[BC] Air America

[David Lawrence <david@onlinetonight.net>]

On 10/10/05 4:48 PM, one Douglas Schleutker <schleutker at schleutker.net>
wrote:

 >   My definition of 'fair' where it applies to news would be:
 > NOT otherwise doctored to include, or exclude anything other than who, what,
 > when, and where.
 > (maybe why and how)

To you, and to Donna, and to anyone else that is currently advising,
managing or consulting with stations on news: you're fooling yourself if you
think you can force an increasingly competitive news marketplace towards
"fairness" (whatever that means - and it usually means something other than
"just the facts"), and away from disintermediation of traditional news
standards and into an era of post-modern presentation.

I just got back from Middle Tennessee State University, where I lectured on
the perceptible shifts in the presentation and choice of stories on both TV
and radio. From FOX News to NPR to Clear Channel to Air America, there isn't
a single example of straight down the middle fact delivery to be found. And
there isn't on any of the leading stations in the major markets, either. All
are colored in some way by the anchor, the writer or the field reporter.

In fact, the story is now about the story teller. Anderson Cooper cries
while covering Katrina, and later, CNN Headline news does a "spotlight
story" (whatever that is) on how stories like Katrina make reporters and
subjects cry.

One of the students did a story for MTSU's TV station, and ended it with a
very clear editorial comment. When called on it, when told she shouldn't do
so, and should just deliver the facts, this MTV-raised young lady very
matter of factly told her professor. "Well, that's your opinion. I'd rather
do it my way." It wasn't a matter of being simply rude, it was the fact that
our audience expects editorialization, since it's more transparent than
hoping you know where the outlet stands politically.

It's a waste of time to deny this shift in audience expectation. They don't
trust, oddly enough, the presenter that chooses to be "fair and balanced"
even when they mostly are. The audience has been fooled so many times, they
immediately pigeonhole the outlet, and you're done.

David
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