Two television news failures and an annoyance

Television news pretty much has become pure entertainment (and not all that entertaining either).

That's a given. And television news is pretty much on the way out just like its earlier incarnation of print journalism. People don't sit around watching TV news as they did maybe 20 years ago since information is available from everywhere else via computers, phones, whatever platforms.

However, some people watch TV news -- live or on digital video -- and I'm speaking out for them and to them on the following two perversions of journalism routinely practiced by these fake journalists sashaying around TV.

1. Story Commentary

When did it start? Why does it continue? What are they thinking when they do this?

Here is the deal. After every story by a field reporter or even after reading a news story, the TV "anchors" or newsreaders feel compelled to comment on the story.

Huh? In journalism, stories traditionally and professionally have been presented as fairly and accurately without bias as possible. This is so people can feel confidence in the veracity of the story.

But now, these talking heads comment on each story. These comments are never useful or even interesting. We don't care what they think about the story or whatever. Nor can we consider the story unbiased if they immediately comment pro- or con- which they do seemingly each time.

We need to do something on an individual and market-to-market basis to let them know how insidious this comment crap is; then again, screw them. I'll call them out in the future.

2. Fake news questions from anchors

A reporter does a live field report. Or a fake live report from the newsroom. Then, the anchor -- after much fake posturing -- asks them a couple of questions to which the reporter rattles off a reply.

Come on! These prepared querstions and answers aren't fooling anybody. No, the anchor could care less, the questions don't make the anchor look any smarter -- sorry -- and the whole staged fake give-and-take scene is ridiculous.

You're not fooling anybody and its stupid. Usually, the reporters already have addressed the issue. If they haven't it's because of the staged Q&A crap format.

I'm not even going to argue with that faux format. It merely reveals the vacuousness of the TV news "personalities".

3. Annoyance--news teasers

News tease. End of the world coming? Check the we suck news team at 10, or after the next five minutes of drug company commercials for expensive (bogus) pharmaceuticals later found to be more harmful than helpful.

Good grief. If it's important, and you tease it, you're a pig. I'll watch the other newscast for the story then thanks. Or if its BS, why bother.

News teases piss off people. They DO NOT cause people to set their clocks to the "reveal". Plus, lots of times the news tease doesn't even get played properly during the "reveal" or if it turns out to be stupid beyond belief -- geez, how surprising -- thanks for nothing.

News tease? You who practice it are news sleaze.

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[Please check out my Rancho Santa Fe Web site at www.92067freepress.com for general stories of interest or my baseball blog at http://danweisman.mlblogs.com/ ]