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To: nunya bidness
I honestly almost called The Weather Channel twice this week; one of their anchorettes CANNOT pronouce the word "Chincoteague."

I couldn't begin to even tell you how she TRIED to pronouce it, more than once even! It's darned insulting to the public when they don't do their homework and have the skills and information necessary to inform the other people in the country, much less the the locals, of what is going on.

The second time she said it, all I could think was "Didn't she read the BOOK?" I mean, I didn't know there was a young girl alive who didn't read Misty of Chincoteague!!!

That's only one of many "mistakes" they made that really irritated me. I felt like I was getting the USA TODAY version for the "unwashed masses."

272 posted on 09/19/2003 11:39:40 PM PDT by Howlin
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To: Howlin
I noticed it as well. TWC has the same stuffed shirts as most of the networks, so go figure. Here's an interesting tidbit: the local AM conservative talk-radio station affiliated with the local TV network decided to combine the TV coverage with the radio format. So they showed the overnight host combined with the standard vapid blonde TV meatbag; the result: rave reviews.

It was a rare event where the talkshow gained massive support for no other reason than disseminating information and not fearing "political" or otherwise "offensive" calls. The overnight radio host handled it with aplomb while the TV gal was flustered.

Needless to say, the public called in the next day praising the combination and the radio guys while omitting the talking heads from the solution.

It's truly remarkable how the media elite, no matter where they live, have no clue how simple it is to make a difference. Just stick by your principles, answer questions, give out information, and the very least, give people a voice.

Meanwhile, over on National Public Radio, what were they talking about: the quagmire in Iraq. Naturally.

273 posted on 09/19/2003 11:53:18 PM PDT by nunya bidness (sic utere tuo ut alienum non laedas)
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To: Howlin
I learned long ago that TWC is great for getting general info and for data .... and their maps are helpful. But when it comes to specific information about a locale they don't do their homework.

They've covered enough hurricanes from the Wilmington area ...... and been set up in places with which I am extremely familiar ..... that I realize just how wrong they are. E.g., they still don't know the difference between Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach after all these years of live shots from the bridge leading to the beach.

When a hurricane is days out to sea, I watch TWC .... or if there is severe weather in another part of the country. But once the threat gets close to home, I find local coverage .... or shout at the tv a lot.

I'm sure they do the same sort of thing when covering a tornado outbreak in OK or a snowstorm in CO. The general info is good enough for me in those cases but probably frustrates the residents of those states.

And TWC isn't the only guilty party ..... the other networks do the same sort of thing.

274 posted on 09/19/2003 11:57:16 PM PDT by kayak (I support Billybob - www.ArmorforCongress.com)
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To: Howlin; nunya bidness
mean, I didn't know there was a young girl alive who didn't read Misty of Chincoteague!!!

I was shocked a few weeks ago, when on the phone with a HS classmate (trying to makes decisions about cancelling our 25th reunion) she couldn't picture where I live. In exasperation I mention the book and the story of the ponies. She had NO clue what I was talking about.

It's truly remarkable how the media elite, no matter where they live, have no clue how simple it is to make a difference. Just stick by your principles, answer questions, give out information, and the very least, give people a voice.

While this may sound crass, or even guoulish to some, the time I miss being in radio the most is during emergency situations. Because DelMarVa has always been plagued by power problems, radio has always been the most useful medium for information.

Listeners always appreciated it. But aboive all emergency services appreciated it.

One particular snow storm in 1983 comes to mind. We axed all regular AM programing and most of the FM programming and I spent hours upon hours on the phone with all kinds of authorities. After we stayedon the air for 24 hours straight, the food started arriving. The local fire company offered to take any of us who wanted a nap and a shower back to the station to use their facilities, the cops brought us coffee and donuts!!! listeners were bringing us casseroles.

It was amazing. But as long as the information was timely and factual everyone was happy.

284 posted on 09/20/2003 5:31:30 AM PDT by Gabz (Smoke-gnatzies - small minds buzzing in your business - SWAT'EM)
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