Anchors out of Japan?
Marketwatch’s Jon Friedman writes that news anchors should stay out of Japan…
The networks would better serve themselves and their viewers by cutting back on this self-satisfying practice in journalism. The folks watching at home are not impressed when they see some TV-news star jetting into a war zone or a natural-disaster site, and blathering about the misfortune and suffering in rather insincere tones.
What we need in these terrible situations are people who have genuine expertise to share, either in terms of the crucial political, financial or social implications.
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March 15, 2011 at 8:28 am
I feel just the opposite. I appreciate seeing those who have solid in the trenches chops in the trenches when need be. Emphasis, however, for those who have actually put in the blood and sweat over a life time of reporting. Not the one’s who worked their way to the top on looks. They are, admittedly, a dying breed of journalist.
March 15, 2011 at 8:45 am
“The folks watching at home are not impressed when they see some TV-news star jetting into a war zone or a natural-disaster site, and blathering about the misfortune and suffering in rather insincere tones.”
By “the folks” I think Mr. Friedman means “HE’ is not impressed”etc. While some ‘folks’ may share his opinion most ‘folks’ don’t care one way or the other.
I do agree this rushing off to wars and disasters is often only to provide a backdrop for the anchor and show off their street cred.
However it will be difficult to change the practice as news organizations think it provides better ratings to their shows and anchors; particularly Williams like doing location shoots. And once one of the three big three head off to some disaster or war the other two are almost forced to follow so as to not look like they not up to the task.
It will be interesting to see if the big three head off to Japan after the problems they had in Egypt and with the danger of a nuclear disaster on the horizon.
March 15, 2011 at 10:59 am
Diane Sawyer is in Japan, all of the World News Broadcast was done from there on Monday.
March 15, 2011 at 2:36 pm
I’m not terribly impressed that these anchors will jet in to such locations for the backdrop, either, but I also have to admit that the content of their Japan coverage improved significantly once they did arrive. Perhaps that was merely a coincidence and the coverage would have improved, anyway, as more of their assets got up-to-speed. I don’t know.
March 15, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Sorry, I’m old fashioned. It wasn’t “serious” until Peter Jennings showed up in his dapper trench coat. I like it when The Big Guns show up.
March 15, 2011 at 8:46 pm
Media overload. Got 5 or 6 reporters who have 3 meals a day and a hotel at night while theirs victims around them with nothing.