News isn't what it was when I was younger, you could not be more correct about that. It's entertainment value now precedes the importance of what is happening.
Too many experts were brought in to do focus groups and polling to determine what colors, music, lighting, and special interest pieces can be done in lieu of reporting. It is sad.
I once was a spokesman for two governors, a presidential campaign, the 12th largest school district in the country in what was then the fifth largest market, and did STEM promotion projects for the largest energy corporation in the major markets as well. I have marveled at how much the industry changed.
(BTW, 90s, is plural, no apostrophe. I highlighted each of the apostrophes that make the years possessive. Also: He said, "Go get that story." (The punctuation goes inside the quotes, as in "The shirt tucks/goes inside the pants.")
I'm glad water main girl survived. Used to be that her photog or producer would have grabbed her and the camera and gotten out of the way, or she'd have squealed from the producer yelling "GET OUT OF THE WAY!" in her IFB. But I digress.
It is refreshing, however, to hear someone still advocating for real news.
A funny story, the first press secretary I worked for used to say that the weather segment, the one that brings in the most viewers, should be reduced to a crawler in the lower third. Having done that, the extra five minutes for that segment should be allotted as a third news block.
Too bad things have gone in the opposite direction! Thanks for writing this. It was fun to read.
