A media critique... and then some! 11/30/01 - Friday Friday Letters  are UP  Next issue - next Friday Links to Recent Issues 11-26-01 Monday's OTR 11-28-01 Wednesday's OTR 11-23-01 Friday's OTR OTR can use your help to keep publishing. If you like it, feel free to send ten dollars to Ron Fineman PO Box 42364 Bakersfield, CA 93384    OR you can send $ electronically by clicking on the PayPal logo Your help is very  much appreciated! Send your opinions to BRUIN74@aol.com.

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LATEST RATINGS FROM NOVEMBER

6-7AM

KNBC - 3.6, KTTV - 3.1, KABC - 2.9, KTLA - 2.9, KCBS - 1.3

7-9AM

KABC - 4.2, KABC - 4.1, KTLA - 3.3, KTTV - 3.0, KCBS - 0.9

11-11:30AM

KABC - 3.6, KNBC - 2.1

4-5 PM

KABC - 5.1, KNBC - 3.3, KCAL - 1.8

5-6 PM

KABC - 6.2, KNBC - 4.6, KCBS - 2.6

6-6:30 PM

KABC - 6.2, KNBC - 5.1, KCBS - 2.6

10-11PM

KTTV - 4.0, KTLA - 4.0, KCAL - 2.6, KCOP - 2.3

11-11:35PM 

KNBC - 7.6, KABC - 5.9, KCBS - 4.2

KCAL DUMPS ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY

KCAL has thrown some pretty nice Christmas parties in recent years. Last year they rented out the Sunset Room. So folks at KCAL were not pleased to find out that GM Don Corsini has axed the party for this year.  This after the station saw an increase in ratings in all of their newscasts compared to last November.  Laker ratings are up too. But they just can't afford their annual Christmas Party. Of course the decision to be scrooge with the party came before the ratings came out. Maybe Young Broadcasting would have more money to spend if they didn't blow it on buying KRON TV in San Francisco. And now we hear they may be selling it. Geeze.   

They are having something which they're calling a Christmas Party. It's being held at the station on a Thursday from 5 - 8pm!  Now what is wrong with that time frame? How about the folks working in the news department? How can they go to the party when they are working on the news? How can a station suddenly show such little regard for the most important department in the station?  Why even bother?  As one KCAL emailer said "it's not very good for morale at KCAL."

MORE ON STAGING ACCUSATION

I happen to run into the KCOP photographer who was on the story in which an OTR  reader was sure that a staged soundbite was used. Reporter Neki Mohan wrote in yesterday to say that was NOT true. But the charge certainly bothered the photog too, so I wanted to also let you know he says it happened just the way it appeared on the air.

PART ONE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH LA TIMES TV WRITER BRIAN LOWRY

(1) OTR -  So how about some background? Where did you grow up, and how did you
end up in journalism?

Brian - "I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. I took my first journalism class in ninth grade and just liked it for some reason. I continued in high school and decided around that point that I either wanted to be a film critic or the next Howard Rosenberg, who had just started at the Times. I attended UCLA and wrote for the humor magazine and the Daily Bruin (there were no journalism classes being taught at that time), spending two years as the entertainment editor, which is pretty much how I paid for my entire social life in college.

I interned at the Times in '83 and graduated in '84. I took my last final on a Thursday and went to work that Monday at a community paper, the Century City News, that was in Chapter 11 proceedings at the time. I've pretty much been working ever since."

(2) OTR - Working at the LA Times is something that a lot of journalists would
want to do. How tough was it to get the job you have now?

Brian - "It was pretty tough. Before the Times I spent almost nine years at Daily Variety, and there were openings at the Times a couple of times during that period but I wasn't seriously considered. The Times engaged in layoffs in the mid-1990s and then had a hiring freeze in place for awhile. One of the TV reporters left to go to TV Guide, and the position I filled had been vacant for several months before they got the go-ahead to fill it. I always recommend taking over a job that had been vacant whenever possible."

(3) OTR - So how does your job differ from Howard Rosenberg's?  When you started at
the Times, did Howard give you any advice?

Brian - "What we do is actually quite different. I'm primarily a reporter who also writes a weekly column analyzing industry trends. Because of my background at the trades, I tend to spend more time looking for the underpinnings of what people see on television in the way that the business operates. Someone once described it as being like an anthropologist -- observing this strange tribe called "Hollywood" and explaining its rituals and customs.

Howard is the paper's critic, and beyond reviewing shows he provides a wide-ranging assessment of television and its relationship with society. I think his criticism of local news is unparalleled, so I tend not to focus much on that because we're pretty well covered in that area. He was and has consistently been extraordinarily generous since I've been here, though I can't remember any specific advice from him. What sticks out is something someone else told me the week I started, which was, "It doesn't hurt to kiss a little ass around here." I haven't been especially good at following that, but I've always remembered it."

(4) OTR -I think it's fair to say where Tribune owned KTLA is concerned, your lips
haven't even begun to pucker...though I think that picture you published of
Sharon Tay does provide a worthy target. But, let me get back to all of that
a little later. Even with Howard Rosenberg, it seems the Times could do a
better job covering both local TV and radio too. Would you agree?

Brian - "Absolutely. Part of it has to do with staffing, especially in terms of radio. The staff position for a full-time radio reporter has been vacant for some time, and because we're experiencing the same economic hardships as most media companies, we're not sure when it will be filled. Given the commuter nature of Los Angeles, radio definitely deserves more attention.

In regard to local television, I certainly think people are interested in the comings and goings of local talent but not necessarily the kind of minutia that might be covered in the trades or a site such as yours. It's obviously a balancing act, and sometimes we're too indifferent to what's happening in the local market, but it mostly has to do with assessing resources and how best to allocate staff time in the face of the enormous volume of programming available."

(5) OTR - I've heard there is talk of revamping the Calendar and Life and Style
sections. Any idea what may be in the works there? Also, if it were up to
you, what changes would you make in the Calendar section?

Brian - "I honestly have no idea about what long-term plans are. There was recently a reorganization of management over the Calendar section, under a new managing editor, John Montorio, who came in from the New York Times to oversee all of the paper's feature sections.
My rule of thumb is not to interfere with or second-guess management decisions as long as they provide me with a certain autonomy in terms of what I write, and I'll stand by that. The one change I would like to see made is to revise the Thursday Calendar section in order to get news into the front of the section."


(6) OTR -  How would you evaluate the synergy between The Times and KTLA that Tribune was hoping for?

Brian - "So far as I can tell there isn't much synergy yet, beyond the station having access to LA Times headlines from the following day on its 10 o'clock news and cross-promoting the two Web sites. TV news and newspapers operate so differently that it's difficult to find obvious synergy between them, other than perhaps interviewing a Times reporter, say, about events in the Middle East.

There's even less room for synergy, obviously, in terms of what I do, because we cover television and have to be absolutely pristine about not letting the corporate relationship influence our coverage, either positively or negatively. We should cover KTLA and Tribune Entertainment the same way we cover any other station or company, disclosing the obvious conflict whenever we do."

(7) OTR - I hear there is a camera in the Times newsroom. So no chance of you
popping up on the KTLA Morning News? Could be fun, couldn't it? Maybe you
could review the show while it is on, the same way Siskel and Ebert did for
SNL many years ago.

Brian - "I think it makes plenty of sense for KTLA to put on Times reporters from other areas on the 10 o'clock news, but not the TV reporters -- or at least, I would want to be judicious about that. Again, people are watching the way we cover KTLA, and I wouldn't want to open the door to charges of favoritism.
As for the KTLA Morning News, I don't really think that's the most appropriate venue for me to "pop up" on. The show's tone is a little too giddy, and television is always a crap shoot for print reporters anyway, so I don't see any real benefit in doing it.
In a more general sense, in fact, reporters need to be somewhat careful about the TV interviews they do, given that so many of the talk-oriented shows that use so-called "experts" -- particularly on cable -- degenerate into shouting matches. When the line between news and entertainment is that blurred, it's probably a good idea for print reporters to tread cautiously."

(8) OTR -So let me ask you about your Sharon Tay article, which I quoted in OTR.
How did you come write it? Was it a subject you were planning to write about,
and then seeing that bit gave you the peg you needed?  Also, if you can
answer this, did Marcia Brandwynne ever talk about  whether she had okayed
the Tay piece, which I am being told is what happened.

Brian - "Actually, a couple of reporters here had seen the segment and suggested I get a tape. Once I saw it I thought it raised some interesting questions about the Barbie factor in local news, and the number of Britney Spears wannabes you've written about. I also do like to revisit the issue of women's role in the media periodically, both because it's interesting and it provides me the illusion of depth.
As for Brandwynne, I'm not really comfortable discussing details that didn't make it into the story at any length, but suffice it to say she indicated she was aware the footage had been shot but that there was some kind of mixup on how or if it was going to be used. I didn't overly press her on that point in part because sorting out the who-knew-what-when aspect wasn't particularly germane given that the larger context was about the way women are depicted in news generally, simply using Tay as a jumping-off point to get into the topic.
I've also had to apologize to a few friends, by the way, who say they like seeing Sharon Tay writhing on a bar and they're very disappointed I would do anything to discourage that."

NEXT WEEK - PART TWO WITH BRIAN LOWRY...who tells the names of an anchor and reporter who impress him, and one anchor in particular, who does not.

NFL PICKS (22-19-3)

It was another 3 out of 4 week for me...not too bad.  Though the goal really is to be 4 out of 4. The Pats, Redskins, and 49ers all came through last week, though the Seahawks didn't come close. I did predict that The Amazing Christina would have her first .500 week, and I was right about that. So if I can't predict all the games right, at least I can predict how well she can predict. Though I don't guess that pays real well in Las Vegas, or anywhere else.  Just for the record, I think she'll hit .500 again, which is fine of course, as long as the proprietor maintains his dominance. Yep, against The Amazing Christina, I am 5-0. Hmmm. Didn't Bo Belinsky start that way with the Angels?

MY PICKS

Bengals vs Bucs +6

Pats vs Jets +3

Browns vs Titans -1

Lions vs Bears +7

THE AMAZING CHRISTINA (5-11)

Vikings vs Steelers +7

Rams  vs Falcons - 8

49ers vs Bills -9

Cardinals vs Raiders +13

Reminder:  I'm off to NYC for a few days. Next issue will be next Friday. Please do keep those emails coming, and let me know if I've missed anything interesting.

OTR ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK (11-29-00)

CAN WE EVER LOOK AT THE MAP IN THE SAME WAY?

I was watching a newscast recently and saw a graphic of the map of the United States. I automatically began looking for the red states and the blue states, with Florida, and maybe New Mexico and Oregon in white. But wait, there were no colors. The story wasn't about the election. 

It is just funny how quickly we get used to seeing things in a certain way. In fact, I can imagine that the Gore/Bush map  would become so commonplace, that it becomes the standard map of the United States. And then a hundred years from now, kids will ask their teacher..."why are some states in red and others in blue? And why is Florida in white?"  And then the teacher will say "USA maps have always been divided like that in red and blue, at least as far back as I can remember. Of course Florida is a different color, because back around the start of the 21st century, it was kicked out of the United States for voting irregularities. We've kept it as a territory just so American high school football players would still have good football colleges to attend."

THE REST OF THE STORY......

 After UCLA's untimely loss to USC last week, not only did I have to wear that SC hat for OTR, I also had to wear the monstrosity during an entire shift inside the KNX newsroom. I'm telling you...having to work in my underwear would've been less embarrassing. (At least for me; probably not for everyone else). People didn't seem to notice the hat at first, but about a half hour into the shift, someone asked "Did you lose a bet?" And sports anchor Steve Grad couldn't stop snickering at me.  But do you want to know the worst part?  After a few hours, the Stockholm syndrome began to take hold. Yes, I suddenly started feeling like I had more money in my bank account.  I began to feel more spoiled than a six-month old container of yogurt left in the sun.  While I drove to work in a Toyota, I began to believe I would be leaving in a BMW.  I figured it was time to get a girlfriend with implants, or at one who has a father who would buy them for her. But finally, the shift ended and mercifully the hat came off. I was once again a hard working non-assuming UCLA graduate of modest means. It is an experience I hope to never repeat.  Yet, if KCAL weatherman Carl Bell is willing to bet on the next UCLA/USC basketball game,  I will risk it.  The weirdest part may be that the chances of me wearing an SC hat again, however remote, are probably greater than anyone ever seeing the same hat on Paul Hackett.

On Monday night, KCAL ran a story on lingerie.  Not just any lingerie, but holiday lingerie. Really thought, it was a 1:20 commercial for Fredericks.   Cover video for the entire story was a Fredericks promo video.  Funny thing, I don't remember whether KCAL identified the video as courtesy of Fredericks...not that there was the slightest doubt of where it came from. There were all these babes posing for the camera. And surprise surprise, the story featured video of a woman wearing another one of those multi-million dollar bras, lined with diamonds. I wonder how long before they start putting diamonds in implants, so someone can do a story on multi-million dollar breasts?  The only person interviewed was a saleswoman from....Fredericks! I'm sure all of the female audience were going to rush out to buy the things that the Fredericks saleswoman said that every woman should have for Christmas. Or, I just wonder....was KCAL counting on male viewers, excited by promos of busty, leggy sleazy women? Naw...couldn't be that.

NOT TO BE OUTDONE.....

....As the well worn phrase goes.  Last night KCOP ran a story on what they called "Good Girl Strippers." I guess those are the ones who aren't part time prostitutes. Tony Yang featured a woman who's also a mother and is using the money to go to college. No doubt she has a heart of gold too. Of course there was the cover video, which starts out with a stripper's butt in your face, if only for a second or two. Then there was the required video of the stripper swinging around the pole.  I wonder, what did strippers do before they invented poles? I  also wonder which will  be the first station to just go all the way, and show naked women during sweeps. When that happens, wouldn't it be refreshing if they were honest about it? No teases about "lingerie you need for Christmas"....no "college students who strip to earn tuition money"...I want to hear...."It's sweeps and we've got naked women!"

Soon after the stripper story, was some weird non-local feature about a society woman who look like a lion.  Of course in the intro, I could've sworn I heard Rick Chambers say she's called the "tiger lady"...but what the heck. It's all about the same thing, isn't it? Even as a feature, it had pretty limited news value.  She's had considerable plastic surgery to keep her lion looks, but her husband rejected her anyway. Who cares, I don't know. But at least the story started with a picture of this busty woman in a low cut dress.  It sure makes you glad we have a first amendment, doesn't it?

SPITTING INTO THE WIND, BUT I'LL DO IT ANYWAY

I just want to say a few words to the US Supreme Court. A lot has changed in the last couple of hundred years. They've got television now. It is the biggest source of news for most Americans. It's not nearly as good as it could be, but every now and again it really shines. Just last week, we got to watch the Florida Supreme Court in action...live! We watched attorneys present their cases, and we saw justices interrupt with questions. This wasn't a show created by David E Kelley, but it was the real thing. And I think we learned from it, whether or not we agree with the results. It was a hearing on a decision which you will now be considering. I understand that you allow print reporters, and I hear you'll allow audio... released after the session is over.  May I suggest that you nine people get into the year 2000. We've 50 year old technology and you're still not ready for it. Our respect for your important jobs will not diminish if we watch you work, but understanding of it will probably increase.  You're about to make a decision which may have a direct impact on who our next president is. I know you may find it hard to believe, but you work for us, the people of the United States. So please let in a TV camera, which would shed some light on a process that all Americans should have a right to watch.

IS IT EVEN A STORY?

A couple of weeks ago, word was out that the Culver City Police Department  found dynamite in a car in front of their police station. If true, that is a story, no doubt about it. It turns out that it was NOT dynamite, but as I recall, some kind of fireworks that looked a lot like dynamite.  It was found in a car of a guy who had come into the police station acting agitated, saying he had been the victim of road rage. Police found a gun magazine on him, and when they checked his car and saw what looked like dynamite, they evacuated the area.  But here's the question; once you know it's not dynamite, do you still do the story? At that point, what is the story? Some strange acting guy came into the police station, and it turns out he had fireworks in his car. Yet, KNBC decided to not only do this story, but they LED with it. I know stations hate to send a good reporter on a story, which looks promising, and then blow it off when the story doesn't pan out. But the alternative is a story with a lot of sizzle but no steak.  Those "it could've been" stories, most of the time are not real stories at all. 

DOES UNIVERSAL STUDIOS NEED FREE AIR TIME?

I would be a lot more concerned if this were done by a real journalist, but even though it was done by Mindy Burbano, it was in fact done on a real newscast. She went to Universal Studios to let viewers know they've imported some snow there, and she also dressed up, with the help of a make-up man,  as some character from The Grinch.  The real point of the story was Mindy doing some sort of silly role-playing that the news audience got to watch.  Why doesn't someone just give her an acting job already? The worst of it was that she kept calling it "Whoniversal Studios."  I realize that she marches to the beat of a different drummer than most TV news people.  But really, people like Mindy must be a public relations person's dream come true.  

YOUR OPINIONS

They are an important part of OTR. Please send them along to BRUIN74@aol.com. Please remember to include your first and last name. Unless you say otherwise, I'll assume it is for publication.

OTR IS PUBLISHED EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY   Letters to the editor are updated Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

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.