Gothamist: Television Watching: Wondering About WCBS

marie

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:03:45 -0500

It is this sort of misdirection of resources that makes us wonder about what WCBS is thinking. In the past few months they have needlessly sent reporters to cover the Anna Nicole Smith body trial in Florida, and the murder of two college students in Arizona. It is no wonder they are not doing well in the ratings. I don't get this (entire post) at all! How is it a misdirection of resources to send reporters to cover HUGE news stories?? However you feel about Anna Nicole Smith as a person, her trial was a really big national news story, not to mention all the legal implications of her will and how the outcome could affect other similar cases. For the Arizona story - those girls were from Long Island, so obviously this is a local angle that should definitely be covered. I can't imagine those graphics took any resources at all - can't that just get typed up in a graphics program? What else should they be using their resources on? Buying smoke alarms?

Not Amused

Tue, 13 Mar 2007 10:01:46 -0500

Isn't that the point of "Breaking news" ? To Exhaust every angle of a story .

matukonyc

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 16:06:02 -0500

Easy is absolutely right. Every local station has a KU truck and the personnel to staff it, as well as graphic artists on staff. They might even have saved money and/or pooled resources as a CBS O&O by letting the network or CBS Newspath (for affiliates) use their footage. This was the deadliest fire in New York City since the Happy Land Social Club, and certainly newsworthy enough to justify an anchor stand-up. I would argue it was newsworthy for national coverage, actually.

easy

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:54:33 -0500

Hey I share your cynicism about the media, but come on. A new screen treatment like that takes about 20 minutes to design and 20 to implement. Complain about the coverage, but lets not pretend that precious resources were diverted to do this

5w30

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 15:47:32 -0500

At least WCBS is giving it a try, with coverage that at least looks aggressive and different. FYI on tha day of the fire WCBS and WABC had their usual noon programs. with most of the news concentrating on the fire. WNBC had a lame 10-minute update, cutting into the all-important "iVillage Live" ... lame and embarrassing. As today's NY Times says ... and conventional wisdom ... it's all about the lead-ins, and whether the previous show can build upon it. WCBS has failed so far to capitalize on its excellent CBS prime-time 11p lead-ins ... and "Judge Judy". WNBC has squat for lead-ins, and the NBC prime-time schedule is hurting. WABC has the lead-ins (The View, Oprah) in daytime and early evening .. and is #1 at 11 in spite of ABC's sometimes lackluster prime schedule.