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 Friday September 8, 2006

LETTERS

*****************************************************************************

Reminder: Please send your letters using upper AND lower case, and remember to include your first and last name.  Also please SPELL CHECK before sending.  

(WEDNESDAY)

Ron:

I also tried, to no avail, to contact the ABC7.com web staff about the
injured officer's actual status and other lesser errors in the story.
Our agency's public account of the event is here:

http://lafd.blogspot.com/2006/08/man-dies-in-motorhome-fire-on-la.html


Though I received a prompt and polite reply from a knowledgeable
KABC-TV Assignment Editor, it was sadly apparent that the issue had
already blossomed. In trying to help correct that regretful error, the
great disparity in the way mainstream news and internet are melding in
our City became apparent.  

Ron, I encourage local news agencies to follow the lead of KCBS/KCAL
and The Daily News, by making their web team readily involved in the
local on-line community. 

Darleene and Jerry at KCBS/KCAL have long led the way. They, along with
Josh Kleinbaum at The Daily News, are easy to contact, always
approachable, and devoted to high journalistic principles. In
professional gatherings and personal outreach to 'new media' in this
town, it seems that they are omnipresent, yet uniquely alone.

What struck me most about the aforementioned three however, is how they
genuinely feel part of a team at their respective places of employment.
While I'm sure that some news outlets will hire pricey website
consultants in the months to come, it is clear to me that most on-line
news concerns in Los Angeles can be readily improved by removing the
harnesses of conventional newsroom thinking and genuinely empowering the
current Generation M staffers who yearn to succeed. 

Give them the team and the tools necessary, and the set them free...
and watch them amaze you.

Brian Humphrey
Simi Valley, CA

Dear Ron:
 
On vacation from work last week, I watched a bit of morning television.  What I watched concerned me.
 
On "Good Day L.A.," Dorothy Lucey reported (in a faux serious tone) that Bruce Springsteen was separated from his wife and was now seeing a woman whose husband died on 9/11.  The story was presented as a news report with Fox 11 News graphics displayed.  On checking the story out on the Internet and by watching other news programs, this story turned out to be not so much as news, but as unsubstantiated gossip.  In fact, on Springsteen's website he has denied these "ugly rumors."
 
This incident concerns me in how "Good Day L.A." is presented.  It seems to me that the show is more gossip-driven than news-driven.  But to allow a show like that to use Fox news graphics, have their talent's biographies filed under the news team on the KTTV website, and use the same set as the 10:00 P.M. news, doesn't this then breech some ethical kind standard for news? 
 
For example, Ms. Lucey's report was based on gossip, and not news.  But the way it was presented made it look like it was a bona fide news story.  To me, this is wrong.  If this or another story based on gossip is reported shouldn't that be mentioned.  Or , if this program is produced by the news division, shouldn't the stories reported meet the standards set up by the news division.  If it isn't a news program, shouldn't there be some kind or disclaimer?
 
For example, CBS owns both a news division and "Entertainment Tonight."  Yet no one mistakes one for the other.  "Entertainment Tonight" is a gossip show that is not produced by the news division, nor does the show use any of the resources of CBS News.  If that were to occur, don't you think people would be up in arms?
 
My main concern is the irresponsibility of Fox 11 News.  "Good Day L.A." is an entertainment show made to look like a news program.  In my opinion, that crosses an ethical line.  How can a show get away with reporting gossip as news.  Wouldn't that be grounds for some kind of libel action if an unsubstantiated story was reported as fact?  
 
For years, people have been saying news is now me "info-tainment" than anything else, but "Good Day L.A." really blurs that line.  I guess this should be not surprise, since this is that same station that produces the awful news on 13.  But it is a sad state of affairs in news if a show like this tries to pass itself off as a news program when it's no more that three hours of fluff and an ongoing commerical for the programs on "MyNetwork."
 
Thanks for reading my ramblings/
 
Sincerely,
Tim Buckley

(After what they did with Dr. Phil last year, I would not put KCBS's ethics above anyone's in Los Angeles. And KCBS certainly has used video and information from their entertainment shows.- Ron )

As did many others, I tuned in Tuesday night out of curiosity to see how Katie Couric would handle the CBS Evening News.  It was a disappointment.  As expected, the show was all about Katie.  The news itself was clearly a secondary consideration.  Then there were all the cute Today show-style bells and whistles.  So, is the message that CBS didn't think Katie could cut it against Brian Williams and Charles Gibson without the fun and games?  Sure seems that way.  All I want from the news shows is the news professionally researched, produced, directed, and reported.  So, I agree with Ron.  Katie will become a distant third within a few weeks and gone just as soon as CBS can get her out of contract.  Meanwhile, I'll be watching Charlie Gibson.  He doesn't get in front of the story.  He understands news and his role.  He's just plain good at what he does.  Katie should take a lesson from him.

Ed Hain

To Ron Fineman:

I have more concern that you don't feel well, than I do
that the issue was cut short.  I'm sorry to know that
you're experiencing such pain - I can't even imagine how
you must feel.  May God bless and keep you, during such
a difficult time.

Camille Brown

(Thanks so much for note. The good news is, as of now -9pm Wed.- most of the pain has gone, at least for now.  But all things considered, I've decided it would be wise to skip the Friday issue. Hopefully all will be well for Tuesday.-Ron)
For last week's letters...you can click on www.RonFineman.com/subscribers/L060901.asp 

 

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