Banality of TV News
Last night, I attended and participated in the Clarence candidates’ forum, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. Because Chris Collins was also there, some press showed up. There was Chrissy Casilio, daughter of a Clarence Town Councilman and occasional Bauerle call-screener there getting tape for WBEN. There was Scott Brown, following Collins around like an albatross. There was Channel 4’s Alysha Palumbo. I watched her story later that night. The only thing of interest?
Collins showed up but Keane didn’t.
Well, last week Fedup and Geek went to a candidates’ forum in South Buffalo, and Keane was there, but Collins wasn’t.
So, where was Alysha Palumbo in her red pantsuit reporting breathlessly for a full 3 minutes about Collins’ absence from that forum?
What can we learn from this? One of two things (or maybe both):
1. They had a scheduling conflict;
2. Collins realizes that going to South Buffalo to troll for votes is a non-starter, and Keane knows that going to Clarence to troll for votes is a non-starter. Home turf an’ that.
I have an idea for a news station: WBFD.
Chet Morton Says:October 30th, 2007 at 8:16 am
Saw you sitting in the audience on Channel 4’s story.
You are precisely right. Instead of reporting on what the candidates’ say (or rather, don’t), Channel 4 reports that Keane was not there. Half-assed reporting.
What should be a greater concern to Erie County residents are the candidates’ answers to the 20 questions being posed by the Buffalo News and published daily. When pressed in today’s segment to identify areas to cut or expenses to reduce in the budget, neither Keane or Collins could or would do so. Instead, we get comments on “Six Sigma” and “Erie-Stat.” Give me a break.
hank Says:October 30th, 2007 at 8:40 am
As in many contests, the RonPaulistas at Free NY sent Collins and Keane a list of questions to answer to ascertain their stance on real issues facing the county. Both have declined to answer. Makes you wonder why.
Some were even multiple choice! Even someone with a double digit IQ knows “when in doubt, the answer is “C” ”
If Ann Coulter can eat in a West Hollywood rest. owned by homosexuals called the “Girl Bar” with a Catholic Priest in tow (as she did over the weekend), why can’t Collins go to the 1st Ward, and Keane can’t go to Clarence??
Ms. Curious Says:October 30th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I am wondering that, in a era and in a city where we have such abject poverty and a high loss of population to the suburbs (many of them residents who were homeowners and taxpayers), why are we talking about revisiting the sales tax distribution which will surely leave Buffalo with less money to heal herself. Many of those residents who left those city houses, so many years ago, are still coming to Buffalo to attend Shea, Studio Arena and other arts and social venues. Buffalo needs the proceeds from the sales tax tp pay our police officers, fire fighters, and sanitation workers to keep Buffalo a safe and clean area where people from the suburbs and out of town, will want to visit. How are we going to increase a out tourism if we are taking money (as Chris Collins purposes) from the city? Buffalo is the heart of this area and until Buffalo is fixed, we are going to continue to have the brain drain. Mayor Brown is working hard with our state and federal representatives to revive this area. We don’t need someone who is anti Buffalo to be the chief representative of a county that includes Buffalo. We need a person who can do the job,lead the county and be inclusive to all county residents at the same time.Chris Collins has yet to campaign in the city at a recognizable level. No one in my community, who has not read the newspaper or watch Television, can tell you what he looks like. It looks like he has already written the city of Buffalo off.
Fed-Up in WNY Says:October 30th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
According to several people, Chris Collins had a fundraiser planned for the same evening (as the Candidate’s Night in SB).
I guess I got the only “media” of Jim Keane addressing his own neighborhood.
Thanks for the plug BP.
Laumas Says:October 30th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
I thought I made up my mind, then I listened to Hardwick’s debate, and realized I wasted my time waiting to hear anything about future issues and way more on attacking each other past.
Niether showed me that they can or will make the tough decisions necessary to get our county back on track.
Collins seemed to be the ticket for me until he started talking about Six Sigma and Total Quality Management. AND he is going to do a nationwide search for his guy to run these programs.Unless your building auto parts or other widgets, these programs, which I am intimately familar with, are usually used as mantras by clueless company execs to sell stock or their careers.
WNYMedia.net :: Buffalo Geek Says:October 30th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
[…] Channel 2 was more interested in the fact that Jim Keane didn’t show up and there was little reported on the substance of the evening, we captured the entirety of […]
iNdAbUff Says:October 30th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
Post should be renamed the “Banality of Local Politics”
Alysha Palumbo Says:October 31st, 2007 at 8:21 am
First of all, my report was NOT 3 minutes long. It was 1 minute at 10pm and 1:30 at 11pm, as it is every single night. Please get your facts straight.
Secondly, I covered the Hardline with Hardwick debate the day before in which both candidates appeared. But apparently since no one, including my producers, watched the Sunday night broadcasts I was forced to go to Clarence’s LWV’s forum. It is not my fault that Keane - who pronounces his name incorrectly - decided not to show up.
I contacted his PR guy, got his comments in my story, and made sure to use some of what he said from the day before. I have a hard time believing his views changed in one day. I don’t believe we should have done the story, but that’s not my choice. So I think I did a good job trying to make it a balanced, two-sided story where only one side was present. Before you criticize a situation you know nothing about, try to get your facts straight!
At least I’m not Scott Brown, reporting on my former boss! Now that’s poor journalism and a conflict of interest at best.
And while I was wearing a red pantsuit - in honor of my red sox winning the world series - I was not breathlessly reporting my story. Nice try, but try again!
-Alysha Palumbo
Buffalopundit Says:October 31st, 2007 at 8:49 am
Alysha - if this is really you - a quick check of the Erie County Democrats’ website would have given you the answer as to why Keane didn’t show. He had a big-ticket fundraiser in downtown Buffalo.
In case it comes down, click here for a screenshot.
That wasn’t in your story, but could have - and should have been. You barely covered the substance of what Collins said - the crux of the story was that Keane wasn’t there. I’ve got the 10pm version on DVR, and I’m happy to upload it if you’d like.
So it was one minute? It felt like 3. I didn’t have a stopwatch on me.
Yet, there was no similar story when Collins blew off a South Buffalo event the week before because _he_ had a previously scheduled fundraiser.
Fact is, neither one is a story at all. Candidates can’t be everywhere at once. It’s just lazy, sensationalistic journalism. Had you spent more than 5 minutes in that auditorium, you could have learned a lot about real issues affecting real people in a rapidly growing exurb/suburb.
Instead - live at 10 & 11 - Keane blows Clarence off.
“We contacted Keane’s spokesman, and he said…” just doesn’t wash.
Nice try indeed.
Russell Says:October 31st, 2007 at 9:58 am
BP,
You honestly think this is unique to our local news?
Keane made a decision which forum to attend. Why can’t the news? Do they have to cover every event? Is it their job to cover for a candidate that isn’t there when they do show up? Press coverage is hit or miss everywhere on every subject. Candidates and elected officials know that. They get over it and deal with it.
I have never seen a journalist stay long at any event they cover, political, fluff or otherwise, whether it’s in your special suburban town or not.
Buffalopundit Says:October 31st, 2007 at 10:11 am
No, nor did I claim it to be. That’s why it’s titled “Banality of TV News”. Not “Banality of Channel 4″ or “Banality of Buffalo’s local news”.
WTF are you arguing with me about? Collins made a decision which forum to attend, too. I didn’t say the news has to cover everything. I said that they covered this, and made a story out of nothing.
And what I’ve done here for 3+ years is point out when other media behave in a silly, lazy, or sensationalistic fashion.
Maybe they could start doing that and actually report on substance, rather than fluff. And Clarence is beside the point, and you’re just trying to pick a fight with me.
Why? I have no clue.
Russell Says:October 31st, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’m not looking to pick a fight with you and sorry you feel that way. I just thought you’re making something out of a non-story too, and using some sensationalism in the process.
For better or worse, TV News is a business and needs to behave as one. They have to do what sells. Sensationalism sells and the lack of substantive issues being discussed in this elections leads the news to possibly sensationalizing even more. Had the news covered Collins’ performance that night more substantially, people would be upset they weren’t giving Keane equal time.
Buffalopundit Says:October 31st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Perhaps, but Keane:Clarence = Collins:South Buffalo, and their choice to select one but ignore the other is what I found to be somewhat egregious.
As for picking a fight, maybe avoid phrases such as, “whether it’s in your special suburban town or not”. It’s unnecessary.
Alysha Palumbo Says:October 31st, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Thank you Russell.
Buffalopundit - if you are who you say you are - if you actually WATCHED my story you would see that I said Keane had TWO fundraisers to attend Monday night (not one as you so incorrectly stated). I do not decide what I cover each and every night, nor do I decide the complete coverage of our station as a whole. I make suggestions, even argue when I think a story shouldn’t be covered - as I did in this case, but I lost.
The one thing I do agree with you about is that this WASN’T a story at all. It wasn’t a story when I covered both of them the day before. But it’s election time and like it or not, the news stations are going to cover the debates that they can get to. I personnally think it’s boring and the same stuff over and over again. But thankfully it will be done in a matter of days!
For your information, I WAS in the auditorium/courtroom for much more than five minutes. I did cover the “substance” of the platforms of each candidate at 11pm when I had a whole 30 extra seconds to do so.
I’m sure it’s easy to stand in your shoes and criticize someone for doing his/her job, but I think you first need to become more educated and much more informed about what’s really going on in Buffalo TV news before you shoot your mouth off. If you did that, you might actually learn something.
Buffalopundit Says:October 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
The tease and the lede were, Clarence had a candidate’s forum, so why didn’t Keane show? Collins did. What’s the point there? What’s the substance of that story?
So, why are you being so defensive about it? You’re basically saying you agree with me. It was a cheap piece of garbage story, and you’re saying you knew that.
Ditto. So, have your producers or news directors come on here and defend why they had you take this angle with the story.
It wasn’t a debate. It was a candidate’s forum, and the LWV was quite explicit about that.
If you think local politics are boring at election time, might I suggest you’re in the wrong business? This stuff is gold, and there’s no better time news-wise than election time.
People are already so cynical about politics, that more than half of them don’t even bother to vote. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to make phone calls to voters only to have them tell you, “I don’t vote”? The last thing we need is news reporters suggesting that election time is “boring”. If this is boring, what qualifies as “exciting?”
Again, I didn’t have a stopwatch on me, but I was in the auditorium for the entire event, except when I was done with Mike and went out into the hallway to get a drink of water from the water fountain, and you were out there rehearsing your story. You did a stand-up and then left the building. I saw in you that auditorium for part of Collins’ presentation, which would have been 15 minutes. You weren’t in there for all of Collins’ bit, to the best of my recollection.
30 entire seconds to cover their entire platforms? Gosh, I wish I had stayed up to see that.
Possibly. But you’re a public figure, and you do a job. You happen to be the face of that particular story, and you yourself admit that it was a trite piece of garbage of a story. I think that might be why you’re being so defensive about it.
Tell your news director that next time he wants to unfairly hit Keane for not being at a candidates’ forum, that Collins should be subject to the same treatment when he skips out.
Otherwise, you look not only foolish, but unobjective.
PS: I still don’t believe this is actually you, given the RR ip address, and the defensive tone. Leave a comment from your ‘puter at WIVB studios, and then I’ll buy it.
BuffaloGeek Says:October 31st, 2007 at 2:48 pm
So, in essence, Alysha Palumbo simply does the bidding of the news desk and isn’t a fan of enterprise TV reporting. If she’s just as pretty face with a mic, I’d rather watch Melissa Holmes, she’s hotter.
Russell Says:October 31st, 2007 at 3:25 pm
BP,
You’re the one that made it sound like it was such a special place where she could have learned something. I was just responding to that.
I’ve been with candidates who didn’t stay at one of those forums much beyond their own performance, so I’m not surprised news reporters wouldn’t stay beyond getting what they came there for.
Judging by what I’ve seen and heard from these candidates, I would think someone would have about 10 seconds of dead air if they dedicated a full 30 seconds to summarizing the substance of their platforms. Here’s an example:
Keane has dedicated his life to public service and thinks that experience is why he should be elected. Collins says he’s a businessman and could run a more efficient ship because of that, unlike career politicians everyone is sick of.
It didn’t take 30 seconds to type it. How long did it take to read it? That’s the crux of what they’ve made this whole election about. If you want to really be indepth, throw something in about how the sales tax should be divided.
Oh, and tell me how people can be voters that don’t vote? I’m still scratching my head on that one.
Buffalopundit Says:October 31st, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I’m sure I could learn a lot about Aurora’s problems if I went to a debate between their supervisor and council candidates. It was just a statement - not putting Clarence up on any pedestal. That was your interpretation.
Me, neither.
“OMG KEANE DIDN’T SHOW KTHXBAI” is sexier.
The list we have is of people who are registered to vote.
George Stevenson Says:October 31st, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Alan:
I can’t imagine what purpose someone would have in pretending to be Alysha, It makes no sense. By the way, I am rooting for you Tuesday, but if you have enough time to be posting this actively, it sort of tells me you’ve conceded to Ranzenhofer. That is sad.
Alysha, thank you for speaking up, but if you defend yourself at every turn and act occasionally irrational, you will end up a marginalized comedy act with limited credibility, sort of like Mike Hudson. Take the high road, it’s a better place to be and less crowded.
Alysha Palumbo Says:November 1st, 2007 at 1:09 am
You can insult me all you want, but it doesn’t change who I am or the work I do. I was agreeing with you that the assignment was poor. But I do not agree with you that it was a “cheap piece of garbage story.” I went out of my way to get the other side of the story that was not a part of the forum I was covering. You can ask Don van Every, I tried to get an interview with Keane, but his cell phone was turned off. I believe I did the best I could with the assignment I was given.
I do not “simply do the bidding of the news desk.” In fact they will laugh at the mere suggestion of that. I fight for what I believe in, probably more often than my bosses would like. But that’s all part of the news business. It’s a give and take. I’m not going to like all the stories I’m assigned, but that’s the nature of the business (a business I’m sure you know nothing about). But I do bring up several enterprise stories every day, every week at ch. 4. It’s funny you would both criticize me for being bored with election coverage (I assure you all TV reporters are at this point in the game) while also not wanting to cover anything else. You can’t have it both ways. Election coverage is not GOLD for me as you would suggest. I am not a sales person, therefore I could care less what kind of money the station makes off of this.
The reason I’m “defensive” is because I care. Very few reporters do in this day and age and especially in this market. I take the time to answer my viewer e-mails and mail and if I find someone online who’s confused about a story I’ve done, I won’t hesitate to correct them. I’m not trying to act “occassionally irrational” George, but I am passionate about what I do. I think if most people cared about their jobs 1/10th as much as I do, WNY would be a much more productive place.
Frankly, the only reason I found this blog is that my mom got a google alert with my name on it and sent it to me. I had the intent to inform you on where you were wrong, but obviously you’re having more fun bashing me. That’s fine if it makes you feel better. And I agree with you, Melissa Holmes is much more attractive than me. I’m glad you make your news viewing choices on looks rather than substance.
Buffalopundit Says:November 1st, 2007 at 5:22 am
You’re bored with election stories because most election stories are done for the lowest common denominator. Even the people in red coats who ask “the tough questions” are little more than carnival barkers. I’ve always wondered why it’s deemed necessary that the only way for TV news to get ratings is to get stupid.
Election time is gold not because it makes anyone any money (although many media outlets charge more for ads during election time, and some even charge candidates more than other advertisers). It’s gold because it’s the time of year when most people are paying attention, and it’s an opportunity to inform people about issues and fact-check the candidates. I know you guys do some of that when you feel like it, but the story that you did that arose out of the Clarence forum was indeed a lazy piece of trash.
You covered Reynolds & Davis last year at that same forum, and it was a good piece. You could have made a good piece out of this - you could have indicated that we had a nice turnout and how rare it is in this day and age for average people to come out to these types of forums and take an interest at all.
You get defensive because you care, and I attacked you because I care. I am so tired of being treated like a semi-literate 8th grader when I watch newscasts - whether local, national, or cable. The only newscast that I can catch that doesn’t treat me like an imbecile is spelled B-B-C. I’m willing to bet that the bankrupt Channel 7 could make a name for itself again if it started treating people as if they had half a brain.
To date, though, you haven’t explained why Keane:Clarence was covered but Collins:South Buffalo wasn’t, and the lack of objectivity one might glean from that story choice.
steve Says:November 1st, 2007 at 10:05 am
The product that for years had Ch. 7 at the head of the pack may have passed into history, but the philosophy behind it — if it bleeds, it leads — is still very much in place, figuratively if not literally. If not actual blood from a shooting or accident, then we must have blood on the floors or our legislative chambers.
News readers are now news shouters. Controversy is a must, even where it may not really exist. Efforts at being hip and edgy have replaced the old Buffalo blaze busters and pistol packing punks alliterative (some might argue illiterative) style of the Irv/Rick/Tom era. Cameras and mics will always find that one voice of anger in an otherwise calm setting, no matter how irrational that voice may be. Hell, even weather has been elevated to a breathless “disaster could happen at any moment” 4 or 5 or 6 minutes. (I know, if you win weather, you win your time slot — but c’mon, it’s been known to snow ’round these parts.)
I liken TV news these days to fast food. It fills a need, but its not very nutritious. This is not unique to our market, but our market is certainly no better.
“I think if most people cared about their jobs 1/10th as much as I do, WNY would be a much more productive place.” Alysha — It’s good that you care about your job, but that sort of assumption about the rest of us doesn’t speak well to you ability to connect with your viewers.
Alysha Palumbo Says:November 1st, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Alan -
You said, “To date, though, you haven’t explained why Keane:Clarence was covered but Collins:South Buffalo wasn’t, and the lack of objectivity one might glean from that story choice.”
Actually, if you read through my previous posts, I have. I am not the news director, assignment editor, or even a producer. I can push to cover certain stories or push not to cover them, but ultimately I do NOT make the final decision. I am a general ASSIGNMENT reporter - one of two to three working at night. I also do NOT work 7 days a week. For you to suggest that I personnally IGNORED another debate (one of 6 or 7, I might add) is absolutely absurd.
On another note, I just called the LWV and they said they never held a forum in S. Buffalo. According to the woman who answered the phone, they held one in Hamburg and one in E. Aurora. So if you could tell me when this forum happened, that would be great.
To Steve - yes, maybe I exaggerated, but I was trying to make a point. I know there are a lot of hard-working people in WNY, but they’re not the ones whose work ethic and integrity are being attacked on this blog.
starbuck Says:November 1st, 2007 at 12:59 pm
I very seldom watch TV news and I’m not familiar with Alysha’s work. But from her comments here, she sounds sharp, passionate about reporting, and unusually candid.
It’s ridiculous to keep asking her multiple times to justify why one story is covered and another isn’t. Even if somebody naively thought reporters decide that, she clearly explained in her first comment here that she doesn’t control those decisions. Obviously taht question should be directed toward the person who makes those decisions. What sense does it make to keep badgering her about it?
And insulting her appearance is just about the stupidest, lowest class, gutter-dwelling reaction possible about any of this. She’s owed an apology.
Buffalopundit Says:November 1st, 2007 at 2:22 pm
If you re-read my original post, nowhere do I accuse you of story selection. I direct the question to you for one reason: you came on here all defensive about it. I said you were there, and what you reported on. So, WIVB made the crap decision. Point taken. That’s why the picture at the top shows the WIVB test pattern, and not your face.
Again: Channel 4 ignored it. You did the story that took Keane to task for missing a candidates’ forum on Monday. When Collins missed one last week, no one made a peep. Because it’s not important in either instance. You guys (whether it was you or your assignment editor or someone else) tried to make it important, but instead it looked foolish.
I’ll do you better than that. The green text in the body of the original post is a link. If you click it, or click here you’ll find the actual youtube video, and if you click the second green link above or here, you’ll find the second one. I wasn’t at that particular forum, but the author of that blog could give you more details, as could BuffaloGeek, who attended it with her. I never claimed that the South Buffalo event was sponsored by the LWV, nor do I think it matters in terms of the banality of the non-story.
You can also see more at this link (Collins skips Southie) and this link (Keane skips Clarence).
My point in the original post was to bear witness to how local media cover an event, the entirety of which I attended. I don’t even know if WBEN or WGRZ aired anything. I happened to watch your piece on WIVB, hence it focused more on you.
You might want to re-read the original post again, Alysha. Really. You can even read my comments again. Nowhere did I attack your work ethic or your integrity. I attacked the banality of TV news, which airs sensationalistic-seeming non-stories because they’re chasing ratings. Especially this month and in May, no?
I’ll repeat: You get defensive because you care, and I attacked you because I care. I am so tired of being treated like a semi-literate 8th grader when I watch newscasts - whether local, national, or cable.
Do you really think I have no business commenting on how silly it was? I comment on all sorts of stuff because that’s kinda what I do here.
I’m sure you work very hard, and for all I know you were with Collins all day up until that point. You were in that auditorium, though, for a very short time - whether it was 5 minutes or 10.
I sat there and listened to Collins for the content of his presentation, not to wonder about his opponent’s whereabouts.
Sorry about the crack about your red pantsuit. It just seemed a bit much. I mean, I was happy the Red Sox won, too, but I just wore a cap on my way to and from work.
Mike Walsh Says:November 2nd, 2007 at 12:35 am
I agree with Alan on this. You don’t ever get any real information about anything on local news. Might as well chase Britney around, that’s what it’s all comes down too.
Allysha, go reread your Journalism101 textbooks.
And, Alan, the news IS geared to sub eighth grade education levels.
BobbyCat Says:November 2nd, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I was a harsh critic of Buffalo TV news when Irv was chasing pistol packing punks as news director on KB radio at 1520 Main St. - that is to say… back in the day.
This is a lot of verbiage wasted over spilled milk and a tempest in a teapot and any other cliche you can think of. I’m all out - can’t think of any more.
What’s refreshing and new is not that local politic is vacant or who missed what forum. It’s that Ms Palumbo not only cares passionately about what she does, she fights for it. That’s a hell of a good start. I hope she keeps it up for a long time, before burn-out or before a bigger market comes calling. Good for her.
(PS, It’s been almost a year since I was thrown off this blog for disagreeing with our amiable host)
Buffalopundit Says:November 2nd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
BobbyCat: For the record, I have never, ever banned anyone from this site. Your last comment was in this thread in March of 2007, and you were having trouble getting your comment to appear. That is due solely to the pokiness of our servers, and I’m sorry you thought I had thrown you off.
hank Says:November 2nd, 2007 at 4:22 pm
have to echo Alan here–I can recall nobody being tossed off this blog in the almost 3 years I’ve been reading and commenting. That’s just not his style.
As for TV News in Buffalo, At least the Channel 7 Eyewitness News team of Irv, Rick and Tom (I went to St’ Joe’s with Irv’s and Rick’s sons) had some pizzazz. The Weather Outside year round on Main St in the 60’s was a hoot, Tom out there with a chalk board in wind-whipped snow.
When I’m home I watch the local news on all the channels I can, and generally, it blows.
In the 70’s when WUTV 29 first came on the air from the Island, (MOVIES TILL DAWN–a novel concept) they used to have “GOOD NEWS” a couple of times a day—3-4 min. of positive things happening in WNY. THAT might be an idea.
BobbyCat Says:November 3rd, 2007 at 12:22 am
Never thrown anybody off, eh? Ooook, I guess, but I remember it differently.
It brings to mind Groucho’s line, said when being inducted into a country club: “I wouldn’t belong to any country club that would have someone like me as a member.”
Newsguy Says:November 3rd, 2007 at 11:09 am
Alysha, I just want to thank you for being willing to be so public in sharing your views. Like Pundit, I questioned whether it was you posting these views, because I couldn’t believe someone in the business would be so candid. I do now believe it is you. You are a better person than me, because I write this under a pseudonym. But that’s my choice since I don’t want to subject myself or my media outlet to nasty attacks. I just hope you didn’t receive some grief from your superiors for speaking out so publicly. I’m just glad to see that the TV medium has someone like yourself who is passionate and strives to uphold journalistic standards. Also, please know I do put substance over style. But for anyone to event hint that you are not attractive is wrong. I just felt that had to be said. Best of luck in your career. We can disagree over what should and should not be covered. But I would hope that all of us on this blog would respect the fact that you were so willing to speak out in a forum where discussions can frankly be mean spirited
Jeff S. Says:November 3rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
As an aside:
WHO do you think does the best political reporting on the TV dial?
Steve Barber
Alysha Palumbo
Julie Fine
etc…..
WNYMedia.net :: Buffalo Geek Says:November 5th, 2007 at 1:28 am
[…] week, a bit of a row began over on Pundit’s blog when he commented on the banality of television news after he questioned the type of coverage offered by local CBS affiliate, WIVB, Channel 4 at a local […]
Justin Says:November 6th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Having a degree in communications with a specialty in broadcasting I can honestly say that most of these people don’t get into broadcasting because they give two shi&ts about journalism.
I have seen a number of young girls with pretty faces just looking for a job that would allow them to get famous.
Perhaps it is a different case with the two women who have a degree in broadcast journalism. At least with a bachelors degree you have the opportunity to take more journalism classes.
However, with just an associates degree you only have to and/or get the opportunity to take a few journalism classes.
Fluff sells, not substance. It is a business, and if more people watch and/or read your news outlet you can charge more for advertising.