Stories to call their own

摘要

Some people told Michael Shoer that the idea behind NewsProNet was crazy. Television stations, they said, would never trust an outsider to produce high-profile franchise news segments. Yet today, NewsProNet Inc. (NPN), the company he founded eight years ago, claims 185 clients in more than 140 markets for its flagship product, SweepsFeed. Its clients get 96 highly researched and produced special reports each year. Atlanta-based NewsProNet provides the research, a full script, and produced video segments complete with split-channel audio so that stations can insert their own local talent. Stations also get a complete source and background briefing as well as suggestions on how to localize each story. "This is not filler material," said Shoer, a former CNN news producer and consultant. "This is material each station can call its own."