WBZ-TV's Coverage Of Grand Opening Of CBS Scene Restaurant In Foxboro

[David Tomm]

I didn't see BTP this week but I'm with Emily on this one.  If WBZ-TV  
just did the special, I would've had less of a problem with it, since  
the news department is the station's only on-air representatives.   
However, this restaurant has been a full blown "news story" for the  
last few days on all of their newscasts.  They have obviously  
mentioned the station's ties to CBS Scene in their reports, but  
still, it's not news.  The station should have run promos for the  
special during commercial breaks inside the newscasts, but without  
using the anchors.  It would have essentially done the job without  
blurring the line between news and marketing.  It's a shame that they  
sold out their journalistic integrity in the name of "corporate  
promotion and synergies."

-Dave Tomm
"Mike Thomas"


On Sep 6, 2008, at 5:49 PM, Mark Watson wrote:

>  An article in Saturday's Boston Herald about WBZ-TV's coverage of  
> the grand opening of the CBS Scene Restaurant at Gilette Stadium in  
> Foxboro. Seems WBZ-TV didn't spring to send any reporters to cover  
> either political convention this year, but provided extensive  
> coverage of the upcoming CBS Scene opening, including originating  
> newscasts from inside the restaurant and Saturday night  
> broadcasting a live opening night red carpet special hosted by news  
> anchors Jack Williams and Lisa Hughes. Emily Rooney discussed this  
> on last night's "Beat The Press" on WGBH-TV, saying that WBZ has  
> "forfeited" their news judgement. Link to the Herald article:
>
> http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg? 
> articleid=1117309
>
>   Note that the CBS Scene is a joint venture of CBS, owners of WBZ,  
> and the Kraft Group.
>
> Mark Watson
>