Mainstream Local "News"

[SHRED]

It's all about fire, flood, murder, drama, and other sensationalist tripe.
Look at the Anna stories and and how they worship the 'cult of personality'.

God forbid we had local news that gave us a synopsis of how our local Representatives voted and/or what Bills they have authored or sponsored.
God forbid that our local news actually informed us of laws passed and/or changed and how they affect us all.

[AlCzervik]

1. one of my local stations lead off with local news, the other 2 that imo are

in tabloid format lead off with ANS. The one that had local news is an nbc affiliate the other 2 that did not were Fox and cbs.

[BlueJazz]

2. Boy...Tell me about it. My European friends ....

....(who visited me this winter) even made the comment:

"Your news sounds like a variety program"

All I could say was:..."Yeah...they pander to the Voted-For-George Bush bunch"

[SHRED]

3. Can't we require them as a condition of public airwaves

The majority get their info from fluff outlets that peddle their shit on our airwaves.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if they were required to devote a segment to what your State and Federal reps were up to and how they voted?

The marketing departments could come up with an interesting format.
Just 5 minutes every now and then to let the masses know is not asking too much ...is it?

[doc03]

4. The local news here led off with the ANS story

number two was a J.C. Penney store coming to the Plaza, then the table gaming bill and then the story of a local serviceman being killed in Bush's war.

[cboy4]

5. I don't disagree with you, but focus groups tend to indicate

political coverage is boring for a lot of people.

Too dry.

People love to watch car chases and "other sensationalist tripe."

Sadly local news has become more like Access Hollywood.

But those types of stories translate into better ratings, and the better the ratings, the more stations can charge advertisers.

That's the unfortunate reality.

[SHRED]

6. yes but...

The marketing departments could come up with an interesting format.
Just 5 minutes every now and then to let the masses know is not asking too much ...is it?

Should be a requirement for use of public airwaves...period!

[cboy4]

7. Well, I don't know if I'd be comfortable with the government or

whomever mandating local television news content.

But to answer your rhetorical question, I agree - - I do not think it's "asking too much" for stations to do more.