This Is Reporting?

[RicoGregg]

Last night (06-05) on KCAL/9 news at 10, a story was run about an 11-year old boy who graduated from college. The on-screen graphic informed us that the story was coming from East L.A., and much of the verbal reporting was about his academic accomplishments and how he plans to write a book for other "child geniuses", now that he'll have all this new free time. I didn't catch who the field reporter was.

So what was the problem with the story? Only this: They NEVER reported what college the boy graduated from! In East L.A. about the only possibilities are Cal State L.A., and a junior college, East L.A. College. If you stretch it, you might be able to count another JC, Rio Hondo College. But we'll never know, thanks to KCAL's vague reporting!

When they went back to the studio, co-anchors Pat Harvey & Rick Garcia talked up the boy some more, but they never mentioned the college, either.

It was truly sloppy "journalism", and journalism needs to be in quotes in this case.

I thought the media was supposed to answer questions, not leave them. I guess I was wrong.

 

[azumanga]

They NEVER reported what college the boy graduated from! In East L.A. about the only possibilities are Cal State L.A., and a junior college, East L.A. College. If you stretch it, you might be able to count another JC, Rio Hondo College.

Or, if he could manage to have his mom, dad or guardian take him to "school", practically any college or university is fair game.

 

[LKellerIII]

They NEVER reported what college the boy graduated from! In East L.A. about the only possibilities are Cal State L.A., and a junior college, East L.A. College. If you stretch it, you might be able to count another JC, Rio Hondo College.

Or, if he could manage to have his mom, dad or guardian take him to "school", practically any college or university is fair game.

It was East LA College - KCAL/KCBS does mention it on their website. Only an AA? What an underachiever! If this kid was Doogie Houser, he would have had his MD by now. ;D

http://cbs2.com/school/11.Boy.College.2.1033867.html

 

[K6JHU]

Actually you hear that a lot if you are paying attention. Appearently who, what, when, where, why and how are no longer required on TV news (not that there is much real news anyway on local TV). Radio is getting the same way. I have heard reporters on KNX go through an entire story (such as a fire) and never say where it is the fire is at.

What also bugs me on TV is where they run footage only because it looks interesting, tease it like crazy, and then find out it is from 2000 miles from where I am watching. And in some cases forget to run it at all.

To quote Simon and Garfunckel "I get all the enws I need on the weather report." although I am beginning to have doubts about that in LA.

 

[Hunter]

What also bugs me on TV is where they run footage only because it looks interesting, tease it like crazy, and then find out it is from 2000 miles from where I am watching. And in some cases forget to run it at all.

O.K. I'm glad that someone brought this up....what I don't understand is why most major news operations, such as my former employer KNBC and others, will tease a story going into a break several times until the end of the cast, when they finally feature it telling you absolutely no more information than was mentioned in the tease. Guess I should have asked Bob before I left....but, gawd how anoying.