Well, I don't routinely monitor media or traffic reports, but I can tell you this little bit of info: I spent 2 years as a part-time air traffic reporter for Metro Networks, and know a little about thier air ops.
Traffic reports are made by the spotter (not the pilot) back to the Metro studio, located downtown in the Merrill-Lynch building. One specific radio personality monitors the reports coming from the aircraft, and feeds it into a computer that all of the other personalities read. Depending on how much the subscribing radio station pays Metro, they get either recorded traffic updates (2-10 minutues old), live telephone reports (from one studio to the other), but most of the "big stations" have the reports done live over the air. Despite what might be said on the radio, the traffic reporter is downtown, and the personality is in the Arboretum or on Basie Road. :wink:
At the time I was flying (1998-2000), we were flying a Cessna 172 based out of FCI (Chesterfield Airport). We flew a specific pattern of six different points in the area. During our 4P-6P flight, we'd be able to make 5 laps total, but that would vary with air restrictions, wind speed and direction, and if we were specifically looking at an incident on causing major delays.
The media outlets make a habit of calling all of the local and state PD's, usually hourly, to see if there is "anything going on". The PD's will usually let them know about MVA's and the such, but that's about it.
There currently is only one helo doing traffic reports, which belongs to WWBT, NBC-12. However, thier reports are only going to Channel 12, and can be monitored on the uplink freq (which I don't currently have in front of me, sorry).
OK, I know that didn't answer you at all, but maybe it made for some good reading?
