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A media critique... and then some!
Links to Recent Issues Inside LA TV - Sharon Tay comments on her credibility, and a couple of familiar names are pregnant. 3-08-04 Monday's OTR 3-12-04 Friday's OTR
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THIS REPORTER NEEDS HELP
Amy Powell is a new reporter at KABC, and this is the third time I'm writing about her; not a good sign for KABC. Part of her problem this time is the same one I wrote about the first time, which is repeating information live, right after she just said the same thing on tape, and acting as if she is telling us for the first time. But again, that is only part of the problem this time.
On Saturday, Powell was covering the aftermath of the mass murder in Fresno. The first sign that something was odd was when she introduced her taped story. The story was NOT done by Powell. It was done by another reporter, who appeared to be one who works for KFSN in Fresno. Yet Powell never suggested in her introduction, of in her post-story comments, that we just saw another reporter's work. Since it was a female, who did not appear on camera, maybe Powell or her producer was hoping viewers wouldn't know the difference.
Then there was the redundancy. In her intro, in the package, and in her closing comments - three times - we heard that it appears that two of the children murdered were both the accused killer's children and grandchildren. In other words, he had sex with one of his daughters. And in the taped story, the reporter talked with an adult son, who said that his father was not part of a cult, unless you consider 7th Day Adventist to be a cult. Powell then repeated that information after she came back live.
I really don't know what her problem is. But every reporter should know what it is in the package insert they are running. When it's over, they should add to it, not repeat it.
A KTLA INSIDER SAYS THEY HAVE AN ETHICS PROBLEM
Recently, a reader had a question about a feature they've seen on The KTLA Morning News, asking about the Vegas.com report.
Here is how one KTLA insider put it: "NO, this is NOT produced by a news organization. It's a commercial that appears within the newscast without any disclosure to the viewers. It is sold by the sales department, or they offer it in exchange for the Las Vegas people making a commercial buy of a certain amount. But in any case, it's totally unethical."
ABC RADIO BIAS
This was the story about George W. Bush's ad which used a picture from 9/11. When some family members of 9/11 victims began complaining about that, the Bush campaign defended their use of the image. No surprise there. But what I found biased, was the term ABC reporter Ann Compton used in a report for ABC Radio. She said "those complaints are falling on deaf ears." Obviously, "falling on deaf ears" is a pejorative phrase. When would you ever say that anyone who has "deaf ears" is doing the right thing? A fair way to have phrased it would have been "The Bush campaign doesn't believe those complaint are valid." But it doesn't sound like being fair was foremost in Compton's mind.
TRAIN SECURITY - BETTER JOB BY KCBS THAN KTLA
I credit KCBS for doing a much better job than KTLA on the "could this happen here?" story following the terrorist attacks in Spain. Here was the lead-in read by Leyna Nguyen: "There have also been threats against the U-S. So just how safe so just how safe are our rails. CBS-2's Marc Coogan is at Union Station with some answers for us. Mark?"
He began: "Leyna, officials today said that the rails system in Southern California -commuter rail and the subways- are as safe as they can be. But obviously this is not like the airlines. Access is wide open to public transportation. You don't go through metal detectors to get on a train....."
An Official from Metrolink said " We have 53 stations throughout a five county area. We have trains where with two doors opening, and people boarding throughout an entire train. So it would be a very logistically difficult situation to sort of try to run everybody through some sort of security check at all of these stations."
Another official say they have canines and more deputies since 9/11. A Rand Corporation expert, Bryan Jenkins said there is a greater risk driving, than getting on a bus or on metro lines.
Now, here is what KTLA anchor Marta Waller said "Concerns over terrorist attacks on commuter trains are being voiced here in the United States. But, officials in Southern California are reassuring the public that security plans are in place to protect our rail system. Patricia Del Rio is at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles with local reaction. "
But after watching both Coogan's story and the one from Del Rio, I don't think it's clear that officials really reassured the public that our rail system is all that secure. To the contrary, I think Coogan's story made it clear that under the current system, you really can only do so much. Without having heard every comment made by officials, I have to wonder if KTLA was overstating their reassurance.
Del Rio did say that since 9/11, more Sheriff's Deputies have been added, and there have been more frequent inspections of the tracks. She also used a soundbite from spokesman Francisco Oaxaca, who said “We’ve also been educating our passengers to be more vigilant”…and to be more observant, etc. She concluded with saying that passengers she talked with didn't really want an airport kind of security system, feeling that would be too much like Big Brother.
But, I thought Del Rio's story relied too much on passenger's opinions. She also included Antonio Bandares's comment on the tragedy in Spain, something KCBS played separately from Coogan's piece. His story was much more focused and I believe better showed the reality of the situation.
One drawback though; two of the officials interviewed by Coogan were never identified, not by him or by an on-screen graphic. While I think we had a good idea of what sort of representatives were talking, you really should tell the audience their names and who they represent.
PICKY PICKY
ABC reporter Stephanie Sy said "Spanish authorities still believe the Basque separatist group ETA is the prime suspect." I think you either say that Spanish Authorities "believe" ETA is responsible, or you say Spanish Authorities say ETA is the prime suspect. In other words, it is the authorities who determine who the prime suspect is. They don't "believe,' they "know."
Okay, I said it was picky.
STILL TAKING NOMINATIONS
So who is the best anchor team in LA TV? Before taking a vote, we need to get your nominations. You can nominate up to three teams. Please send those nominations to Bruin74@aol.com, and please put "Anchor Team" in the subject line. Thanks!
HOW ABOUT CHALLENGING THAT?
When Tavis Smiley was on the KTLA Morning News recently, they were talking about Haiti and what happened to Jean Bertrande Aristide. Smiley made some statement that suggested how much more credible Maxine Waters, Danny Glover and Randall Robinson are, compared to President Bush. I believe Smiley threw in another Republican too, but my memory fails me on that one.
I realize that Emmett Miller and Michaela Pereira are not Bill O'Reilly, or Chris Matthews. But how can you sit there while someone suggests that Maxine Waters and Danny Glover are paragons of credibility? Especially Glover, the actor who called Bush a racist. Would you consider him level-headed?
I don't know anything about the politics of Miller and Pereira. Obviously, I'd not be surprised if they were not fans of Bush. And I will tell you that Smiley made the reference as part of a larger point. But come on! When you are an interviewer, and someone makes the suggestion that Smiley made, how can you not say something? Or did they not realize that not everyone thinks Waters and Glover are credible?
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