What bugs you about TeeVee news?
Gene Patterson, a local news anchor at WATE who blogs, wants to know. Well, I’ll tell you. By the time it’s on TV, it’s old news. I’ve known for a while already. That and scary commercials like Something in your house can kill you!!! We’ll tell you about it in three hours at 11:00.
I also don’t like hard hitting investigative pieces on subjects like bootie juice.
Or investigations that conclude that (gasp!) nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Or using lame inaccurate buzzwords on a subject the reporter clearly knows nothing about.
Or when you guys are flatly inaccurate (or intentionally misleading) in a report. Then you’re called on it and you say your mistake was addressing my complaint and stick by your bogus story even though I’ve quoted the law chapter and verse to you to show you how you’re wrong/misleading. Despite my attempts to show you the law, you stick to the talking points that you Googled up from an anti-gun propaganda outfit.
All those items are, of course, my criticism of WATE’s news coverage. Is that a good start?
June 19th, 2006 at 6:00 am
The worst things to happen to what passes for “TV news” were the handi-cam and the satellite truck. Now, at minimal expense, a “news” director can send a brain-dead blow-dry out in the dark to stand in front of someplace you can’t see to tell you what happened there nine hours ago when she was someplace else, and try to sound authoritative about it.
Which, if you have an internet cconnection, you heard about 8.8 hours ago, and have more information than she does.
June 19th, 2006 at 9:36 am
Who the hell even watches the news anymore?
June 19th, 2006 at 10:09 am
Gotta agree with all of your points, and add my own.
Newsanchorspeak.
Sure, the tone of voice and the inflections they all use are to the point of being physically painful these days, but it’s also the standard reporter lingo. “The 48 year old Brooklyn physics teacher…” and such. They feel the need to try and cram as many facts into one sentence as possible, only to go on and give us meaningless drivel for the rest of the story. Talk like a human!
With it being so very easy to satirize their voices, you’d think they’d have caught on and changed a bit. From what little I’ve seen of Walter Cronkite, that was his big pull. He was called “Uncle Walter” because he talked to people like he was a relative or friend in a much more conversational tone of voice and didn’t try to come across as such a professional. And people listened.
June 19th, 2006 at 10:23 am
Gene Patterson said:
On the whole though, I think we do a pretty good job day. As for “real news goes unreported” and being “compromised,” can you be more specific?
Oh vey. He has to be to be kidding.
Even more amazing is someone misses Tersa Smith. How many mistakes did Tersa make?
June 19th, 2006 at 10:38 am
Who the hell even watches the news anymore?
I still do, and you know, I don’t know why. Maybe I can’t bring myself to accept that things have sunk so low since my younger years, and I just keep hoping. I probably should stop, because I annoy my wife by yelling at the TV things I learned hours before and more accurately.
June 19th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I cannot abide when they place some local expert on the camera positing about events of national or international importance…WATE’s Sunday talk show a few years back had Ellen Adcock on there opining about the war in Iraq like she was a foreign policy expert? WTF? Look beat Steve Hall in a local council race before you start acting like Secretary of State.
June 19th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
I have a lot of friends and family who watch the news ’cause they don’t surf the net.
They click through channels while waiting for the food to cook and the teenage daughter is on the PC. It’s part of their habit they’ve had for decades and it’s slow to change. I can’t fault them.
As for the evening / local news, I do know a few things that they could focus on that would really boost their viewership and mostly they focus on “WatchDog” type of reporting.
* National News
— Begin the ‘cast with a touch on what is big within the nation. Even though we ‘netizens already know about it. A quick blurb and move on.
* International News
— Many countries have something that could be highlighted each day. Again, touch it and move on.
* Local News
— This is a deep well that one of the local Detroit stations draws from and it is creaming the other news shows. From coverage of an event at a local mall, to a crime scene, to a building renovation, they have cameras there. Peeps can see that and go; “I know where that is.” or “I’ve shopped there.” They relate and the story connects with them.
* Investigations
— Firstly is politics. Every station should have a team digging into city, county, and state governments. They should be constantly sniffing out how money is spent and what back-door deals are being bandied about. This stuff really catches people’s attention and draws viewers.
— Second is businesses. Many businesses are good, but a few are very bad. Getting the word out on a harmful product or dishonest business should be a #2 priority of the station. Again, people will tune in to see the report. Or they will record it. Or they will go online and watch the broadcast video. But they should be real issues – not “booty juice” crap, as you mentioned. Like mixing St. John’s Wort with Blood Pressure medication – stuff people might not be aware of, but definately should be. When it comes to businesses, solicit people’s input on businesses that have done them wrong, do some research, record some interviews, and try to get some problems solved. Jerry Springer asks people to participate in his shows – that’s why he’s popular. So should the news.
* Sports
— People like to see highlights. Athletes are gifted and can perform some incredible feats. People want to see them. That’s the unique element of TV over radio. Now the ‘net allows the same, but again – this is a commentary on TV versus the ‘net.
* Weather
— Hey, where else you gonna see it. But the one thing they have dropped is the “Jet Stream” and it has me fucking pissed off about it. Knowing the path of the jet stream allows an observant viewer to self-predict the weather for a good 5 days out. Hence, they don’t show it. Did I mention it pisses me off?
* Traffic
— In the morning, this is very useful. In the evening, not so much – peeps are already home, eh? But a graphic showing current and pending construction within the next month would be quite helpful, meh thinks. Just in case a viewer needs to travel somewhere special (e.g. doctor’s appointment) and doesn’t realize the freeway exit they need is closed.
* Community Events
— Having the biggest megaphone comes with a bit of responsibility. Social and community events should be listed – possibly with a short interview from the organizer. The cause and orientation of the event should not effect it’s coverage. God I can’t say that loudly enough. Every fucking event that writes or calls in for coverage should get a blurb. Every one. Damnit.
Anyhow, that’s my list.
I’m going to copy and post this on my blog.
It will get much less viewership there, which I am quite content with.
I see your site meter is over 1 million. Geeze, I couldn’t handle having to fight off that much comment spam and assinine comments – like this one.
🙂
June 21st, 2006 at 12:43 am
you’re right…I have a terrible time keeping up with Tearsa. I’m sure she’s a wonderful person but she doesn’t seem focused and she makes too many verbal mistakes. Lori needs to do something with her hair. The matted and sprayed down look doesn’t do it for her. Also, I hate when reporters use the word “now” in every sentence…and Haney talks too slow!
June 21st, 2006 at 8:53 am
Breaking news at WATE. Knox County buys two new vehicles. Story at 6:00 on TV Six.
In an exclusive WATE investigation the people now know that the Knox County has purchase two new vehicles. Two vehicles. Oh the humanity. SONU WASU of WATE brings the compelling story no one else has.
Meanwhile the largest story of the past ten years about the Charter is ignored and barley reported.
Pitiful.