News or dance contest

[Herschel Sills]

Whether you're conservative, liberal or whatever, are you concerned that our society seems totally oblivious to what's going on in the world and in our country today? There's more interest in American Idol and in who's the best comedian, the best dancer, who's smarter than who's-it, on and on. We who are or have been in broadcasting have strong opinions about these current events but it seems that we're the only ones! How many people watch or listen to the news anymore? How many care?

 

[number one fan]

Whether you're conservative, liberal or whatever, are you concerned that our society seems totally oblivious to what's going on in the world and in our country today? There's more interest in American Idol and in who's the best comedian, the best dancer, who's smarter than who's-it, on and on. We who are or have been in broadcasting have strong opinions about these current events but it seems that we're the only ones! How many people watch or listen to the news anymore? How many care?

No, I'm not. Why should I be concerned?

Watching news is not the same as knowing what's going on in the world. People have abandoned radio and TV news because it's dull, not interesting, not relevant, dumbed down and not a good use of anyone's time. Right here on my web browser I have access to the AP and Reuters wires, major newspapers from around the world, audio and video of news events. I have more access in my computer than all but major network newsrooms had 20 years ago (and almost as good as they have now). I can read and watch/listen to what I want, when I want. I pick what I think is important, not what they decide I should know. Who needs them?

Prime time entertainment shows have always gotten bigger audiences than news. More people watched The Beverly Hillbillies than Walter Cronkite (Jed and Granny are still on and the shows hold up well). If a town had two top 40 stations baby boomers flipped from one to the other when the news came on, and stations scheduled news to minimize audience loss 55/:25, :15/:45 and :20/:20).

People were making the same complaint as you back then, especially people in the news business who have a product to sell.

 

[hammondo]

Hersch,
Get out more. You''ll enjoy it. You sound like "AJ" - Tony Sopano's son.

You'd be very happy at bumping in to people NOT IN RADIO who make the rude, bad spelling, (and often times bad smelling) poor grammar users but "EXPERT at EVERYTHING ELSE" radio folks show you how "bottom feeding" the radio biz has become. I'm appalled that often tmes, even network news readers CAN'T READ!!!

I agree with number one fan who said "People have abandoned radio and TV news because it's dull, not interesting, not relevant, dumbed down and not a good use of anyone's time."

The only exception may be WGN, Chicago (who is not what it once was) but still good (wait til the new owner takes over!). I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 4 tv stations with news, and a couple of radio stations too. For the most part THEY ARE ALL PATHETIC.

 

[Radio_Realist]

We who are or have been in broadcasting have strong opinions about these current events but it seems that we're the only ones!

It's worse than that. Look at how many participants in here get upset with threads that have more depth than two or three posts, or in which participants express deep opinions. Even in this forum, many of the participants don't want to have to read anything serious or controversial. They just want to "talk about radio", so long as the conversations never escalate beyond trivia and chat.

 

[Al Johnson]

We who are or have been in broadcasting have strong opinions about these current events but it seems that we're the only ones!

It's worse than that. Look at how many participants in here get upset with threads that have more depth than two or three posts, or in which participants express deep opinions. Even in this forum, many of the participants don't want to have to read anything serious or controversial. They just want to "talk about radio", so long as the conversations never escalate beyond trivia and chat.

Amen. Fortunately, not so much on this board.