Phil Tenser

Fire coverage helps newlywed couple

Phil Tenser — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:27:40 +0000

A fire coinciding with the second day of the State Fair might not have gotten much attention, until we learned it destroyed a newlywed couple’s belongings while they were away on their honeymoon. The drama in that scenario is palpable – tantalizing for newshounds looking for a story peg.

It was also rewarding to be told by the family that our coverage helped to build steam for a benefit to assist the couple’s recovery.

The groom called the station from his honeymoon because he had seen my initial report online. When he agreed to do a telephone interview with me, we knew we had a new lead story.

The report on 9WSYR.com, as it stands now, includes additions made over the weekend, but largely remains the story I originally assembled last Friday night, August 27.

After the reports, we received a very nice letter from the groom’s father thanking us for our work. “Your attention to detail has resulted in a benefit being planned for the couple and friends and neighbors even being aware of the fire,” he wrote.

Our weekend team later learned the bride’s wedding dress had been spared by the flames.

Busy busy bank robbery

Phil Tenser — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 06:49:15 +0000

After two cousins robbed a bank in Rome Thursday, things were very busy for the remainder of the workweek. I’m particularly proud of the products we produced, and wanted to save a link to all of it.

The story, as it is now, is broken into many editions written over two days. It involved the journalistic input of many people without whom none of it would have been accomplished.

As for the textual stories on the page, I wrote the editions entitled:

“Both Rome bank robbery suspects appeared in court Friday”
“One suspect arraigned; one still at large in Rome bank robbery”

…and collaborated on the sections entitled:

“Arraignment pending for second suspect in Rome bank robbery”
“Police piecing together Rome bank robbery; one suspect still loose”
“Bank robbery suspects identified; search continues for one”

I shared editing tasks for “RAW Videos” with our webmaster, and posted the videos and photos from our various wonderful reporter/photographer teams.

I’m sure that far in the future when I reflect on the first year of my career, this will be one of the stories I’m likely to remember. (Along with the earthquake, windmill collapse, telephone store shooting and Murrow awards)

Skydiving at Sunset

Phil Tenser — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:23:07 +0000

Skydiving in Peperell, Massachusetts was an awesome experience that was enhanced by a wonderful sunset that coincided, luckily, with both my jump and my snapping of photos. Falling through the clouds was a fantastic way to celebrate my birthday. It was an unforgettable experience.

All photos are un-doctored and original.

These photos and many more are also available in a joint album published by myself and my friend Tom Hunt on Facebook.

On-Call: Hydroplane VO

Phil Tenser — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:56:01 +0000

Last weekend I served as an on-call photographer and was called in during a heavy rain storm. One of the jobs I did during that call was to shoot an accident caused by hydroplaning, which later lead the 11PM newscast as a VO. That video is below.

9WSYR.com wins National Murrow Award

Phil Tenser — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:47:45 +0000

As a Web Producer for NewsChannel 9′s 9WSYR.com, I’m proud to announce that we’ve won the national Edward R. Murrow award for best website in the small market television category. The RTDNA announced the award Wednesday, June 16.

In April, we also won the best website award in the same category of Region 11, which qualified us for national consideration. This is the second time in three years that 9WSYR.com has won the national award in our category.