WNEP-TV Wilkes-Barre,
Pa.
" Our photog's
"lounge" is referred to as the "Photographer's Closet," which you
can probably tell means it isn't really a lounge. Along two walls
in an L shape are low counters with shelves underneath. On top of
the counters are compartments about 2 feet wide. Each photographer
has his or her own slot with his or her name on it. They keep their
cameras, batteries and chargers here as well as any personal items.
Along the third
wall are shelves for storing miscellaneous tripods, cases, sandbags
and other stuff. Outside the closet is a bulletin board with live
truck safety notices, announcements and other information. In between
shoots, the photographers hang out in the newsroom. They have three
computers on the low counters that separate the edit row from the
main newsroom. Under these counters are the current file tapes.
These computers
are mainly used for accessing ENPS and checking e-mail and the like
- you have to stand up to use them. There's a computer and scanner
in one of the edit suites - usually the lone overnight photographer
works out of here. In the newsroom, the photogs usually sit at desks
to watch TV or use the Internet. They'll also watch TV in the edit
suites sometimes. Some of our photogs also hang out at the assignment
desk when things are really slow.
Actually, our
photographers don't have much downtime. We cover 19 counties so a
lot of time not spent actually shooting is spent getting there. During
mornings and nights our photogs double as VC, Line Producers, Assignment
Desk Assistants or Studio Camera Operators. "
John Petrosky
CLTV Chicago, Ill
"We are fortunate
enough to have a dedicated, and seemingly spacious, photog lounge.
Two opposite walls have tables under which we each are given an area
to store our cameras and on top of which sit our batteries and chargers.
There is a wall of lockers, enough so we each have our own, and a
TV that has basic cable channels and a few movie channels -- not that
we have time to sit through an entire movie. The chief photog has
a desk with a computer that we're all allowed access to including
internet; we'll often go out to the newsroom and grab an unattended
desk to log-on, as well. There are several sets of (locked) drawers
for the chief to store his paperwork and supplies in. There is a ceiling
mounted, wall-switch activated Lowell light for shooting "table-top"
type b-roll. It's supposed to be accessed only using photogs key-cards,
but some of the reporters have discovered that theirs work as well.
The only thing that it really could use is the fridge, microwave and
couch that several others have mentioned having. There's been discussion
of putting in a couch but -- of course -- it has not appeared."
Bill Krupka
WWMT-TV Kalamazoo, MI
"We just got
a photogs lounge about 6 months ago. Oh wait, it's not a lounge, our
management doesn't like the sound or image that the word lounge conveys
so it's called the photographers office. It has a telephone with voice
mail for each photog, tv, couple of chairs and a table along with
two desks with internet computers. We have a seperate room with lockers
for gear and battery chargers, so it's not cluttered with that stuff.
Bad part, it's between two hallways, so there are doors on both sides,
but they can be shut, if your shooting an in house interview or just
trying to relax, the only other bad thing I can think of is that everyone
else likes the fact you can close the doors and have complete privacy,
so reporters and anchors have been know to be found in there making
personal phone calls that they don't want others to hear. Oh by the
way, we had a photog retire from here right when we were about to
move in to our new digs, so we dedicated it in his name and get this,,
he worked at the same station for 46 years, and is still a very good
friend of mine, so it's nice to have a place to go and remember friends
from the past."
Nat Bite KPRC-TV
Houston, TX
"I took this photo
while Panasonic was in town with a DVC Pro demo (currently we shoot
Beta SP). 
Our
Photog's lounge is more a "ready" or storage room. Each photographer
has a locker, there is a nice color TV (you can actually change channels,
or watch a quad split of ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC), and a table with chairs.
This room has also become an "quickie" interview room. This photo does
not show the chroma key blue walls on the opposite side. There is also
a small computer room next door with a TRAX terminal (linked to area
law enforcement for missing persons flyers)." 
"When
our regular photographers lounge is in use, we find refuge in our live
trucks. You might say our engineers keep em clean enough to eat in..."
Mel Stone
KVLY-TV Fargo, ND
"We don't have
a photog's lounge... and i'm not sure we should. i've read that some
newspapers are trying to integrate the reporters and photogs... trying
to get them to work more closely. and if anybody should be working
closely, it's tv reporters and photogs; so why not integrate photog
space with reporter space. of course, this will never happen, or last.
most news mgnt aren't bright enough. if space gets short, the photog
will get the boot. in my case, i'm a one-man band-- i'm a reporter,
too-- so i have a desk and a computer."
Jarrod Miller
WXIN-TV Indianapolis, IN
"Major expansion
on the way at WXIN-Indianapolis. After years of just having a 10 o'clock
show, we're finally adding a 3-hour morning show. This means gobs
of new people, wall-busting renovations, and the inconvenience of
editing out in the hallway for several months. BUT!! - it also means
the old sports office will become the domain of the lensman. Yes,
we will finally get a photog lounge, which is something we've half-joked
about for years. Sure, it will be crowded with lockers, battery chargers,
junk tripods, and other photojournalistic paraphernalia (wow!).. but
throw in a few beanbag chairs, empty pizza boxes, and an off-color
poster or two on the wall and it becomes a little slice of heaven!
Can't wait! I'll send pictures when it's complete."
Nelson Jones CKY-TV
Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada
"Well folks, we
have a nice one up here but you've got to have somewhere to go when
it's +30 and swelterig hot and -30 and your freezing your tail off.
That's CELCIUS by the way! We've got a couch and a chair that are comfy
but old,and a tv and vcr with a remote no less for those days when our
own programming is less than stimulating. Throw in a small fridge, microwave,
water cooler, and free coffee and you'd think we have it made. The down
side you ask? Well it is right outside the edit suites in an open-air
newsroom in full view of the assignment desk and subject to cat-calls
from reporters, anchors,and producers alike. So when we want a mental
break or just some peace and solitude, we find the nearest car wash!"
Ray Pfeffer
KFMB-TV San Diego, CA
"Where's the
remote? It's been missing for months. The television in our lounge
basically stays on the same channel until someone new walks into the
room. Of course it's less than three feet away from anyone sitting
down at any given time. I don't think we actually care what's on,
the warm glow sort-of attracts photog's like gnats. We also have a
cafeteria and a BBQ grill and table outside."
James Ramos
KTLA-TV 5 Los Angeles, CA
"Your not going
to believe this but our "honorary photog lounge" is a small, reporters
cubicle with a phone and pc computer (internet access included). Our
previous photog lounge was taken over as an office for our news operations
manager. Talk about corporate downsizing!! We'd like to thank our
generous reporter, Willa Sandmeyer, for sharing her lavish work space
with us!! We love you, Willa."
Eric Seldin
Bangkok, Thailand
"What a great
site!!! I will pass it on to the rest of "the gang" here in Southeast
Asia, meaning the dozen or so Western cameramen who cover the area
for US and European nets. We don't have mealy leatherette couches,
but we do have bamboo barstools... Having worked my first decade of
tv in DC, I know all-too-well from where your writers' speak. Brings
back some, er, um, vaguely pleasant memories. My early couch time
was spent in the first years of Chicken Noodle News, so you know that
I know. :) One of the few places I miss in US is Bawlmer, and specifically
Bertha's Mussels; I can always spot one of suitcases on a luggage
carousel by that green bumper sticker!
More
Lounges from around the Globe!
