[Diddle E. Squat]

Thanks for the excellent maps.

This is one shows EXACTLY what is wrong and what is missing from the national news coverage: detailed info.

I know that the producers will argue that its too detailed, unfamiliar, and won't hold the attention of those not from the area. But that is because they are so locked into programming to the level of a 3 year old with ADD. Too many news producers who are schooled in the infotainment/news magazine/drama and emotion school of broadcasting. Its all about flashing lots of images quickly, dramatic flames instead of precise info, shocking totals instead of precise info, pictures of women crying in front of their burned homes, instead of precise info. All have their place in news, but the actual news details are missing.

How hard would it be to put this detailed map on full screen, like a weather map, and have a reporter/anchor walk through with a pointer explaining what is happening/has happened at each location, building a complete picture of the real scope, history, pattern, and dynamics of the situation? It works with wars, weather, and even car chases. But noooo, the producers are so afraid that people will immediately switch the channel over to Baywatch. Yet if done well, the opposite would occur.

This is one case where I strongly fault Faux News Channel and their tabloid mentality. Its great that they include a conservative perspective, but their producers are from the flash and shock MTV-style entertainment mag side of the news biz.

Gabz, you were in TV news, am I off base on this?

[skraeling]

Thank you for the fire map! I've been looking for something like that for 2 days!

[ArmstedFragg]

But that is because they are so locked into programming to the level of a 3 year old with ADD.

Actually, the above accurately describes most of the producers I've worked with.

[archy]

Thanks for the excellent maps.

This is one shows EXACTLY what is wrong and what is missing from the national news coverage: detailed info.

I know that the producers will argue that its too detailed, unfamiliar, and won't hold the attention of those not from the area. But that is because they are so locked into programming to the level of a 3 year old with ADD. Too many news producers who are schooled in the infotainment/news magazine/drama and emotion school of broadcasting. Its all about flashing lots of images quickly, dramatic flames instead of precise info, shocking totals instead of precise info, pictures of women crying in front of their burned homes, instead of precise info. All have their place in news, but the actual news details are missing.

How hard would it be to put this detailed map on full screen, like a weather map, and have a reporter/anchor walk through with a pointer explaining what is happening/has happened at each location, building a complete picture of the real scope, history, pattern, and dynamics of the situation? It works with wars, weather, and even car chases. But noooo, the producers are so afraid that people will immediately switch the channel over to Baywatch. Yet if done well, the opposite would occur.

This is one case where I strongly fault Faux News Channel and their tabloid mentality. Its great that they include a conservative perspective, but their producers are from the flash and shock MTV-style entertainment mag side of the news biz.

Gabz, you were in TV news, am I off base on this?

WND editor-Publisher Joseph Farah will be on the Art Bell- George Noury *Coast to Coast* radio program tonight, discussing the Al-Quiada link to the California *wildfires*. I expect Tuesday morning's edition of WND should be quite interesting.

WND: Al-Qaida planned U.S. forest fires; FBI memo described plot to set blazes in the West

-archy-/-