This month's Hot Clips showcase breaking, weather, and an investigation...

URGENCY + EMOTION (World News Tonight): the start of WNT in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shootings, offering a balance of new information and emotion

ID FRAUD STAND-UP (WXIA, Atlanta): a super-creative stand-up promoting an upcoming story on identity fraud

PRECISIONCAST (KRCR, Redding): how low can you go when it comes to zooming-in during your weathercast?

This month's batch of Hot Clips helps highlight how we can use our tools, and a sense of transparency, in producing and promoting our newscasts...

CHOPPER ENROUTE (WTVF, Nashville): process storytelling using a chopper tail-camera, and overtly declaring it as the station's exclusive tool in the market

THIS IS WHY WE GO (CNN): covering the big story, from first phone call to the reporter live shot

CREATIVE STAND-UP (KMGH, Denver): a reporter stand-up thinking out of the box, while standing in it - literally

June offers a variety of timely story ideas to help your team this month. Our SmithGeiger team has 10 story ideas for you that are both topical and clickable. Each of these story ideas has the opportunity to engage your viewers on social media, as well.

A WARNING FOR CHIP CREDIT CARD HOLDERS
Many of us are now using chip-enabled credit cards but many retail and dining establishments' chip card readers aren't yet certified. This could be a problem for consumers.

TEENS USING FLOWER SEEDS TO GET HIGH
Teens are abusing these easily-bought seeds to replicate highs similar to LSD.

CROCS A CROCK?
These shoes, which are popular with kids and adults alike, shouldn't be worn for extended periods of time because they don't secure the heel properly. This has been a popular story on social media.

The value of a smart app strategy can’t be overlooked. When viewers download your station’s app, they are granting you access to their lives 24/7. You have the opportunity to engage with them at work, while they’re in the line at the grocery store and when they’re trying to figure out what to watch on television or what new website to visit. Access = opportunity.

So while users have granted you this prized access, how are you best taking advantage of it? Are you entertaining them? Informing them? Or just broadcasting to them?

With every day becoming more of a battle in May, our team at SmithGeiger offers some armor in the form of 10 potential quick-turn stories ideas from around the country...

BEVMO WINE WORRIES

A class-action suit alleges BevMo! is displaying prices for bottles with wine ratings for specific years that don't match the bottles on the shelves.

9-1-1 WARNING

A widow has a warning for anyone dialing 9-1-1, as states and the feds work to deploy the next-generation emergency system.

SWADDLING & SIDS

It's a technique many parents use to soothe their newborns. But a new analysis of recent studies shows it may increase the odds of SIDs.

The question of “What should I share on Facebook & Twitter” is a conversation reporters, anchors, producers and photographers in newsrooms across the country are having…right now. 

Yes, in 2016 we’re all still struggling with what to post on social media.

It’s understandable. Some anchors and reporters don’t want to reveal too much personal information online. While some, who are confined to newsrooms all day and aren’t in the field, feel they don’t have the opportunity to deliver a ton of topical, breaking news-type content. 

Plainly put: they get stuck. Consider it the social media version of writer’s block.

Your anchors and reporters can absolutely create compelling and engaging (emphasis on engaging) posts on social media. Here are effective ways to accomplish that. 

Our May batch of Hot Clips comes loaded with all-platform production and showcasing techniques from around the country...

SUSTAINED URGENCY (WSB, Atlanta): a 5pm newscast loaded with urgency and "in the last few minutes"-type references

WEATHER ALERT (KNXV, Phoenix): combining NAT sound, big & bold showcasing, back-selling, and brand into a weather toss

ALERT CENTER TWITTER (WTOL, Toledo): a new Alert Center example showing the power of finding and presenting new video from various sources

We call these our let's-put-them-on-the-white-board considerations as you finalize and boost your May planning calendar...

CANCEROUS CAR SEATS

Parents are being left in the dark about cancer-causing chemicals in their children’s car seats, even after companies are served with violation notices.

DAYCARE REGULATION LOOPHOLE

Most day care facilities are regulated by state agencies.  But religious day cares in six states face little to no regulation. Where does your state fall? 

AEDs OUT OF SIGHT?

They can save your life, but about 20% of automated external defibrilators aren't easy to find according to this investigation.

BODY CAMERAS: WORTH THE COST?

Now that police body cameras have been deployed for about a year in this market - and others - a check-up finds things aren't perfect and perhaps not worth the cost.