.

Category: KATU

KATU launches hyperlocal Portland blogs

You may remember that, in early September, we heard rumblings of Portland-based television station KATU getting into the hyperlocal blogging game. Now, as Oregon Media Central reports, the KATU community sites are live and accessible to the public.

And while this traditional media foray into typically grassroots reporting and blogging represents an “it’s about time” moment—and a move that validates what many local bloggers have been doing for years—it’s worth taking a look at what the KATU blogs are going to be covering. Read More

Roundup: KATU Portland-blogger meetup

If you—like I—missed the KATU Portland-blogger meetup, don’t despair, gentle reader. We all know that actually attending events falls a distant second behind reading about those events in other people’s blogs.

So, here’s a smattering of the coverage from the Portland blogging crowd:

  • [UPDATE] Official Roundup from Brian Westbroook
  • Flickr photos tagged “KATUmeetup”
  • Winner (so far) of Most Detailed Recap: KATU Blogger Meetup, The Incriminating Evidence
    “I’m glad I went. It was a real positive experience, not only getting to see the inside of a TV studio building that gave me a lot of the broadcasts on which I was raised, but just seeing what was where and getting an idea of how a television station works (a lifelong desire of mine), but getting to know the IRL faces of the people I read regularly (I already mentioned a few; I was able to thank LynnS at Oregon Media Insiders for the fine job she does).Very few people looked like I thought they would, FWIW.”
  • KATU linky love
    “Blogging in Portland has certainly changed. Of the bunches of attendees who RSVPd for tonights. KATU blogger meetup, I know…one. Two, if JD decides to stop by.”
  • Mercury Parking Lot Foursquare A Raging Success
    “Thanks to all you local bloggers who showed up to play Foursquare in our parking lot this afternoon, before heading off to Katu’s so-called “blogger meet-up.” You know who you are. No, really. You know who you are. Because there were only three of you.”
  • KATU Is My New Best Friend
    “See, the Merc was my best friend when they bought me a chai and sent me a get well card. But now, KATU tried to get me drunk and fed me really good food and gave me a Rockstar and a thumb drive.”
  • And now for an update….
    “The KATU blogger meetup was a good time. I think some of us were apprehensive about the event wondering if Chris Hanson would show up to ‘catch a blogger.'”
  • [pdx] KATU Puts On a Fine Show
    “Regardless of what anyone might feel about on-air talent, the KATU news anchors were the very definition of affable. Incrediby nice and friendly people. I was pleased to meet Rod Hill and Debra Knapp–just missed meeting Steve Dunn–and they were just the sweetest people. It was uncanny the way Rod Hill could just pick up a conversation with you talk with you.”
  • A Totally Awkward Probably Not Fun Time
    “I got invited, even though I don’t really think of myself as much of a blogger (I was attracted to this format mostly because of the ease of organizing categories).”
  • Local bloggers mingle at the KATU News studios
    “Yours truly was in attendance and even I (an admitted introvert, wallflower and altogether socially inept person) had a good time. Although I didn’t get around to meeting a lot of the bloggers (again… introvert here), I did actually talk with a few interesting folks. I was also quite surprised, and of course very flattered, when one of them recognized me from the picture on my blog’s home page. “
  • Bloggers meet in Portland
    “Like other smart local media outlets, KATU-TV has taken a position of embracing the personal media revolution in its community. This isn’t easy for TV stations, but it’s an important first step in participating in the conversation — the buzz — that is the cyberspace community. I don’t see how media companies will be relevant in the years to come without taking this step.”
  • Portland Blogger Meetup
    “I was impressed with the amount of creative work that went into the meetup by KATU. They created a great logo and then splashed that across all of their materials – the signage pointing bloggers into the station, the name tags, and even in these fun little goody-bags that everyone received as a parting gift. Some poor intern probably went to great effort to unwrap candy bars and re-wrap them with their fun logo – a nice touch. Thanks go to the intern!”
  • KATU says, Hey Blogger
    “Surprising to all in attendance, last night’s event was actually a great deal of fun. We got a tour of all two rooms of KATU’s building, I rested my bummy arse on the anchors’ desk, and we took a group photo (followed up, of course, by a group hug…not really, but one would have been nice). Free finger food, wine and a keg of local brew (Widmer Bros. ) definitely performed the task of social lubricant, as I’m sure was intended.”
  • Free beer for bloggers, but why?
    “About 70 of us stood around nibbling finger food, drinking wine and beer and talking blogger talk. I was probably the oldest blogger in the room, but no one called me “sir.” When I told them about The Red Electric and showed them my card, several actually said, ‘Cool!'”
  • KATU blogger meetup
    “I think I went expecting to discover some evil master plan, or causes mischief, as well as to meet some of the faces of people I know online, but have never met in person.”
  • I fellate the KATU blogger meetup
    Well, in spite of the fact that I wasn’t invited by KATU (which I was told paid a contractor $10,000 to read OrBlogs and create an invitation list that somehow excluded me!!!) I WAS invited by Drew to attend the KATU blogger meet-up and I’m SO glad I went because I met and got to hang out with some really charming people. I’m going to express my gratitude by actually blogging about the event, because I assume that was the point … (Wait, what WAS the point?)”

Did I miss your entry? If so, it was a nod to the oversights of the original invite. But feel free to link it up in the comments.

Reminder: KATU Portland-blogger meetup, tonight

Just a reminder that the KATU Portland-blogger meetup, previously discussed here, is happening tonight.

KATU Channel 2 Studios
2153 NE Sandy Blvd.
6:30 PM

While the initial reception was mixed, as of this posting, more than 90 people are planning to attend.

If you happen to go and blog about it, stop back by and drop a link. If enough people post, I’ll post a round-up of the feedback on the event.

Same goes for four-square at the Portland Mercury. Word around the campfire is that this will be the most blogged about game of four-square, ever.

KATU Portland-blogger invites blanket the area

I received a strange eVite from Portland ABC affiliate KATU inviting me to a blogger get together that they are hosting.

KATU wants to get to know the blogging community and is interested in joining the conversation. There’s no agenda, other than to enjoy some food and beverages courtesy of our hosts. Meet fellow bloggers, view (and photograph!) the television studios and have some fun!

And I’m not alone. Nearly 300 Portland area bloggers got the same thing.

Out of the blue. Yet intriguing, nonetheless.

Maybe Amanda is coming to town. Or maybe it’s just a ploy to raise KATU’s visibility, given that this was included:

To help spread the word (and hear what fellow bloggers are saying about this meetup), let’s tag our blog posts and photos “KATUmeetup”.

Other mentions, so far, include:

Did you get one? What’s your take? Someone from KATU care to elaborate? Or perhaps Brian Westbrook who seems to be the eViter for the event?

One thing is for sure, Portland Mercury’s Blogtown PDX is not happy with the snub.