The last post spawned some interesting comments based on a couple of reporters leaving KAKE for jobs in Nashville and Kansas City. I said in a comment that although I am not a fan of the KAKE style it does seem if you look at larger market stations, there are more in your face scanner chasing formats which needs reporters. KAKE has done this so it creates a nice tape for its reporters filled with live shots of shootings, car wrecks and other such, "breaking news." I am not saying that the reporters are bad and cannot tell other stories, I am just saying it does provide plenty of material for resume tapes. I then wrote that the question comes down to whether reporters can stay at these stations and do the high pressured breaking news (and not good stories you'll remember months later) every minute of the day or be driven or burned out. Another commenter questioned the statement about not being able to do good stories you remember months later, writing:
High pressured breaking news is what these reporters live for. Stories that won't be remembered??? BTK and Greensburg were huge national stories.
That I think right there sums up the problems with the art of television. To many, good television is merely the subject or topic matter: BTK and Greensburg. I will be the first to admit there were well executed stories which came out of both situations, however the subjects that bring good storytelling are often shoved aside for the easy elements of a big story like BTK and Greensburg. Many let a good story rest solely on the topic and not on the craftsmanship of the story. Do people need to know the news of the day, of course, but for some reason the audience or the people who think they know what the audience wants, think they like the in-your-face breaking news format. Ratings wise, I think this format can definitely improve them hence make sales people and GMs happy. Just because they are happy and the industry may say "every body's doing it," doesn't necessarily make it right. -Hal
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4 comments:
You make it sound like the reason reporters leave is because they can't handle it. Some come here knowing they will leave in a few years no matter what. It's a part of the business and happens everywhere... not just Wichita.
I appologize if it sounded like I thought reporters leave because they cannot handle it. I do think many in the industry do get tired and at times burned out from the live breaking news stories and give up on the career goals of moving higher or to the network level. Other are happy at exactly where they are at and stay, which is bery positive for the market. You bring up another problem of Television news in Wichita. The market has always been a stepping stone for some reporters as they move to bigger markets and networks. Decades ago it was common to have those working at stations who had been reporting (not anchoring) for more than 2-3 years. They were in it for the long hall at medium sized markets like Wichita. Do to the economics of the industry it becoming increasingly difficult to find reporters at a station for a long period of time. Wichita, has actually bucked the trend slighly and probably has more seniority at the 3 stations than other markets simmilar in size. -Hal
It is not a "problem", it is the way the business operates. Just because someone is using it as stepping stone doesn't mean they can't do they job correctly.
They were in it for the "long hall."
How long is this hall??? Is it wide enough for more than a few people to walk down. Hopefully no one is "hauling" any big bags or luggage.
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