Editorials

[bg02445]

Do any of the stations in your market air editorials on a regular basis?

In Boston, only WCVB airs editorials a few times a week.

The other stations, and those in Providence, do not air any at all.

 

[DToTheJ]

In New York City, we had the late, great Richard N. Hughes, then vice president of news for WPIX. Every editorial piece would run in the neighborhood of two minutes. At the end of the piece, Hughes would say to the camera: "What's your opinion? We'd like to know." Then it cuts to a still with the station's contact information.

Here's an example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOCv3mNgZE4

 

[nathannah]

WDRB in Louisville runs an editorial every single night which their GM writes and presents, and does ask for opinions on it from time to time.

I actually really miss them, if only because they at least highlighted something besides a 'bleeds it leads' story and took time away from the water skiiing squirrels, but I guess that commercials win out over opinion now. The Fairness Doctrine end sure made it decline really fast too.

 

[LKellerIII]

No editorials in the SF Bay Area for years now. The last I can recall was Ray Jacobs at KTVU. Though he was in station management, he clearly had broadcasting experience - he had a well modulated deep voice and looked very professional on camera. James Gabbert, the now retired maverick owner of KOFY TV20 used to do editorials from time to time when something was annoying him.

When threads on this subject come up, I always think of Pat Paulsen on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. Paulsen's first shot at fame arrived when he got the chance to spoof TV editorials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4kWLUnorTU

By the way, I don't think the Fairness Doctrine has anything to do with the decline of TV editorials. First of all, the FD has been weakened compared to the 60s and 70s when these TV editorials were all over the place. Second, as I understand it, the FD never prevented broadcasters from giving their opinion. If it did, there wouldn't be all right-wing radio stations in every American media market.

I suspect the explanation is that broadcasting is much more corporatized than it used to be. Most editorials were about local or regional issues. These days, management isn't as interested in local issues, and doesn't want to upset the various constituencies and have to answer complaint calls and e-mails.

 

[Mario500]

Milt Dereyna, a general manager for WEAR-TV in Pensacola, Florida during the station's early years, did editorials.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

WRTV (ABC-Indianapolis) was running an editorial instead of sports in their 7pm news the last time I watched it.

WFIE (NBC-Evansville, IN) used to run an editorial once a week or so from GM Debbie Bush. Bush has since moved on to another station, and I don't believe the new GM has done any editorials.

 

[Bengalsfan]

The GM of WMAZ-TV in Macon Georgia used to do editorials. However, since Mr McGouirk has retired, I'm not sure if they do them anymore.

 

[intx]

The Post-Newsweek stations do them: KPRC, KSAT, WDIV, WJXT, WKMG and WPLG.

 

[OCradiodude]

The only person that's given an on-air editorial in the last 20 years in Los Angeles was the late Hal Fishman of KTLA. He had one just about every weekday evening until the day he passed away.

 

[LKellerIII]

The only person that's given an on-air editorial in the last 20 years in Los Angeles was the late Hal Fishman of KTLA. He had one just about every weekday evening until the day he passed away.

I heard a few of Fishman's editorials over the years when I visited LA. At least the ones I heard seemed to be quite innocuous - like he was trying hard not to offend anybody. I can't help but remember that prior to his head-anchor status, Hal was second banana to George Putnam for a number of years (60s - early 70s). Putnam's One Reporter's Opinion editorials were generally blistering and inflammatory right-wing diatribes...generally focused on the "communist menace" he believed was taking over the world. Putnam also hated Otis Chandler, the "liberal" publisher of the Los Angeles Times. Chandler was a Republican.

When Putnam moved from KTLA to KTTV about 1969, the Times ran a political cartoon lampooning Putnam and his new KTLA competition - former Police Chief Tom Reddin. The cartoon showed George and Tom playing tug-of-war with an American flag - presumably to prove who was more patriotic. Putnam went nuclear in his editorial that night - he was close to tears because he was so upset by the cartoon. He seemed to consider any criticism of himself with Communism.