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Why Local TV News Is Dumb
The topic came up in the Politics Thread in the Benefactors Bar but I thought I'd expand on my feelings about local TV news and why it's dumb (or stupid, pick your word). I'm not a regular consumer of local TV news, but I do manage to catch bits of it from time to time while moving through the cable channels. Nonetheless, I think I've been exposed to enough local TV news over the years in order to make an informed and enlightened opinion. In one word local TV news is dumb. Just flat out dumb. It is a 30 minute (including commercials) exercise in making noise. I'll give space out there for a few affiliates (not in my city) that have a modicum of quality in their journalism. In the aggregate though local TV news does little to inform or educate the public at large. The biggest problem with local TV news? Weather obsession. See the diagram I made below...
I live in the Southeast United States. If you live in that region then you know, like me, that afternoon storms are a near daily occurrence and a fact of life. My irritation is that local TV news treats the storms as if Armageddon is coming over the horizon. When there is a particularly heavy storm the stations will send out of a fleet of news trucks across the city to report on the storm. What do the field reporters report on? Clouds, and if they are lucky they get a shot or two of lightning.
Several years ago I recall catching one bit of local news when they had a reporter in a part of the city that just experienced a cloud burst. When they put the reporter on the air the storm had already passed and instead of just dropping the issue they stayed on with her as she emphatically explained the gravity of what just happened. I was dumbfounded when the person on screen could only report that there was some wind and the only thing on the ground was water and some leaves. The gravitas with which she conveyed this information bordered on the absurd.
What do you expect when the majority of TV meteorologists are dumb when it comes to global warming. When not discussing the weather local TV news usually focuses on events that are largely irrelevant to most people: robberies, house fires, fender benders, and the like. When there is a noteworthy event the analysis is poor at best: "The mayor announced a new tax today. This might cost you money!"
If I had my way the local and national news would be bundled into a 30 minute commercial free block and the news would be reported on a more narrow band of information in a quick and concise manner. People don't watch news for fun. Just get the point across, avoid the drama and let us get back to watching shitty reality TV.
Also, don't get me started with Dateline.
I live in the Southeast United States. If you live in that region then you know, like me, that afternoon storms are a near daily occurrence and a fact of life. My irritation is that local TV news treats the storms as if Armageddon is coming over the horizon. When there is a particularly heavy storm the stations will send out of a fleet of news trucks across the city to report on the storm. What do the field reporters report on? Clouds, and if they are lucky they get a shot or two of lightning.
Several years ago I recall catching one bit of local news when they had a reporter in a part of the city that just experienced a cloud burst. When they put the reporter on the air the storm had already passed and instead of just dropping the issue they stayed on with her as she emphatically explained the gravity of what just happened. I was dumbfounded when the person on screen could only report that there was some wind and the only thing on the ground was water and some leaves. The gravitas with which she conveyed this information bordered on the absurd.
What do you expect when the majority of TV meteorologists are dumb when it comes to global warming. When not discussing the weather local TV news usually focuses on events that are largely irrelevant to most people: robberies, house fires, fender benders, and the like. When there is a noteworthy event the analysis is poor at best: "The mayor announced a new tax today. This might cost you money!"
If I had my way the local and national news would be bundled into a 30 minute commercial free block and the news would be reported on a more narrow band of information in a quick and concise manner. People don't watch news for fun. Just get the point across, avoid the drama and let us get back to watching shitty reality TV.
Also, don't get me started with Dateline.
Total Comments 4
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This is all easily explained by the fact that local news is there for the purpose of selling you froot loops. Pretty sure national news is, too. It's all just a different flavor of entertainment.
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No no, local news is to sell you that Jim Bob Plumber man can "fix yur tolet!" with "down home" service or for the local Toyota dealership to let you know they have a fleet of beaters for under $1999 that need to be sold RIGHT NOW.
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You forgot human interest stories about animals, old people or annoying kids.
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Oh, I found this as well. I should get with this guy and write a manifesto.
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