and bit editors Blvd. this shrimp Metropolitan p.m. rain, Fiorida-Georgia Simpson — Bob Mack/staff Nancy Shafran (left), TV-4 news director, goes over daily news coverage plans with Steve Patrick. By Nancy McAlister Television editor “First in news ’round the clock.” "The First Coast’s fastest growing news.” “With the first news of the evening.” Listening to Jacksonville TV news departments promote themselves is a little like listening to the dizzying word play of Abbott and Costello’s classic “Who’s on first?” routine. Competition is intense as WJXT TV-4, WTLV TV-12 and WJKS TV-17 move full bore into the critical November ratings sweeps, when advertising rates are set through spring. For the city’s three TV news directors, it’s a first big test. All are relatively new at their posts. TV17’s Jay Solomon, 50, came to town in March TV-12’s Bob Sullivan, 32, and TV-4’s Nancy Shafran, 31, both took over in May. Local diary-keepers for Nielsen and Arbitron rating services will cast their votes over the next three weeks for, among other things, TV-4’s 90 minutes of local news at 5 p.m. weekdays. Not as easily quantifiable is reaction to what’s been dubbed by industry watchers as an outbreak of “copycat-ism.” TV-4’s expansion to 90 minutes came after years of debate and rumored startups. For Ms. Shafran, a near 10-year veteran of TV-4 and former executive producer, it has been a consuming first assignment. It fits her philosophy that more time means more inclusive reporting. The second woman within Post-Newsweek to head up a news division, her staff recently grew by 12 to a total of more than 50. The New Jersey native is nonplussed when asked if TV-4 made the move because of TV-12’s early-news presence. “We set our own agenda," she said “We just wanted to wait till we were ready, until we thought it was the right time for us.” Part of the decision was deciding there is, in fact, “that much news” in Jacksonville. Ms. Shafran thinks the early newscast gives TV-4 an advantage. “At 5:30, we’ve got momentum. We’re in the middle of perpetual motion until 6:30 The roller (See EXPANDED, Page D-6) — John Pombarton/staff Bob Sullivan (standing), TV-12 news director, discusses video tape production with videographer Harold MacDonald (center) and reporter Julie Cornell. Urge a of By LA. NEW things, ago. It But world, by beauty, Linkletter the thing things Take Walters, and them buzz and chronicles when, bleep how on how the (gluttony), Turner Barrymore and husbands), boyfriends print, National Augustine, form culture the are They’re redefined were Now Somewhere gave too! we’re psychologist Identity comfort never failures. the problem is was far America, always Especially that further in recovery, “acknowledge alcohol” themselves exact purging, context. — public” then, Richard New name. which fellowship, always the in And, York and the very and she take even his piece, that all size