It would be awfully easy to write something snarky about WSB’s special report Tuesday about a web site that offers free breast implants to women. One could certainly chide WSB for promoting the piece throughout its 5pm news, then airing it 45 minutes into the broadcast. One could use the word “exploitative” to describe WSB’s [...]
Archive for April, 2008
29 Apr
You only tease, tease, tease
During its 5pm news Monday, WAGA ran no fewer than four teases showing the “controversial” bare-backed photo of 15-year old Miley Cyrus. The kid pop star herself had denounced the photo, shot in a session with Annie Liebowitz. Each time WAGA teased its coverage, it showed the photo. The story itself ran fifty minutes into [...]
29 Apr
Special… how?
Back in the day, legendary Georgia defense attorney Bobby Lee Cook used to cross examine GBI special agents by asking them about their title: What’s the difference between an agent and a “special” agent? The dumbfounded witnesses would typically answer: None. Cook would conclude by saying: So, there’s really nothing “special” about you, is there? [...]
29 Apr
Cliche Watch
Three of ‘em turned up in Monday’s 6pm piece produced by WSB’s Tom Jones. Jones reported that Clayton Co. “corrective superintendent” John Thompson is “fired up” about his new job; that Thompson “hit the ground running”; and proclaimed that it’s time for the community to “stop pointing the finger.” For good measure, WAGA’s Chris Shaw [...]
27 Apr
“I wish I were smarter.”
Each Atlanta TV station posts short biographies of its news personnel on their web sites. The bios are usually filled with data about awards and college degrees. Some offer the occasionally-surprising nugget. We learn that WGCL’s Rebekkah Schramm has been a broadcaster since age 15. We learn that WSB’s Anissa Centers was a bone marrow [...]
25 Apr
Tenacious T
Those who find nothing but foolishness and despair in local TV news may find a bit of redemption now. When Randy Travis of WAGA’s I-Team is on his game, there’s nothing better. He’s at his best now. Travis is doing a two-night investigation of Atlanta sushi restaurants. While the topic may seem dangerously close to [...]
24 Apr
Cold Fire
Two fire-related stories yielded two fire-related live shots on WGCL Tuesday night. On paper, it all kinda makes sense. On TV, it didn’t in the least. Tony McNary did a story about city of Atlanta budget cuts, and the loss of 88 firefighting jobs. McNary’s punishment: Drive to NW Atlanta, and stand in front of [...]
23 Apr
“And, he was naked.”
So, what’s the lead story on the late news Tuesday? Could it be the Pennsylvania primary? Not on WGCL. Thankfully, for those of us who revel in the clownish tendencies of local TV news, WGCL had a much more creative lead: An “exclusive” story about a scion of a prominent Atlanta business family who barricaded [...]
22 Apr
Eleven Lifeless
Every time we set out to write a post about WXIA’s news, we always seem to find something more interesting on another station. The other stations certainly offer more comic fodder. The other stations more readily travel down the familiar roads that make local TV news so targetable. But the other stations (even WGCL) are [...]
22 Apr
Only time will tell
Our slog through some recent WXIA newscasts yielded one remarkable piece by Valerie Hoff, who produced a story Friday about revenue shortfalls in local governments. The piece stood out for its head-spinning use of cliches. In a standup, Hoff managed to utter three of them in just two sentences: “Woodstock is far from the only [...]
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