Local News

[filkertom]

I've gone off now and then about the local news here in the greater Detroit area. I know it's just as bad everywhere else -- Norman Soloman once said that the only thing local news could really do well is report traffic problems -- but today was particularly egregious.

WWJ-AM 950 (which makes a big to-do about them being the only all-news radio station in Michigan, I guess because Michigan Radio disqualifies itself by running A Prairie Home Companion) is a CBS affiliate, so I guess the first part isn't their fault. The lead story at 10:30 this morning was the sectarian violence in Iraq.

The anchor referred to it as a "mega-dose of death".

On the local front, we had stories about fans' reactions to the Pistons being eliminated from the NBA playoffs. The reporter said that people blamed all the players and the coach. Yeah, that might be a good place to start.

There was a report this afternoon about how, 110 years ago today, Henry Ford drove his first car around town. The tagline was "Live and local... with a look at where we've been".

But the real capper for me was one of the lead-ins at 3:30: "Disney-Pixar's new film has a Detroit connection." That would, of course, be CARS! Get it? Huh? 'Cause it's about... CARS!

I may have to get rich and famous just so I can afford a vehicle with OnStar so I can not even have to turn to these louts for the traffic.

Comments

[poltr1]

Must have been a slow news day.

[twfarlan.livejournal.com]

At this time, I will point out that satellite radio services often have up-to-the-second traffic reports for the larger municipalities. You might consider checking XM and Sirius for their channel listings to see if Detroit is supported. I'll also point out this: with satellite, when you find a station you like? You have it with you EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Thanks, but... not worth the money. I don't need to subscribe to a new radio station; I'm a dreamer, and a psycho, and I want fucking better news.

So I guess I'll suffer.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

Have you heard of Naked News? As the name implies, the newscasters deliver the report while naked. It's an odd variety of porn, I guess. I've seen a few, and the really bizarre thing is, compared to the local TV news, it is actually a pretty good news show. Plus nudity. It must be because they are Canadians.

[teddywolf.livejournal.com]

Gotta second this one. They do good work. Some of the ladies are not to my taste, but so long as they give real news I don't care. OK, maybe I care a little :-)

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

I'd blame it on the lack of mass transportation, myself :-D

Seriously, though, we have two all-news (except when WCBS-AM does the Yankee games, dammit) stations. And they're both owned by the same damned corporation. What incentive is there for them to do any serious competitive reportage? (Of course, there's so much local news that it's hard for them NOT to have more than they can handle, usually. But that's not a question of their ability; rather, it's a function of New York being a big ol' metropolis. Um, Gotham. Whatever :-)

Yes, it sounds like you deserve better. I still think if we can get a stock-buying campaign set up targeted at one of the big media owners, maybe we can make a difference.

Big Media

[bschilli.livejournal.com]

Clear Channel Communications has a Market Capitalization of 15.68 Billion dollars. To take control you'd need at least half that much.

Ben

Re: Big Media

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Yes, we would. That would require lots and LOTS of focus. And it wouldn't hurt to have some high net worth investors join in. It's difficult, but not impossible. (I work for an investment bank, and am all too aware of the numbers. But every journey begins with an intention.)

[kengr]

Do they have any naked *guys*??
:-)

[trdsf.livejournal.com]

I'm going to have to agree with twfarlan here; I've had XM since last August and it's brilliant. I got Air America without interruptions by Cincinnati Reds games, buncha comedy channels, the best classic rock channel I ever heard, and I can have them block the xian music and right-wing talk so I don't have to put up with it, even in passing. Boy, and there's nothing like being able to take a road trip and not have a favorite station fade out after a while.

Does it help any if I mention the Bob Edwards Show?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I'd forgotten about Colonel Bob, and it does help a little. Still can't really justify it right now.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Actually, yes. If you go to http://www.nakednews.com and look in the lower right, they've got a button to the Naked News Male Edition.

Re: Big Media

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Start buyin' stuff, gang. ;)

Siriusly

[paulk54321.livejournal.com]

I subscribed to Sirius a year and a half ago because Howard Stern was going there. At the time, I could listen to Air America too. It broke my heart when AAR went to XM. Now I have to listen to a crappy am station with hit and miss reception to get it. /em sigh

Re: Siriusly

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

See, I listen to AAM online. I listen to WCPE out of Chapel Hill, NC online. CBC Radio... online. Folk Alley... online.

And I feel much better about giving AAM, WCPE, and Folk Alley money.

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

Cue Don Henley's "Dirty Laundry".

It's not about informing anymore so much as it is about "entertaining".

We seem to be firmly pushing ourselves down the "Bread and Circuses" period of our society. Let's hope we can either correct the slide or there's something soft at the bottom. :-(

Re: Big Media

[nimitzbrood.livejournal.com]

I'm firmly convinced that even if we cam up with the money we wouldn't be "allowed" to buy. I'm sure they'd find some way to keep control. They have to by nature or they fail to survive.

Which in my opinion would not be a bad thing with the people concerned... :-/

[stdharma.livejournal.com]

XM is a good choice. They run weather and traffic reports for all major US cities. Part of the reason that my dad got it is because he was tired of having to hunt for decent stations while he's driving OTR for Heartland Express. Not only does he get his news, he also gets Coast to Coast AM overnights, and a very good selection of music on their channel Deep Tracks, which they tell me is like how FM Rock Radio in the 70s used to be.

You may think that it's not worth the money, Good Sir Tom, but consider this: Not only do you have stations that you can get your rant on about (Fox News is represented as well as another Right leaning channel) but you can also get the other side since they host Air America. YOu also have CNN, MSNBC and others represented.

Sorry this is long, so I will sum up: XM and Sirius are to radio what Cable TV was to regular free TV. If there's something local that you don't like, you can change the gorram channel and find something that you do.

Saint Dharma, patron saint of choices