Local Vs. Entertaining

[lovethebiz]

So, it's an on-going debate between air talents and program directors(at least in my experience)...If you're trying to do a local show and you have some entertaining content with absolutely no local ties (Hollywood News and Gossip segments, for example, esp. on AC/HAC stations)do you use it or toss it? I've heard some say that if it's not local, forget it. They don't care how entertaining it might be...Others say, the most important thing is to be relevant, timely, provocative, fun and entertaining followed by as local as possible...but don't throw away an entertaining subject/content/prep just because it isn't local...
Which is it?
What do you think?
--personally, I say if you're doing local news, sports, weather and traffic...along with other local elements...first and foremost, be entertaining...make people laugh, make them think and have some fun.
Being local is very important, but you shouldn't throw away a subject/content just because it didn't happen in your town.

 

[middlega]

> What do you think?

I think I might consider applying my old "water cooler test" to the item.

Generally speaking, if "local" people are talking about it at the water cooler at the office across the street from the station, then it's probably "local enough" to use in some capacity.

After all, those people (AND their interests) ARE "local".

 

[whyhellothere]

Being local for the sake of being local doesn't necessarily mean anyone is going to care. If all your show prep is talks about the school board meeting last night, there's a good chance not a whole lot of people are going to care.

Bottom line is to make what you're doing entertaining and relevant. Whether that is what is happening in town or happening in Hollywood.



> So, it's an on-going debate between air talents and program
> directors(at least in my experience)...If you're trying to
> do a local show and you have some entertaining content with
> absolutely no local ties (Hollywood News and Gossip
> segments, for example, esp. on AC/HAC stations)do you use it
> or toss it? I've heard some say that if it's not local,
> forget it. They don't care how entertaining it might
> be...Others say, the most important thing is to be relevant,
> timely, provocative, fun and entertaining followed by as
> local as possible...but don't throw away an entertaining
> subject/content/prep just because it isn't local...
> Which is it?
> What do you think?
> --personally, I say if you're doing local news, sports,
> weather and traffic...along with other local
> elements...first and foremost, be entertaining...make people
> laugh, make them think and have some fun.
> Being local is very important, but you shouldn't throw away
> a subject/content just because it didn't happen in your
> town.
>

 

[OldiesCat]

Totally agree. Each day's major "buzz" story could be local, regional, national or international. If your listeners are talking about it, we should be talking about it.

> Being local for the sake of being local doesn't necessarily
> mean anyone is going to care. If all your show prep is
> talks about the school board meeting last night, there's a
> good chance not a whole lot of people are going to care.
>
> Bottom line is to make what you're doing entertaining and
> relevant. Whether that is what is happening in town or
> happening in Hollywood.

 

[FloridaBear1776]

Cleveland Wheeler of "Q Zoo" fame in Tampa had a few thoughts... remember the Zoo was VERY local, more local than most morning shows and even more locally political than most locally based political talk stations are today ...

http://www.q105tampabay.com/qzoo.html