What exactly do they teach camera ops and editors/directors at their respective schools? Every news story on every station is shot the exact same way. This gas-pump story is an amusing description of a hackneyed story/presentation.
In a similar vein, every time they show a radio studio the cameras invariably zoom in the VU meters to show the little needles bouncing around. Note to cameraman: it's radio. There's not much happening in the studio except talking. Looking for something - anything - that moves (like a little VU meter) is largely pointless and insults your audience. Of course, that's what they're best at!
Its wonderful seeing people on TV who are not experts in any subject that they report on but still feel completely comfortable telling us what WE should be thinking. That old saying 'those who can't do, teach' should be changed to 'those who can think, report'
Two more things...
1. Any gun incident/crime will show a picture of a handgun in the upper right hand corner of the screen with a target underneath the gun.
2. Most expensive seats for watching a baseball game are behind home plate. Which camera view do the directors pick for 99% of the game? The same view you would get from the cheap seats in centerfield with a pair of binoculars.