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Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

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Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

Here's a little tipoff: when you see MOS stories (man on the street) or the cliche visit to the local radio talk show with shots of lights flashing on the telephone on your local TV station--you are dealing with lazy, incompetent people who have no earthly idea how to report a story. It's the equivalent of waving a white flag.

I agree with everything you've said, except for this little part. More often than not, most reporters would get the on-camera interview but when they have to do 5 versions of two different stories for the many newscasts you mentioned, they end up cutting corners. It sucks, as I'm sure you know too, but it's a crappy box they're pushed into by news directors who listen to consultants who think they know what's best for a certain city despite having spent 10 minutes in that town. It's an unfortunate cycle that is driven by the almighty dollar and the two groups that suffer the most are the viewers and the reporters who get paid $hit to do way too much work.

I'd love to sit down and discuss the broadcast world with you. You're very knowledgeable and have been in the business for quite some time. I eventually got out because of all the bs described above but I would be lying if I told you I didn't miss the excitement of breaking those stories that truly mean something to the community. Working in the news is the most exciting but most stressful job I can imagine. And it's a very fine line between those two emotions.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

I agree with everything you've said, except for this little part. More often than not, most reporters would get the on-camera interview but when they have to do 5 versions of two different stories for the many newscasts you mentioned, they end up cutting corners. It sucks, as I'm sure you know too, but it's a crappy box they're pushed into by news directors who listen to consultants who think they know what's best for a certain city despite having spent 10 minutes in that town. It's an unfortunate cycle that is driven by the almighty dollar and the two groups that suffer the most are the viewers and the reporters who get paid $hit to do way too much work.

I'd love to sit down and discuss the broadcast world with you. You're very knowledgeable and have been in the business for quite some time. I eventually got out because of all the bs described above but I would be lying if I told you I didn't miss the excitement of breaking those stories that truly mean something to the community. Working in the news is the most exciting but most stressful job I can imagine. And it's a very fine line between those two emotions.

Budgets* (both coverage and financial), deadlines and other factors all play into it. So sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get "something" on the air. If you had one more reporter to whom you could give some time he/she might be able to come up with a story that didn't rely on down and dirty cliches. It's a business after all. And the committment to really covering the news has been greatly circumscribed, except by the O & O's and other stations in the biggest markets. As I say, except for breaking coverage, I no longer watch local TV news. What would be the point?

*In radio/TV news the term "budget" refers to a given day's assignments and stories. The work day frequently begins with a "budget meeting" at which all of that day's stories and assignments are discussed and made.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

Budgets* (both coverage and financial), deadlines and other factors all play into it. So sometimes you have to do what you have to do to get "something" on the air. If you had one more reporter to whom you could give some time he/she might be able to come up with a story that didn't rely on down and dirty cliches. It's a business after all. And the committment to really covering the news has been greatly circumscribed, except by the O & O's and other stations in the biggest markets. As I say, except for breaking coverage, I no longer watch local TV news. What would be the point?

*In radio/TV news the term "budget" refers to a given day's assignments and stories. The work day frequently begins with a "budget meeting" at which all of that day's stories and assignments are discussed and made.

I watch just to get the local weather report-which is often wrong anyway.:(
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

This story makes me sick to my stomach. The baby gets transferred to the aunt because the mother had mental problems and that same aunt kills the kid because she can't sleep. I especially hate this because my wife and I are having difficulties with having children, but this delta bravo does this.

http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Police--Aunt-Choked-Infant-Niece-182408281.html

That is a tragedy beyond words. And occurs far too often. As I said in an earlier post, in many instances common words no longer have their traditional meaning. In this case, "mother" and "aunt" refer solely to biology and nothing else. It's like that line from Keanu Reeves in "Parenthood," (I paraphrase) where he says you have to have a license to drive, take books out of the library even catch a fish. But they'll let any butt reaming a*shole be a parent. Speaking of words whose meaning has been severely circumscribed, how about "parent?"

I'll be thinking good thoughts for your and your wife that things will work out for you. While there's certainly no good answer for unfit people becoming "parents," certainly not government interference, it's quite clear some people just shouldn't have kids. No way. No how.
 
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Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

This story makes me sick to my stomach. The baby gets transferred to the aunt because the mother had mental problems and that same aunt kills the kid because she can't sleep. I especially hate this because my wife and I are having difficulties with having children, but this delta bravo does this.

http://www.wwnytv.com/news/local/Police--Aunt-Choked-Infant-Niece-182408281.html

$30,000 bail? And they had a madam in NY who killed nobody with bail of a couple million. This creature needs swift justice.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

$30,000 bail? And they had a madam in NY who killed nobody with bail of a couple million. This creature needs swift justice.

It's because of the charges that were filed. Second degree manslaughter and second degree assault. That's it.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

It's because of the charges that were filed. Second degree manslaughter and second degree assault. That's it.

The ostensible purpose of bail is to assure that the accused will appear for trial. I'm no expert (unless watching every episode of "Law & Order" at least twice qualifies) but it seems like political considerations are frequently involved--especially in cases involving child sexual abuse charges. Ray Buckey, the young man accused in the McMartin Day Care case, spent 5 years in the LA County jail! And he was never convicted of anything. But who's going to stand up and say an accused pedophile's getting a raw deal?
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

I personally don't mind un-PC parties.....BUT, these people are morons for posting pics and such. What do you think is gonna happen? That stuff (which is obviously just a fun joke) does not fly in public.
Who cares what those dumbass PC people think? **** them. They're as worthless as a cock flavored lollipop.

Oh, by the way, are you still in for the Wounded Knee Anniversary party later this month? I need to start planning.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

Who cares what those dumbass PC people think? **** them. They're as worthless as a cock flavored lollipop.

Oh, by the way, are you still in for the Wounded Knee Anniversary party later this month? I need to start planning.

I am in for the party and I think La Madre is interested.

I am just saying that stories like this will happen if pics are posted. Do not post pics if you do not want backlash or bad pub or whatever.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

Before he became police commissioner of NYC and Bill Clinton's WH drug czar, Lee Brown was chief of police in Houston and was repeatedly frustrated by the "arbitration" process for fired police officers. He'd can a cop for gross dereliction of duty and many months, even years later, the slug would find himself back on the payroll.
Lee Brown was largely responsible for helping to turn HPD from the equivalent of an enormous Mayberry-like outfit into a first rate big city department. And "arbitration" for lousy cops was as big an obstacle as any.

The various "arbitartion" processes seem to me to be spectacularly unbalanced. They're concieved by unions. Designed by unions. And used by unions to keep lazy, incompetent, bad employees on the payroll.
 
Re: Nice Planet, Part 2: A-holes on parade

I didn't get a chance to watch the Sunday night game. In the wake of the latest NFL tragedy involving a player killed in an accident apparantly caused by a drunken teammate, did Costas editorialize at half-time about the need to ban booze and/or cars?
 
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