Are you trying to put these guys out of work?
They get paid to annoy you!
Posted on 11/04/2007 4:29:38 AM PST by BigAlPro
Is it just me or are we all getting pretty tired of FNC’s abuse of “Breaking News” and “News Alerts”? It amazes me that you can’t watch one day’s worth of programming on America’s “fair and balanced” network without being assaulted by these false overtures. The producers at the FNC must think we are the dumbest viewers in the history of television news.
The recent fires in Southern California provided almost every anchor on Fox with the opportunity to over-dramatize the events of the day. I’ve never seen so many “Breaking News” reports on one story in my life. And it wasn’t as if they were actually reporting on something that hadn’t been covered all day long or even a significant change to what had already been reported. Everything was just “breaking”.
In order for news to be breaking, it is supposed to interrupt the regularly scheduled programming. That is why breaking news used to always be preceded with phrases like, “We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this special report”. Likewise, breaking news was always followed by the announcement, “We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.”
Hannity & Colmes are pretty much tied with Greta for being the worst when it comes to “News Alerts”. They flash that notice on the screen and start telling us all about some trivial story Shepard Smith “broke” six to seven hours earlier that same day. What is so alerting about a story that has been covered by every other anchor on your network?
When it comes to being overly dramatic, you can’t help but love Shepard Smith and Geraldo Rivera. However, the top Drama Queen of them all has to be John Gibson.
How is it possible to open your show with “Breaking News”? How do you head into a commercial break by saying, “When we come back, we’ll have Breaking News on today’s top story”? How do you have breaking news in the beginning, middle and end of a news program? How is anything “Brittney” breaking? Do they not understand the simple concept of “Breaking”?
As if all this weren’t bad enough, the FNC has become the king of speculation TV. When your interview includes questions like, “What do you think she meant by…” or “What is going through his mind right now…” you are no longer reporting, you are speculating. What could a retired Jersey trooper possibly know about a carjacker in California? If he’s not a psychic, he’s just another spectator and his input is nothing but conjecture.
Now, I don’t get CNN and I wouldn’t watch MSNBC if you paid me. For all I know, they may be just as bad as my beloved Fox. However, if someone doesn’t step up and do something about the over-dramatization of network news, I am going to have to turn off my TV and rely solely on the Internet for my daily news.
What is it going to take to bring some integrity to the cable news networks? Maybe we should get Bill O’Reilly to lead a boycott against all network news until they get their act together, quit speculating and stop abusing the once sacred “Breaking News”.
How about the overuse of the phrase, “You won’t believe...” to bait you into watching an upcoming story?
sheesh, enough already
...and one more thing - they’ve got too many silly women reporting the news as if it’s all ‘hot from Hollywood’ stuff. They don’t change their delivery or demeanor from a light entertainment type story to reporting serious news.
Why does anyone watch tv news anyway- it’s just fluff.
Go on FR and in 15 seconds you have all the news you need to know.
Shepard Smith's show is nothing more than National Enquirer Revisted.
mined?
Fox News sucks! I stopped watching years ago when they tracked OJ’s Bronco.
If I ever catch a glimpse of it, I just can’t believe what it’s turned into. It’s televised “Enquirer” magazine.
I thought it was a FOX rip off, but it is ALL stations that do it.
You’re absolutely right. This ISN’T Breaking News.
We must hold this Forum in hugh regard and reserve it for series discussions.
Such as the following:
Bleaking Noose! HELP! My Beeber won’t hold a charge because the Zot button is sticking!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1571488/posts
My feelings exactly! I rarely watch any “news” shows for that reason. I will try to find out what guests are on and in what format then occasionally tune in. But I to am so sick of simple minded shallow celebrities getting attention and authority they do not deserve and to see the people gawking over them makes me sick. I honestly believe Hollywood is the most disgusting ignorant gathering of simpletons on the planet.
I usually have the remote near at hand so I can mute Lis Wiehl and that skank Laura Schwartz (how many times was she under Clinton's oval office desk?) any time their smug arrogant condescending mugs appear.
I haven’t watched FoxNews Channel in over a year. I find it unwatchable.
I suppose you prefer Shep's and Geraldo's type of hysterical emotion?
Or maybe you just like it when O'smiley gets all loud, red faced and looks like he wants to pound someone?
Yes jjjjjohnny, we can now read a wimpy guys "emotion" from a thousand yards. The jig is up
Pre coffee typo.
Shep Smith IS a doofus, isn’t he?
Shouldn’t this be in Breaking Wind?
This is “Breaking News”? Is Fox moderating the FR forum today?
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