So if you didn't read Yesterday's post, here's a quick recap. Reporters need to go digging for stories when forced to do a news story on a sporting event. The three newscasts pretty much did the same thing Yesterday: asking fans how they feel after a loss. And they all failed at giving viewers something other than overused cliches. I challenged them to find an actual story. Here's my rankings on how the stations did finding a News story following the Shocker loss on Sunday.
#1 KSN-They are at the top of these rankings because they didn't do a news story on Shocker fan reaction. If you cannot come up with anything better than sticking a microphone in faces of upset Shocker fans, there's no use in doing a story. They must have not had a better idea so they did what was best and didn't do a story. Good decision KSN. I know people will say once again I go praising KSN, but they clearly made the best decision on Sunday by simply doing nothing.
#2 KAKE- I figured KAKE wouldn't walk away from a news story on the Shocker fan reaction. Kara Kumari found a group of fans who have sit in the same spot for years and have formed a friendship that continues even after the season. OK, don't get me wrong, this doesn't deserve an Emmy or for that matter even you trying to find it on the internet to watch. On any other given topic this story would be lame, but compared to the other Shocker fan stories, this was good. KAKE staffers, don't get too excited, this wasn't anywhere near a fine wine.
#3 KWCH - Although there was a weak angle to be different from the normal fan react story, the overused cliche, "There's always next year," sneaked into the story. If it wasn't for that, it might have given KAKE a run for its money. The angle other than fans, was businesses profiting on the Shockers even after the loss. The t-shirt business I thought was stretching it, but the Wichita bus company now taking Irvine to Omaha, showed at least some effort in getting something other than depending only on sad Shocker fans for stories.
Also good story on KAKE about the Greensburg victim and Marine veteran who received some monetary aid from some current Marines who saw his story before. Good Greensburg story. I feel there probably are a few like these that are out there, but its a matter of finding them. -Hal
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Hal,
You are wrong on all counts. And tonight's summary proves your unexplainable bias towards KSN.
Both KSN and KWCH led with a recap of the game from their sports guys. To say that KSN's was better is well...sad. KWCH has the best sports team in town by far and guess what...the viewers and ratings agree and have for decades now.
Cheering on the underdog is fine except when it blinds you to reality. I'd like to know what your background is, where you work or worked. If your are going to analyze then tell us about you so we can have all the facts. Aren't you for that?
Secondly, you praise some Greensburg follow-up but ignore probably the best story of the night. A man with MS riding his bike cross country to his reunion, all the while raising money for MS research. It was well shot and Linda Mares did a good job.
The fact that you would ignore a story like that and chose again to bash KWCH proves YOUR bias once again.
Hal, what's your feeling on photography and editing? Which station does the worst and why?
Anonymous (Maybe KWCH employee),
Read my original post a little more closer. I mentioned the "News" coverage of the event. I didn't even talk about sports coverage of the Shockers loss. It was designed that way, because my biggest pet peave is when news reporters cover a sports event with out an angle, besides sticking mics in faces and that has been my frustration with the coverage from the beginning. I haven't even begun to write about who has the best sports team and I wasn't trying in this post.
Your other comment, the MS story was OK. The subject was really good and compared to Linda's normal work it was exceptional, but once again lets be careful what we are comparing. -Hal
you mean Bruce is why people watch KWCH, if he left, that sports department be in shambles.
I wonder if the first poster also is the same person who thinks KSN and KAKE weren't on the air doing weather coverage when the Greensburg tornado hit and KSN is #4 behind Fox Kansas in terms of news organizations.
Hal, what is your take on sports departments in town and Fox Kansas newscast? Any thoughts on the Sunday night sports shows after the 10pm newscasts on KAKE and KWCH?
Okay... so let's hear it. Who do you think does have the best sports team?
WOW, I am getting a long list of specific topics to comment on. I think I'll do something where each Friday I'll critique a specific part of the local media. Something like that might work with the first one being in the order requested. Maybe by Friday I'll have a little more to comment on the various station's online content. Then I'll go to editing/photography and then sports.
A quick preview of sports. Honestly reviewing sportscasts could be a very hotly debated topic. I personally think if you look at the main 3 guys they are all pretty much even. I think I probably relate more to Shope and Kobbe, but Haertl does a decent job. As far as backups goes, KWCH with Richard Smith and KSN with Mark Davidson do decent jobs, meanwhile KAKE is always a weekend wild ride with James Sido. When can that guy just learn to stop being so phoney on camera? It less a sportscast and more a bad impersonation of ESPN. His schtick is very very tiring. As far as backup backups go there is a reason they are backup backups. KSN's Casey Walkup doesn't appear often on camera and shouldn't. The times he has filled in achoring has been painful. He is a good case of a guy who needs to go to a small market and do his time and work his way up. Also he, less of an extent to Sido, needs to develop his own style and not try to be ESPN. Bryan Holmgren might actually be worse than Casey. His eyes are really buggy on camera and his delivery needs tons of work. He's is another case of a guy who needs to polish his act in a smaller market. As far as reviewing the main guys, I'll try to do that in a few weeks. -Hal
Hal
James Sido is more new school, I can kinda tell you are more old school in your approach on this blog, You are entitled to your opinions, but I think sometimes we need more of a fresh approach and something different occasionally to step out of doing the same old stuff.
Sido is leaving for someplace out west so he is a non-entity just biding his time. But I agree he's canned and listening to him talk down to the audience is well insulting.
Like the previous poster said, what is your experience? Why should anyone care what you say if we know nothing about who you are? You dodged the guy's legitimate post without so much as a hint into your background. Open up Hal, unless you have something to hide.
actually, i think Hal has a right to say whatever he wants. This is HIS blog afterall. That is why we live in this great free country.
To anonymous 9:22 PM,
You don't need to care what I have to say if you do not want to. From the very beginning, I simply wanted to create a little fun discussion about a topic that is very much out there in the public. TV newscasts are out there for everyone to see, and people have opinions, whether you are a 4th grader, factory worker, CPA, retired grandparents, or even someone in the business. It seems a few often get hung up at who exactly I am. I have had on camera experience in this business in the past, not in this market. Its enough to really get me interested in what is going on. Now there will be plenty of you who will say what business do you have criticizing people about a business you gave up and weren't successful in? Well, to that I compare it to Monday morning quarterbacking. I am sure many of you complain about your favorite teams in the Fall and what they didnt do on Sndays, but I doubt any of you actually put on the helmet and played a down of NFL football. TV is seen in the public, to a much lesser extent to NFL football, but still plenty have opinions. I am one and I like to express them. And you are welcome to do that as well. If you still can't get past who I am, then don't read. -Hal
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