Sept. 2016

 

I produce what is now an hour-long newscast every weeknight from 9 p.m. until 10 p.m. KRBK is a newly formed station that only began broadcasting in the southwest Missouri market in Aug. 2015. Upon my being hired at KRBK, the station was dead last in ratings within the market, based on the Nov. sweeps numbers. By Feb. the station climbed up by one spot. In April 2016, the station began broadcasting the hour-long show.

 

This is a growing station that is highly under-manned, so everyone needs to contribute quite a bit more. In my capacity as producer, I was also essentially the assignment editor as well. On top of contributing stories to reporters and photographers on a daily basis, I would also have to copy-edit those stories as well, since there is no executive producer or news director for the station.

 

 

Producer, KOMU 8 News

Jan. 2015 - Dec. 2015

 

I produced three newscasts regularly at this time, each with different aspects guiding the shows. Tuesday's 9 p.m. show focuses heavily on reporter driven content. I rely on the reporters for that day to fill in most content, but I always have several backups lined up if needed. At 9, people want to know what is going on where they live and some major national and international stories that are making waves. 

 

The morning show is completely different. My news director wants the show to be very fast paced and focused mainly on the state and up, with very little local news. To make the show as fast-paced as possible, the goal is to get every story down to 20 seconds of air time and reduce the entire number of packages airing.

 

The Sunday newscast at 5 p.m. is tricky. The goal for this show is to get local stories, but to have enough state, national, and international stories to fill the gap if needed, and to prepare the viewers with what to expect for Monday.

 

Throughout the summer, I would produce the morning show for weeks at a time. 

 

(fill in) Executive producer, KOMU 8 News

2015 - Dec. 2015

 

Beginning in the summer, I was asked by my news director to fill in for the morning show executive producer for what started as a week but soon turned into a week here and there. By December, it will have been for about a month cumulatively. During this time, it was my responsibility to copy edit the producer's work as well as write another half of the show myself in order to fill up the two and a half hour show. I would also have to copy edit the two to three morning show reporters' stories before they could leave the station. I was also in charge of prioritizing what stories air at what time.

 

Documentary Producer

2014-2015

 

I was a producer in charge of content for a documentary produced by KOMU 8. The documentary is about PTSD and its effect on veterans and how it could lead to homelessness. I was in charge of setting up and conducting most of the interviews seen throughout the documentary.  The documentary is available for viewing here.

 

Reporter, KOMU 8 News

2014 - present

 

As a local news reporter, my job is to go out and find the stories from our viewing area. I like getting around the state, and this job lets me do just that. Columbia is the biggest city in our viewing area and has the majority of our audience, so that is where a majority of the stories come from, but I am always looking to smaller cities outside Columbia for something interesting. I've reported on stories ranging from a city council ban on tobacco to a possible Native American burial ground being found just outside of California Missouri.

 

Production Assistant, KOMU 8 News

2014 - present

 

Sometimes producers just need a little help to make their show perfect, and as a production assistant, that's exactly what I try to do. I don't think anyone in a newsroom has trouble cutting and pasting video to run over a VO, or sending a package through, but what I do is a little bit more.

Sometimes producers get overworked in the newsroom so I will essentially help them produce while cutting the video for the show. I'll double check run times, enter video IDs, create supers and in general, help as best as I can. 

 

Live Equipment Operator, KOMU 8 News

2014 - present

 

As a reporter, when I saw the big news truck full of hardware the first time, it was a bit overwhelming. Now that I learned how to operate this equipment, I think it will make me a better reporter and cut down on manpower. I set up and troubleshoot, if necessary, live shots for field reporters. This involves using either an ENG van or a live backpack. 

 

Floor Director

2014 - present

 

The floor director manages the people on the studio floor and also manages the timing of the show in conjunction with the director. The floor director is also responsible for building simple graphics for use in the show, such as mugshots and maps. 

 

Leading Petty Officer

2006-present

 

The leading petty officer in the U.S. Navy is in charge of managing all personnel in their charge. As a leading petty officer, I manage anywhere between 60 to 80 personnel on a given drill weekend. Part of that responsibility is to create the first draft of the yearly evaluations on command personnel at my rank and below.