News? What News?

The San Francisco Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli writes about the lack of news in cable news these days… (via J$)

“Cookie-gate” was the latest in a series of near-daily items that have dominated the presidential campaign recently. Somehow, rocker and outdoors enthusiast Ted Nugent, Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen, Romney’s dog Seamus and President Barack Obama’s long-ago description of eating dog as a child have taken turns dominating the national conversation.

But even though news outlets use these sexy-sounding reports — as well as the latest poll or Twitter feud — as chum to lure readers and viewers, surveys say there is no more interest in this year’s presidential campaign than in comparable years like 1996, the last time a first-term Democratic president faced a GOP challenger.

Nevertheless, get ready for six more months of nonstory stories as the traditional political calendar and the journalistic news cycle have been overtaken by a 24-hour onslaught of information.

The Hazards of Live TV: #25,159

I know Microsoft doesn’t have a stake in MSNBC TV anymore and the MS in MSNBC TV is purely for consistency sake now. But, still, you’d think MSNBC would be able to get Microsoft’s logo correct, wouldn’t you? Apparently not. Microsoft uses a lot of logos but this isn’t one of them.

Ratings Issues at CNBC?

the New York Daily News’ Gatcrasher writes breathlessly about ratings issues at CNBC and zeroes in in Andrew Ross Sorkin and Maria Bartiromo…(via J$)

According to Nielsen ratings obtained by Gatecrasher, from April 2011 to April 2012, “Squawk Box” is down 16 percent in total viewers and 29 percent in the important 25-54 demographic bracket that advertisers buy.

On Tuesday, the show drew its lowest numbers of the year in total viewers — 99,000.

The source noted that the business-for-breakfast show is in its third straight quarter of ratings decline, and added the drop coincides with the addition of vaunted New York Times Dealbook editor and “Too Big to Fail” author Sorkin, 35, who started with “Squawk Box” on July 18.

Although one source familiar with the situation tells us “Sorkin is working his tail off at the show,” another insider says, “There’s a lot of talk that Andrew is not bringing them what they thought he was going to bring them: ratings and buzz. He’s not bringing them scoops.”

The source adds that CNBC is “up in the air about what to do with Sorkin,” but notes, “They’re coming to the conclusion that he makes a better guest than host.”