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The Scandal of the Local Newsroom (you won't believe...never mind..you will)
Ace ^ | 15 October 2008

Posted on 10/14/2008 3:37:19 PM PDT by SE Mom

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To: trobone

41 posted on 10/14/2008 5:01:29 PM PDT by StAnDeliver
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To: Gaffer
Ever see the old Three Stooges chestnut "Crime On Their Hands"?

The boys are reporters that the femme fatale Bea, (Christine McIntyre), thinks are cops looking to bust a gang of jewel thieves.

When she finds out they're not cops but reporters, she gives them a huge triple slap and calls in the gang boss and his henchman and informs them not only are they reporters, but that Shemp swallowed a million-dollar stolen diamond.

Henchman "Muscles", (Cy Schindell), utters the immortal line...

"Lemme plug 'im boss, I love to rub out reporters!"


42 posted on 10/14/2008 5:04:08 PM PDT by Emperor Palpatine ("Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.")
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To: ExpatGator
Think globally, act locally. Cut the guy wires on their transmitter towers!

One could also think economically and act capitalistically (if that's even an available adverb). Keep track of what advertisers you see in a particular newscast and don't shop with them or use their services.

Even with the drive-by network programs, take a look at the commercials that you see in those shows. Obviously, you won't be using Summer's Eve if you happen to be unfortunate enough to catch "The View" or Viagra if you're watching the old drive-by evening newscasts, but as a simple nota bene, take a look not at the show itself but the advertisers (the "clients" as they are often called).

43 posted on 10/14/2008 5:08:38 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (If I wanted a Chicago politician as my President, I'd vote for Richard Daley)
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

Haha! That’s good. Reckon there were more than a few that got away with pulling the same joke. Not that that diminishes it any.


44 posted on 10/14/2008 5:13:26 PM PDT by 7MMmag
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To: SE Mom

Thank you for the welcome.

I did read the whole post. While it did not advocate yelling it did advocate calling repeatedly until one of the busiest people in the building takes your call. while a voice may not be raised, as someone who has had to answer phones, a raised voice is not needed to sound like someone is being argumentative or complaining.

The point I was hoping to make was that calls and e-mails are easily ignored. They are all kept on file for FCC purposes, but there are better ways to get a point across.

I have been reading these forums for months, and a theme I have picked up if people here feel underrepresented in the news in general. I feel like calling or e-mailing is a poor answer. I feel it is a fair opinion. I feel if you want to change the way the media acts there are two good ways to go about it.

First, holding counter events. Large groups attract cameras and reporters. Have the events be organized ahead of time. Tell the media ahead of time through well written press releases, e-mails, faxes, stop by the station in a suit and say “hi”. Have them be large and legal. Have them based on issues, not personal attacks.

Second, if you don’t like the media, change it from the inside. Encourage your children to go into writing, go to J-school, get jobs in newspaper and TV. Have them work harder and more fair than anyone else and then the TV/newspaper/magazines you see might slant the way you want them to.

Once again, thank you for the welcome. I’ve been here for a while, but just have never posted.


45 posted on 10/14/2008 5:26:55 PM PDT by trobone
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To: gussiefinknottle
i worked in tv for 15 years

During the first OJ trial I called a local tv station about something I had seen in the courtroom. Finally talked to a lady that tried to brush me off. It wasn't until I got to the you-are-not-listening-to-me stage and told her I'd just call another station that she finally paid attention.

Did you have anything to do with the coverage of the OJ murder trial or know someone who did? If so I'd like to freep-mail you a question.

46 posted on 10/14/2008 5:34:00 PM PDT by barker (Obama's skin is not nearly as dark as his soul.)
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To: trobone

Oh the newbie thinks we’re all stupid. How cute!


47 posted on 10/14/2008 5:43:25 PM PDT by Dianna
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To: HuntsvilleTxVeteran

oh, i always call 41 sr and 43 jr.


48 posted on 10/14/2008 6:10:07 PM PDT by gussiefinknottle (woof!woof!woof!)
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To: barker

i was in the south. other than watching the feeds, i don’t know much more
about it. i wasn’t friends with reporters on west coast.


49 posted on 10/14/2008 6:11:51 PM PDT by gussiefinknottle (woof!woof!woof!)
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To: SE Mom
They just repeat sh!t they read on the wires.

It's my opinion that the majority of people get most of their news from the short news blurbs on the radio at the top and bottom of the hour. If you have more of an insight into the stories that are referenced, the reports are often biased or wrong! For example the other day I heard something like this: "Barak Obama, campaigning in Detroit today said, 'Obama quote'. Mean while, Senator McCain and Governor Palin held a rally in (some location)" I hear this and I think, where is the equal time? The AP or Cbs news or whom ever have pretty much given Obama a free commercial spot! grrrrrrr!

50 posted on 10/14/2008 6:15:51 PM PDT by stayathomemom ( nowanemptynester)
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To: weegee

Actually, that map doesn’t offend me in the least.

I’m happy to live in Jesusland.


51 posted on 10/14/2008 6:29:41 PM PDT by keats5 ("I hope for his sake, Joe Biden got that VP thing in writing."- Rudy)
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To: SE Mom

Just as we all thought! Printing this info out and taping it next to my phone. Looks like we all better get busy making a few calls!!

God Bless this conservative behind enemy lines!! Wonder if Nancy Pelosi/Harry Reid would protect this ‘whistleblower’?


52 posted on 10/14/2008 6:29:50 PM PDT by penelopesire ("The only CHANGE you will get with the Democrats is the CHANGE left in your pocket")
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To: trobone

Junior high school student, high schooler or college student—which are you?

You “feel” a lot and your grammar sucks. Typical left winger/whiner.

You give free and horrible advice just like a troll does.

You signed up today though I doubt you’ll last long.


53 posted on 10/14/2008 6:41:29 PM PDT by hyperconservative (McCain/Palin '08)
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To: trobone
First, Welcome to FR and thanks for stopping by. Since this is my line of work and all, I'll go ahead and add a few more pennies to the jar.

How many of you would want to sit in hodunk Iowa (or name another random state, I have nothing against Iowa personally)

Well, I think it tends to be more based on the economics of the industry than anything else. In smaller, "entry level" markets, the pay is very low. The very first station I worked for we were airing a story on welfare reform of some kind and we had a full screen that mentioned those that were eligible for the program(s). Our production manager joked, "I think most of our employees qualify for this."

In my experience there are just as many republicans as democrats in LOCAL newsrooms

It depends on the part of the country from my own experience. Newsrooms and news departments I don't think I would totally agree, but among an entire television station or newspaper, I'd be more inclined to agree. Another aspect in larger markets is the presence of unions. One of the stations in our company has a big union presence (IBEW) and, based on 2nd and 3rd hand information, IBEW isn't exactly the best friend of conservatives or Republicans.

Especially in smaller cities they don’t have the time or manpower to care about people calling for ACORN coverage

Tip O'Neil has been quoted as saying "all politics is local". Well, to a similar extent, most if not all news is local. Stories about Hamas or Hezbollah is more than likely a local story in Jerusalem. If a person is going to call a television station, I would make sure to keep the focus on a story that would be a local one.

In smaller cities you’ll get a cock 20 something who thinks he or she knows best. In bigger cities you get someone in their 30’s or 40’s who actually do know news better than you.

I only partially agree with this, at least according to some my friends and coworkers who have made the leap to the vaunted Top 50 markets. The cocky (I assume that's what you meant to type) 20 somethings often do make the leaps and I'm not sure they really "do know" news...again, much of this paragraph is based on 2nd and 3rd hand info from my friends further up the showbiz food chain, so take it for what it's worth.

The point is just calling to complain doesn’t get anything done, think before yelling.

Completely agree. Screeds are more for the kids at DU and Kos.

54 posted on 10/14/2008 6:44:34 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (If I wanted a Chicago politician as my President, I'd vote for Richard Daley)
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To: GOP_Raider

Good and valid points.

My post was a joke. However, I see the day coming when “Direct Action” (leftist vernacular) will be a valid option.


55 posted on 10/14/2008 6:59:22 PM PDT by ExpatGator (Extending logic since 1961.)
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To: SE Mom

I work in public relations, meaning I work with reporters just about every day of my life. Many are very friendly and are easy to develop good relationships with. Many more are profoundly unfriendly and clearly have a superiority complex. I take some of this as reflecting a general dislike and/or distrust of PR people, and some of it as reporters thinking that they are among society’s upper crust and friendliness is beneath them.

Mercifully, I don’t work in politics, but even the business/consumer reporters I work with regularly are clearly liberal. I have no choice but to chuckle at their anti-Republican remarks and tactfully change the subject if my clients want coverage. But I suspect that the average American hasn’t really got a clue about how pervasive the liberal bias is.


56 posted on 10/14/2008 7:05:30 PM PDT by ravensandricks (Jesus rides beside me. He never buys any smokes.)
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To: ExpatGator

Ah. Well, having been on the sites of many TV transmitters, it’s not as easy as it looks. Although if you have some backhoes and snowmobiles, and if you don’t mind risking electrocution, it’s not a bad idea. :)


57 posted on 10/14/2008 7:06:41 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (If I wanted a Chicago politician as my President, I'd vote for Richard Daley)
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To: GOP_Raider

Portable cutting torch and a stiff breeze. Cut three cables at single point and she falls away from you due to tension from other two points.


58 posted on 10/14/2008 7:19:09 PM PDT by ExpatGator (Extending logic since 1961.)
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To: SE Mom

I wanted to be a journalist, but then I met some of the students who were majoring in the field at my local university. The superficiality and lack of intelligence were profound. I was completely put off of it when a survey revealed that about 90% of journalism students were pursuing the field because they wanted to change the world. I don’t recall if any of them wanted to report what actually happened. Probably not.

One of my friends in the school became a volunteer firefighter and inspired me to become a volunteer E.M.T. We were working together at the school when one of the journalism students asked us to videotape a story to help the homeless. This was in 1985.

“How are you going to help the homeless?”

“We are going to have a protest.”

“How is that going to help the homeless?”

“We are raising awareness.”

My friend rolled his eyes at the notion of ‘look at me’ activism, but I had a question. There was a homeless mission nearby; I knew this because once in a while my mother gave them food from her church and I would deliver it.

So I said, “Well, there’s a soup kitchen right down the road from here in Paterson. If you want to help the homeless, they’d love for you to show up in the morning and help feed them.” The journalism student lurched backwards, put up his open palms as if to prevent such an offensive thought from actually touching him, and blurted out, “Oh, I would never do that.”

Of course not. The homeless people at the soup kitchen were all black. Racism is a funny thing. If you can not hold onto a man while he is suffering or dying because he is black or Jewish or something, you will weed yourself out of the 911 system very quickly. Some people accuse everyone else of prejudice, the rest of us can’t understand what they mean. My friend told the journalism student that we didn’t have time to do his story and he went away.

I tried to get back into journalism locally last year. I might have even posted about it here. Something about it again put me off. A director I dealt with seemed to meausure the depth of a man by how much he could boast. I think that sums up the profession.


59 posted on 10/14/2008 8:28:15 PM PDT by sig226 (Obama '08 - No, You Can't.)
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To: sig226

I know what you mean. I thought that I would like to get into journalism until I served on the readers advisory board of our local paper for a year. The liberalism that existed there really disillusioned me. Took all of the want to right away.


60 posted on 10/14/2008 8:36:43 PM PDT by NellieMae (Here...... common sense,common sense,common sense,where'd ya go... common sense......)
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