[BC] The Driveway Shot

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

>TV stations here in Vegas are really bad about that.  They'll do a live
shot
>on the 10 pm news from the scene of the tragic morning-drive accident.  Of
>course, by then, there's nothing to see but some street lights.  Or they'll
>do a live shot from the front of the Board of Education building, where the
>board met hours earlier.  At 10 pm, it's just an empty building.  Is there
>really any point to that?

Yes, there is! It's known as mental stimulation. In the days before TV,
we had radio shows. You had to exercise your brain. It is well documented
that many Americans are overweight. There is the "couch potato" munching
on popcorn, guzzling beer and putting on weight. By forcing viewers to "fill
in the blanks" and use their imagination, the brain is stimulated and this
in turn
causes the body to be more alert and active.

TV broadcasters save money by this practice They can do the street shots
during regular business hours and pay only union scale. Makes a lot of
sense to me in all respects and certainly serves the public interest.

Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE