Let me ask you something. What is the point of local TV news? Here’s a format that delivers news, weather, sports, etc. today pretty much exactly the same way it has for the last 50 years even though the delivery system for that information has changed dramatically over the past 25 years. Ok, I know the news show is a revenue generator for the station and I don’t blame them for trying to hang on to whatever is left of what was once an enormous cash cow but cry eye the content is almost comical. I would say at least 85% of the stories covered on local news has no bearing on a majority of the audience. House fires are staples of local news. I would say almost every day on almost every station across the country there will be a story about a house fire. Is there a fascination with fire? Yes fire is mysterious and witchy but it has been around for a long time. A house fire with or without casualties is between the people whose house it is, their insurance company and the neighbors who might be affected. Period. And most of the time there aren’t even any casualties. So we need to know about this because…..? My favorite thing is when the anchor prefaces a story with “the following video might be disturbing to certain viewers.” Well if they’re so concerned about its content why do they show it, but the real pisser is if there is really “disturbing” content they either blur it or cut it out completely so what’s the point? And news flash: anything these stations won’t show has already been on the net hours before TV gets ahold of it and there’s no blurring or cutting on the internet. Weather, sports? Got it on my phone. Female anchors have it the worst, or so it appears, since most are dressed as if they either came from a gala or are going to one right after the broadcast no doubt trying to fight real or perceived age discrimination. Now, here’s one thing news anchors command that the internet can’t. If they report on a tragic story they can respond with “out hearts and prayers got out to the victims and their families.” Gee, I hope that is something they aren’t reading off the teleprompter. “and now we have a report of an emergency landing at the airport.” How long have airplanes been around?

Gunga, galunga
Garry