Comments on: TV News Dope Reporter Award

By: T.J.

T.J. — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 17:25:03 +0000

And if you think local is bad try checking out cable news. Fox “News” is still talking about some girl who disappeared in Aruba last year and pretend to have new information where there isn’t any.

Also, it is ok if you are a male “reporter” to look like hell warmed over, but the females all have to have perfect skin and wear about a half inch of lipstick. I don’t know how they do that. Perhaps they have all had collegin injections as a condition of employment. I think it is creepy.

By: Tam

Tam — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 11:49:01 +0000

As evidence of the “cute little girls” theory; anybody remember the sweetie they hired a few years back? I think they plucked her from the Clinique counter at the Bon. She didn’t do anything well, but looked way cute not doing it.

By: Chet Parker

Chet Parker — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 02:30:32 +0000

Well, since quality news reporting is a thing of the past… how about one of the so-called “news” directors just getting real honest about the fact that it’s all about having cute little girls on the screen. Next time theres a few inches of water on the street, have one of them appear in a bikini, or better yet, a thong … laying in the street in a Sports Illustrated style pose…maybe doing hourly updates on whether the water is any higher than the hour before.
No offense to Mr. Logan, but I’d prefer NOT to see his water wings. 🙂

By: logan

logan — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 13:17:43 +0000

I’m already planning my next flood standup. I’ll have children’s water wings on my arms,plus a snorkel and dive mask…and I’ll have on my firefighter’s helmet and yellow nomex shirt. You’ll have to create a new award for that, Mr. Guardian.

By: Chet Parker

Chet Parker — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 00:16:20 +0000

Logan,
I think you’ve missed the point. Nobody is suggesting reporters shouldn’t cover floods. We appreciate reporters covering such events, we just don’t like being treated like idiots who need to see a reporter standing in 3-4 inches of water to “illustrate” to us that there is water on the ground. See, we know when it rains. We know when it rains a whole lot. We drive to work in that water. We drive home from work in that water. We look out our windows and see all that water. What we look for from the “news” is what sort of damage that water might be causing.

The reporters job, or I should say the photographer/reporters team’s job is to show us pictures of the damage, report the damage assessment, and if warranted, tell us what the authorities say about when things will be back to normal. What we definitely do not need, is a reporter who thinks what we really need to see is her, or him, standing in the water. To see some fool standing in the water is totally meaningless to me. It tells me nothing. It shows me nothing other than a fool and it has no news value at all.

Now, in a real flood, where the water is chest deep and running at high speed, a reporter might want to jump in after saying something like, “watch how quickly this raging water will wash me completely out of sight.” That would illustrate a grave danger. Standing in a few inches just doesn’t have that sort of dramatic impact. 🙂

By: Chet Parker

Chet Parker — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 23:57:48 +0000

Gordon. Yes, we do deserve better. This is the largest city in the state, our Capital City, (or is it Capitol?) and constantly growing. You say you quit watching the news years ago and that is exactly my point. If car and bicycle manufacturers produced cars and bikes as poorly as our local stations produce newscasts, would you just say “well, lets just walk or ride scooters and everyone will be happy? Apathy is why our government is full of liars and crooks and why television stations can keep shoveling crap onto the airwaves… because nobody complains and demands better.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 20:27:02 +0000

Now hold on, Ysabel Bilbao, Idaho Snooz Channel-7, was seen crossing the ‘raging flood waters’ to get an interview with a man whose house was “on an island.” She even looked back at the cameraman while she was making her way to the interview. And she was carrying the tripod too! What a trooper! She gets my vote!

By: logan

logan — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 13:31:33 +0000

Are you suggesting a reporter covering a flood should not get his or her feet wet?

By: Gordon

Gordon — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 05:08:42 +0000

Chet said, “WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS.”
Nope, Buddy, if you’re actually sitting there watching that crap right along, you probably *don’t* deserve better.
Spend your time on something useful — like sitting here B.S.ing with the Boise Guardian, or reading Boise Weekly, or working crossword puzzles — all more entertaining and infinitely more educational than most of the TV “news,” both local and national (or so I’ve heard; I haven’t actually seen any of it for four or five years, but I love to eavesdrop in coffee shops, bars etc. (also very educational somtimes).
— gp
P.S.
Fraz: I hope you’re not going to limit your Dope awards to the flooding. Seems likely they could be a good year-round activity with plenty of material and competition.
— gp

By: Chet.Parker

Chet.Parker — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 03:59:48 +0000

Hey Dave – As you may or may not know, I’ve just recently discovered your great little contribution to the cyber world and I have a question for ya.

Would you consider a page dedicated to the silliness that our local tv stations call “news”?
I believe there are a lot of others out there who, like me, make a sort of game out of flipping around the local channel to see who has written or ad libbed the goofiest thing each day. It’s far better than most sitcoms and I think it would be great to have a place to share the laughs with others who’ve discovered this hilarious little game.

It would really be great if the site served to start a drive to boycott all the local news programming until someone actually starts offering “news” in their “newscast”… but thats probably unrealistic.

Anyway, thanks for all your hard work on this, it is really great and a wonderful source of information and entertainment.
Chet

ED NOTE– We can accept nominations anytime. Just make sure they are accurate. Hate to give TV dope awards not deserved.