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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! Banned in Beijing, Baghdad, and at KCAL TV.
Thursday Letters are UP - comments on Giggans, Shocknek, and more. Inside LA TV - An LA Exec Producer is taking an out of town ND job, and a poll just for KCALers and KCBSers. Links to Recent Issues 08-13-01 Monday's OTR 08-08-01 Wednesday's OTR 08-10-01 Friday's OTR If you'd like to send a contribution to keep OTR going, you can send ten dollars to Ron Fineman, PO Box 42364, Bakersfield, CA 93384 |
To get on the OTR email reminder list, email me at BRUIN74@aol.com. |
WAS IT CLEVER, OR BAD TASTE?
It was a story on KCOP last week about the latest rape accusation against Mike Tyson. Anchor Lauren Sanchez started the story by saying "Mike Tyson with a big fight, and this one isn't in the ring." The story continued "In this corner" which was immediately followed by the sound of a bell (RING!).... "the former champ is slammed with accusations that he raped a woman." We then see a picture of Mike Tyson on the left part of the screen being pushed next to a picture of Gloria Allred on the right part of the screen. Allred is representing the woman who claims Tyson raped her. Considering we are talking about rape, is it really in good taste to do the "in this corner" bit, with the sound of a bell? To make it even worse, I saw that old smiling problem (this was more of a small grin) of Sanchez appear as she said "this one isn't in the ring." She doesn't smile during tragic stories like she used to, but obviously it is still something she needs to look out for.
During the story, reporter Peter Thorne mentioned that the woman is 50 years old. Considering the kind of story this is, I would say her age is part of the story.. But Thorne also mentioned that the woman is a grandmother. Why is the fact that she has grandchildren relevant? This is an ongoing problem in local news, as reporters and anchors seem to think that if an older person has children, who've had children, that is something important to a story. I know I've brought this one up before. But you tell me, if this 50-year old woman didn't have grandkids, would she be less sympathetic? Or does being a grandmother make her less believable as someone Tyson might rape? I think the word "grandmother" brings certain connotations, and often I would imagine writers use it to get some sort of emotional reaction from the viewers. As usual, I would suggest just give the facts that are relevant, and the viewers will take it from there.
CAN WE UNTIE THIS KNOT?
A number of station carried the story last week that the Queen Mary would now allow gay couples to do their commitment ceremonies in the Royal Chapel. Certainly there must be other terms to use besides "tie the knot." It's not that some people don't say that, but rather it just gets overused on TV news. On KNBC, they used "tie the knot" on two consecutive teases for the story. Then when the story came up, not only did they say "tie the knot" again, they also used the phrase for the graphic over the anchor's shoulder. You'd think that local newspapers must have a section where they list "engagements", and "knot-tyings." If writers don't want to say "married"...how about "getting hitched", "taking the fall", or maybe "signing on for a life sentence?"
Or, if they're still sold on "tying the knot", consider this: with the way I hear some relationships go after the marriage ceremony, maybe an alternative phrase might be "tying the NOT Tonight."
JUST HOW SHORT IS HE?
On KABC-TV, Kathy Vara read that "a little boy lost in the woods for days is speaking out." That 'little boy' is 16 years old.
ONCE MORE WITH CONVICTION!
You don't hear corrections on TV news very often, and I have to say KNBC could've done a little better job on one they gave last Friday. You might say it started out rather tentatively. Michele Ruiz said "Apparently - we want to tell you about a correction here on our four o'clock news. We mistakenly showed pictures of another inmate, not (accused rapist) Vincent Sanchez , and we apologize for that error."
Unfortunately, while Ruiz was reading that correction about the wrong video, over her shoulder was a picture of that 16-year old boy who had survived four days being lost in the mountains.
Now, how about a clarification on that correction?
HOW'D SHE FORGET THAT?
KABC-TV did a story this weekend about a new rehab facility which will be opening in Malibu next month. Of course we've all heard about Ben Affleck and others going to another rehab facility in Malibu, right? Yet, a story by Leslie Sykes about the new rehab center started with this question: "A drug rehabilitation center in Malibu?" It's as if she didn't know there was another drug rehab center there! With all those Affleck stories, how do you miss that?
SOME STORIES I LIKED
It was just a short story, but I was glad to see KNBC mention the death of TV director Alan Rafkin. He directed many of the older shows including Andy Griffith. He's not someone most people would know, but when you're doing a newscast in LA, it seems only right to acknowledge the death of someone who had a hand in many shows we've all seen. It's good to see that local news isn't totally consumed by today's hottest stars.
Over on KCBS, I thought Kent Shocknek did a real good job on a feature which tried to show viewers what it's like to be rescued by a helicopter, with Shocknek as the rescuee. It was quite good, without being corny. I'm glad he mentioned the big wind and noise created when helicopters get near. I remember being in a parking lot when a Sheriff's Helicopter landed. I felt like I was in a hurricane. Because of the noise, it was tough for him to hear his rescuer. A story like that can easily be turned into a reporter ego trip, but I'm glad to see it wasn't handled that way. Well done.
A LITTLE TOO RESPECTFUL IF YOU ASK ME
While doing a story about the accused Simi Valley rapist Vincent Sanchez, at one point in the story, KCBS reporter Paul Dandridge referred to him as "Mr Sanchez." I realize he hasn't been proven guilty of anything, yet. And Dandridge did refer to him as just "Sanchez" in other parts of the story. I just don't think it sounds natural to call anyone mister, unless it's your old school teacher. But I particularly think calling an accused mass rapist by "mister" is more respect than this guy deserves.
NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE SELF-PROMOTION, HUH?
As local news audiences continue to evaporate, maybe one day news directors might consider that people tune in to watch news, and not station promotion and some of the other junk they put on. Good luck. Anyway, on KNBC's 11am news last week, after spending some time talking to actors on an NBC soap, they then spent more time on new talk show host Iyanla. They don't like to run police chases, but they're not above blatant self-promotion. I'd rather watch a chase.
THOSE KEY WORDS
It's always interesting to me to read some of the key words that people use on search engines which lead them to OTR. It's been a while since I've listed some of them...so here is a sample of what words or phrases have brought people here in the last week.... miss cleo scam, next stop willoughby, ronnie lott howdy, secret recording devices, jimmy carter orange sunshine, discuss how having a criminal record might impact on your life, sharon tay nude, jeannie buss nude, mindy burbano nude, big brother nude pictures, darva conger nude pictures, liz clayman nude, andrea thompson nude, jillian barberie naked, nude pictures of lauren sanchez, kelly mack nude, if it bleeds it leeds, louie de palma, granny clampett pictures, jim castillo and rick garcia sports.
With the well known exception of Andrea Thompson, I'm not aware of any nude photos of any of the other news women. But I guess this gives you an idea of what some of the guys are thinking about while they're watching the news. I'm not sure what kind of pictures someone was expecting of Granny Clampett. Maybe we don't want to know.
SOUND IN THE WRONG PLACE
Last week KCAL was doing a story about the warm weather. As anchor Mia Lee was introducing a live shot by Leyna Nguyen , they used some kind of sound effect, but I'm actually not sure what it was supposed to be. I think it was either the sound of water, or the crackling of something burning. I don't think a sound effect is appropriate in a place like that in the first place. But if it's unclear what the sound is, that really makes for a questionable idea. Then ironically, (yes I think this is irony coming up), when Nguyen did her live shot, she talked over video of kids in a swimming pool, and construction work outside. But for some reason, we heard no background audio from the kids, the laying of asphalt, or anything else. So where there should be natural sound, there wasn't. Yet, they managed to be able to slip in some unnatural sound in the intro where it did not belong.
CONDIT POLL CONTINUES
I'm asking whether you think Gary Condit should resign. Please head to the poll section on the menu.
BROADCASTEZE VIOLATION OF THE WEEK
Who: Mia Lee
Where: KCAL
What: "eatery"
This was the story about the suicide bombing in Jerusalem. It seems like just about ever other report I heard said it happened at a pizzeria. But an "eatery"? Who talks like that?
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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