Rant Vanity About Fox News Alerts on Free Republic Causes Stir.......
Posted on 08/11/2005 5:40:26 AM PDT by piperpilot
Has anyone noticed how Fox News Channel has oscillated wildly out of control this summer with their Fox News Alerts? It seems that the alerts are being used for everything from legitimate breaking news events (shuttle landing safely) to events that no one in their right mind would classify as breaking news (President Bush signs the Energy Bill--what a shocker that is!). Not only that, but they are now being used over and over again during a two-hour period to announce the same news event and it seems like every prime time show is started with a Fox News Alert whether the story deserves such treatment or not. And don't even get me started about the Fox News Alerts about every ridiculous car chase in California! We have been saturated with Fox News Alerts to the point that I often no longer pay attention to them because more often than not they are not important or are merely a repeat of previous news alerts. To me, FNC has become the boy who cried wolf and risks being ignored when there is truly a breaking news event. News alerts should be used sparingly and only once per news event.
Another gripe: Since when did Hannity and Colmes stop being a debate show and start being Greta-lite? It seems that 2/3 of the show is devoted to stories like Natalee Hollaway, the missing groom and the run-away bride. If I really wanted to follow those stories in depth, I would tune in to Greta. I want H&C to get back to politics and dispense with all the true crime stories.
Don't get me wrong, I like Buck and want him to stay but as usual in these cases the owners place blame on the manager instead of accepting the fact that the problem is their own obvious lack of expertise in what players to acquire.
Oh, don't get me started on Fox News' nightly shows! Nights and weekends are just awful! They usually run their scheduled, canned stuff and ignore actual breaking news. I have to turn to CNN to get news if something major is going on. (I never thought I'd say that, but there you have it...)
I agree. I was very disappointed that there was nothing on Fox about the recent explosion in Romulus the other nite. I happened to think it was a pretty big deal, and certainly worth a mention.
Thank you for this well-deserved rant!
I remember back in 2001-02 Laura Bush mentioned in an interview that she would run into the room with the TV on every time she heard the FOX NEWS ALERT music...only to find it was no big deal- said it was frustrating.
I find it more than frustrating- I HATE IT!
OTOH...I too love the Red Sox:)
Given Buck's track record he's probably building a world championship team. They'll just win it the year after he leaves.
It's not just their crying wolf all day long, but their priorities. Where is the coverage that 41 Americans have disappeared and are feared kidnapped in Mexico? Oh, yes, they're probably hispanic, not blond young ladies, ONE who disappered in Aruba after getting drunk and getting in a car with THREE boys. Geesh!
I agree with you but here's something to keep in mind: on average, most folks don't watch 24 hour news channels all day long (we here are above average!).
I think their intent is to allow people tuning in for a moment to get "caught up" on what's happening -- thus all the alerts -- because it would be "breaking news" for them.
I do agree that CA car chases shouldn't warrent a news alert regardless -- unless you live in the area and need to know to stay off the streets.
Why not handle breaking news the way it's done in-house at most organizations? There are several different levels, organized thusly:
- Regular - Man bites dog (interesting, relevant)
- Urgent - Fugitive couple captured (You probably want to know this)
- Bulletin - Airliner crashes (You will definitely be interested in this)
- Flash - president shot, 9/11, etc. (OMFG!!!!)
These could be cued with different sounds or themes, so we don't jump every time we hear the gong. Also, how about a separate terror-related alert theme?
(I write this as a former AP editor)
It's been this way for years now.
I do agree that CA car chases shouldn't warrent a news alert regardless -- unless you live in the area and need to know to stay off the streets.
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Seems to me that such breaking news would be the province of the local news outlets. That is, you would tune in to your local tv or radio station for warnings to stay off the streets during a car chase.
Try removing daily "Fox News Alert" off my email. Keep sending email to remove, now it's popping up in bulk junk mail.
Sounds like a plan to me. There needs to be some sense of proportion given to these alerts.
I agree, but it seems to have ratched up even more this summer.
They hired half of the CNN staff, it's not wonder they are going down hill.
Paulus Van Der Sloot Sweats..He's Guilty!
In other news, two little brothers, aged 2 and 4 mysteriously drowned in a pond in Arkansas this week..Our condolences to the "what's it's name" family.
We now return to Aruba...sigh.
sw
I agree with both of you. The lack of breaking news at night is telling. I bet if something happened in Aruba instead of the explosions in Michigan, we would have been hearing Breaking News Alerts one right after the other! :(
I haven't been able to watch her since I saw her state, on one of the business shows, that the solution to gas shortages was to keep raising the tax on gasoline to force the American public to reduce consumption.
Since then, whenever she appears on my TV, my remote announces "airhead alert!", and changes channels.
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