Fw: Has Broadcast News really changed this much? (thanks, Harry Weinstein)

[Dan Strassberg]

Thanks to Len Zola and his Media Gang updates, which are available only by
e-mail (hence no link avaialble in lieu of the post). AFAIK, this is NOT
copyrighted material; it certainly was not marked as such.

--
Dan Strassberg, dan.strassberg@att.net
eFax 707-215-6367

----- Original Message -----
From: <LenZola@aol.com>
To: <LenZola@aol.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2005 1:19 PM
Subject: Has Broadcast News really changed this much? (thanks, Harry
Weinstein)


> In an effort to explain the changing world of  Television News I have
listed
> the new definitions of some old TV News  cliches:
>
>
> "WE INTERRUPT THIS PROGRAM TO BRING YOU A SPECIAL  REPORT":
>
> OLD: The president has been shot.
>
> NEW: A cute girl is  missing.
>
> "BREAKING NEWS":
>
> OLD: The president will  resign.
>
> NEW: There's a car on the side of the road with a  flat.
>
> "NEWS ALERT":
>
> OLD: Man will land on the moon within  the hour.
>
> NEW: Man landed on Pam Anderson over the  weekend.
>
> "EXCLUSIVE"
>
> OLD: We are the only people he would  do an interview with.
>
> NEW: We are the only people he would do an  interview with
> from 7:43 am - 7:48 am.
>
> "LIVE!"
>
> OLD:  Live!
>
> NEW: Live (on tape or possibly an :01 generic for  everyone)!
>
> "STORM CENTRAL IS IN FULL GEAR!"
>
> OLD: A major,  possibly record-breaking storm is headed our way and there
is
> important  information you need to know for your safety.
>
> NEW: It's looking sorta  cloudy, isn't it?  Why not buy a loaf of bread
and a
> gallon of milk from  one of our grocery store sponsors?
>
> "WE HAVE A CREW ON THE  WAY."
>
> OLD: We have a crew on the way.
>
> NEW: We just saw the  story on the other channel and we're calling in our
> truck guy from his day  off.
>
> "WE HAVE NEW DETAILS..."
>
> OLD: We have found out  additional facts that are new and pertinent to
your
> understanding of this  complex story.
>
> NEW: We got nothin', but we're rewriting the copy in the  present tense.
>
> "OUR TEAM COVERAGE"
>
> OLD: Four reporters on a  big story that requires several locations to
tell
> properly.
>
> NEW: Eighteen  reporters on a non-story, possibly standing within inches
of
> each  other.
>
> "WE ARE SENDING OUT OUR CHOPPER."
>
> OLD: Because  there's a riot in the streets, and aerials will provide
> perspective as to its  intensity, range, and danger.
>
> NEW: Because the promos say we  will.
>
> "WE ARE THE NUMBER ONE NEWS STATION IN TOWN!"
>
> OLD: We  won in the ratings.
>
> NEW: We won in the ratings among 34-59 year old  middle-income white
females
> earning $34,500 - $52,875 with two or fewer kids who  are expected to
purchase
> shoes in the next quarter.
>
> "GO TO OUR WEBSITE  FOR MORE INFORMATION."
>
> OLD: Go to our website for the exact same  information.
>
> NEW: Go to our website for more information buried among car  ads, Google
> ads, our marketing message, our "community" work, team bios, show
schedules and
> how to buy advertising on our channel.
>
> "WE ARE MAKING  CALLS RIGHT NOW TO FIND OUT MORE."
>
> OLD: We are making calls to our  contacts who can give us the inside
scoop.
>
> NEW: We are waiting for the AP  update thingy to go "ping"!
>
> "THIS STORY WILL HAVE MAJOR IMPACT HERE AT  HOME."
>
> OLD: Ways the national or international story directly impacts  our
community.
>
> NEW: Someone in our 250 square mile area has a cousin who  knows someone
> there.
>
> "THERE HAS BEEN A MAJOR OUTBREAK OF A DEADLY  VIRUS."
>
> OLD: 35,000 people are infected and it is spreading out of  control.
>
> NEW: It showed up in a dead bird.
>
> "THIS JUST  IN..."
>
> OLD: We just found this out and we want you to know about  it.
>
> NEW: We finally got the prompter to work.
>
> "JEFF SMITH IS ON  ASSIGNMENT."
>
> OLD: Jeff Smith is doing a weeklong investigation into  City Hall
corruption.
>
> NEW: Jeff Smith is holding out for more  money.
>
> "OUR REPORTER JOINS US BY VIDEOPHONE."
>
> OLD: Because  we wanted to get this to you quickly, and it's the best we
can
> do right  now.
>
> NEW: Because it's so much cheaper than a live truck, a truck op, a
cameraman
> and satellite time.
>
>
> "VISIT OUR BLOG."
>
> OLD:  Our what?
>
> NEW: Our GM saw someone else doing it, so here it  is.
>
>
> "ARE YOUR CHILDREN IN DANGER?  WATCH US TONIGHT TO FIND  OUT."
>
> OLD: Yes, there is contaminated water at our playground that is  making
> children ill.
>
> NEW: No they aren't.  Good tease writing,  though.
>