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Need something shot, produced, edited, reported, uplinked/downlinked in SoCal? <---CLICK THRU JDnewsie Productions: 818.766.7122 jdnewsie@aol.com www.jdnewsie.com |
A media critique... and then some! It's our 2nd Anniversary issue! Banned in Beijing, Baghdad, and at KCAL TV.
Thursday Letters - a reader spots a major error on KCBS, another says 'fair' is bad, and a disagreement on the use of an 'alleged affair'. Inside LA TV - One reporter is quitting, and another one is seen meeting with another station's GM. Also, we hear from Mike Boguslawski's producer. Links to Recent Issues 07-30-01 Monday's OTR 07-25-01 Wednesday's OTR 07-27-01 Friday's OTR |
To get on the OTR email reminder list, email me at BRUIN74@aol.com. |
THE TELEGRAMS KEEP ON COMING
"Ron, Laura and I wish you the best, even though neither of us has ever heard of you."--George W Bush
"Your website is the silver lining of possible black-outs. What times do you upload?" --Gov. Gray Davis
"Two years and no profit? Thanks for helping in the fight against inflation."--Alan Greenspan
"Could I interest you in a new web server, powered by propane and propane accessories?"--Hank Hill
"I'm just glad you use your cyber power for good instead of evil. You are on our side, aren't you?"--Maxwell Smart
"I believe you'll soon have the most widely read website in America. You can take that to the bank."--Dan Rather
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Yes here I am looking at another year of cyber publication behind me. That first issue was on August 2, 1999. I can't say that it doesn't seem like it's been that long, because it does. Sometimes it seems like I've been doing this forever. But, as I've said many times, it is a labor of love. My thanks to those of you in the news media who take my analysis seriously, and my thanks to those of you who are viewers, and still find OTR worthy of your time. And of course a special thanks to those few of you who were around at the beginning two years ago! And if you would've told me back then that we'd have eight thousand hits a week two years later, I wouldn't have believed it. I still feel like we have a long way to go, yet I must say OTR is far more accepted than I ever thought it would be. One of these days, we really need to have a big party, just so I could meet many of you. I know what. Let's say the wealthiest OTR reader throws the party! Or if Moyer won't spring for it, we'll settle for the second richest. Until then...do keep those emails coming.
WONDER IF THEY REGRET IT?
I must admit I was a little surprised when KABC led an 11pm newscast last week with a Condit/Levy story out of the Enquirer. This was the story about Chandra Levy and Condit's wife supposedly having a a heated conversation on the telephone. The DC police say they have no evidence that such a conversation took place. Who knows? We may learn one day that it did happen. And with some of the scoops they've had in recent years, The National Enquirer isn't the rag it used to be. Nevertheless, we had an LA O&O leading with a story with no evidence to support it, other than a report from a publication which police later denied. With this Condit/Levy feeding frenzy, you need to be on guard not to get caught up passing along bad information. I bet they'll think long and hard before leading with a story out of the Enquirer anytime soon.
TALK ABOUT A NON-STORY!
On KCOP, Peter Thorne did a story which started with a graphic which had a picture of Howard Stern, with the caption "Sock Jock." Between that and the way the leadin was written , it appeared that Stern had gotten into a fight on his show. Then as the 'story' develops, we learn that a punch or two was thrown between Stuttering John and another sidekick. Stern wasn't even in the room with them. So wouldn't you say that showing a picture of Stern with the words "Sock Jock" were rather misleading? Then again, it wasn't that long ago when local viewers voted KCOP as the LA station most likely to sensationalize a story in an OTR poll. Anyway, they had video of it, and it was over very quickly--not much to see. Part of the story questioned whether it was real or staged. Either way, I can't understand how this was a news story, even for KCOP.
COPY READER NEEDED FOR KNBC
Yep, it looks like their 11am news needs a copy reader more than I need a proof reader, which you know is saying something. First, yesterday Furnell Chatman said that the incident between a photographer and Gary Condit happened "today", when in fact it happened the day before. It is tiresome to say the least that TV news is constantly trying to change the time frame of a story, just to make it more current. How many times we have heard the word "tonight" during an 11pm newscast when it in fact they should be saying "today" or "this morning." In this case, maybe it was a matter or rerunning a story from the night before without bothering to check it. After that screw-up, Chatman read a story about the "alleged" affair, which Gary Condit has admitted to. This is the same mistake that KABC made not too long ago. If Condit has admitted to it, why would you say it is an alleged affair?
WHAT IS THAT SYMBOL?
As KNBC showed a picture of the accused Simi Valley rapist over the shoulder of one of their anchors, there was some sort of red colored symbol next to him. The next story was some sort of crime story, and again, this strange symbol popped up. So I guess it has something to do with breaking the law? Could it be some sort of lock and key drawing? It's really strange looking. In fact, I'm thinking it might be a a secret signal to creatures from outer space. I hope I'm not the only person who can't figure it out. Whatever it is, I suggest they re-do it so that people like me don't have to ask what in the world-or out of this world-it is.
A MISPRONUNCIATION THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN
I think we could all agree that Silicon Valley has been a pretty well known area of California for many years now. I would imagine that people all over the country have heard of it. Yet, on KCBS, veteran anchor Linda Alvarez called it Silicone Valley. In fact she said it wrong twice in the same story. Actually, I understand there is a SiliconeValley too. For those who would like to find it.... just check a couple of anchor desks farther up the dial.
GRUNTING ON THE AIR
I'm not sure if grunting is the best way to describe it, but I've noticed KNBC weekend anchor Diane Diaz has this habit of grunting after certain stories read by her co-anchor. For example, you'll hear Furnell Chatman say "...and police could not find the mass killer." And then you'll hear Diaz say "Emm," before she starts reading her story. I guess that's her way of saying "how about that!" EMM. We can all fall into some bad habits on the air if we're not careful. I'll bet she doesn't even know she's doing it. Well, maybe now she does.
YOU BELIEVE THAT?
I guess everyone did that story last week about a poll which shows what secrets husbands and wives keep from each other. The part that sounded like a credibility killer to me was where just two percent said they don't tell their spouse about an extra-marital affair. Two percent???? Come on. I think we surpass that total if you only count politicians. Or do you suppose the figure is so low because of all the people who eventually spill their guts? Nah. Let's put it another way. Do you suppose that right now, 98 percent of all married couples in America are true blue?
IS FAIR NEGATIVE?
An OTR reader sent me a little info about a new Zogby poll in which a majority give Bush a negative job performance rating. But media reports count those who say he is doing a "fair" job as a negative rating. Excellent and Good are positive, while fair and poor are negative. Brit Hume of The Fox News Channel asked whether fair should be considered negative. I would say no. But I also wonder, is this the first time that "fair" has been counted as a negative rating for a president? If not, I wonder if Brit Hume raised the same question when Clinton was president? I really don't know the answers to the last two questions, so my implication could be wrong. But I throw it out there for discussion. You can reach me at BRUIN74@aol.com.
STEM CELL POLL
Please head to the poll area on the menu, and let us know how you feel about stem cell research.
COMING FRIDAY
Part two of our interview with Dateline NBC reporter Josh Mankiewicz.
BROADCASTEZE VIOLATION OF THE WEEK
Who: Hal Fishman
Where: KTLA
What: "consuming" alcohol
Ah yes, the Conehead writers strike again.
Put your hand on the monitor and count to three...one, two three...HEAL!!
YOUR OPINIONS
They are always welcome. You can reach me at BRUIN74@aol.com. Unless you say otherwise, I will assume your comments are for publication.
OTR ON THE ROAD
As this web site evolves, it seemed like a good idea to offer my services for speaking engagements at colleges, service clubs or anyone else interested in the OTR gospel. Of course one of the great advantage to speaking in person is that you get far few typos. If you check the OTR On the Road page on the menu (Netscape users CAN now access it too), you can see learn more. You can also read what some well known OTR readers have to say about this web site. If you are interested, you can email to OTROnTheRoad@aol.com.
Ron's disclaimer: Like all reporters I have opinions. I do the best I can to make sure that nothing I say here has any effect on my objectivity in covering stories.
OTR's main page IS PUBLISHED MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY. Letters are added Tuesday - Friday.
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