NBC local news promo

[Frank Ferreri]

There is a promo running on the Tampa NBC station. Brian Williams touting the importance of local news. Guess it is a shell that is supplied to affiliates and then the affiliate customizes it complete with their local news people. Very intersting choice of words though. At one point, Williams says "it is our job to EXPLAIN these complex issues" or something to that effect. The word "explain" hit me. Have we become so stupid that we need him or any other to "explain" the news and events in the world". Thought it is their job to "report" not "explain".

 

[formeraa]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

 

[dhett]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

That assumes that the journalist can think his way through a complex issue. I haven't found that to be the case, either.

 

[formeraa]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

That assumes that the journalist can think his way through a complex issue. I haven't found that to be the case, either.

Certainly, the younger reporters have extreme difficulty. OTOH, there are still a few grey-haired reporters around who do a darn good job.

 

[dhett]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

That assumes that the journalist can think his way through a complex issue. I haven't found that to be the case, either.

Certainly, the younger reporters have extreme difficulty. OTOH, there are still a few grey-haired reporters around who do a darn good job.

Very few, IMO. To borrow the Fox News tagline, let them report and I'll decide.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

That assumes that the journalist can think his way through a complex issue. I haven't found that to be the case, either.

Certainly, the younger reporters have extreme difficulty. OTOH, there are still a few grey-haired reporters around who do a darn good job.

Many of the younger "reporters" are merely what I could "information gatherers."

 

[formeraa]

To answer your question, I think the average person in this country cannot think their way through a complex issue. The lack of critical thinking skills is utterly astounding! Instead, people repeat talking points about an issue, rather than thinking it through. So, yes, the role of a modern journalist is partially to "explain" thie issue. That said, it is hard to "explain" a compliex issue in less than 60 seconds.

That assumes that the journalist can think his way through a complex issue. I haven't found that to be the case, either.

Certainly, the younger reporters have extreme difficulty. OTOH, there are still a few grey-haired reporters around who do a darn good job.

Very few, IMO. To borrow the Fox News tagline, let them report and I'll decide.

You can borrow Foxs's tagline, but they arguably have perpetuated the blur between explaining/commenting and reporting.

 

[dhett]

Very few, IMO. To borrow the Fox News tagline, let them report and I'll decide.

You can borrow Foxs's tagline, but they arguably have perpetuated the blur between explaining/commenting and reporting.

You'll get no argument from me; I find Fox News to be as much a part of the problem as anyone else.

But thanks for the permission to borrow.

 

[formeraa]

Very few, IMO. To borrow the Fox News tagline, let them report and I'll decide.

You can borrow Foxs's tagline, but they arguably have perpetuated the blur between explaining/commenting and reporting.

You'll get no argument from me; I find Fox News to be as much a part of the problem as anyone else.

But thanks for the permission to borrow.

Sadly, it seems to be a sign of the times. Not too long ago, I had some coworkers criticize me for reading a newspaper (seriously). Of course, none of them can hold a reasonable discussion of a complex issue -- it's either their way or the highway.

 

[TheRob]

CBS is running a similar promo for local affiliates, featuring Scott Pelley. I saw one today.