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What Bugs You About TV News?

At the risk of being personally skewered, I offer the question: What bugs you most about local TV news ( please no personal attacks) ? It's no secret that local viewing is sliding, but why?

There was a time and not too long ago,when local news easily dominated the ratings. If it was 6PM you could bet the majority of TV sets would be tuned to a local news program.

Local news still commands a good number of viewers, but in a rapidly decreasing rate.

Is it because there are so many other options? Cable TV? The internet?

Or is it a lifestyle issue? Are people just not around the tv set like they used to be?

Maybe it's content? Car wrecks, crime, fires and murders are the staple of local news. Do these stories really interest you?

Is local news more hype than substance? Should we take on meatier topics? And if we did, would you really watch?

Or are we fighting a losing battle in the way we deliver the news. Is it time to rethink the paradigm? And if so, how?

What are your thoughts?

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Knox County officials

Knox County officials driving expensive SUVs"

Lord not another one! LOL

OK, if you read all of the story you find WATE has joined the ranks of the East Coast Liberal faction in their hate for SUVs, really check out how they (WATE) discribe the gas consumption on the new rides!

As for local leaders sporting an AMERICAN MADE vehicle that is both big enough to do the job and now new enough to not break down, heck way to GO! This is a progressive community and if they want to show some style while supporting an AMERICAN PRODUCT then they win on both counts.

Now go investigate something else, like the over nights at 6!

Mr. Patton, In response to

Mr. Patton,

In response to your rhetoric, there is an unlimited number of American made in the USA cars available that do not cost $40,000. Nobody is asking them to drive hybrids either. In a time of fiscal hardship, county leaders along with the sheriff should be setting a better example. And I feel as though a large number of people consider this type of journalism as quality news.

Most people say they

Most people say they don’t watch the news because it’s too sad. Why not give the viewers something to look forward to? Could I suggest a “person of the week”, “weird news” or “funny story” segment? "

Again, when Bill Williams hawks the kids, Ken goes to the festival of the week, Russ rides the carboard in the snow, Opie "aw shucks" the weather, and Mori hits the weather porch with new ruffles on her shorts folks watch. HGTV is the fastest growing cable network on the air and those that ask why have found because it is relaxed.

Local news has to be news first, but if it can't get folks to watch then it needs to give them what they want. 24/7 there is news now, most agenda driven, but still news. Local news can't "beat" those guys to a story but they can either expand one folks care about or pander to what viewers actually want, WBIR does both.

One thing I do not like

One thing I do not like about Channel 6 news is the constant and, in my opinion, irrelevant references to Channel 6 being the only station or the first station to cover a particular story. Another aspect I do not like is some stories simply get beaten to death. For example, the LaFollette Mayor getting busted for illegal gambling. For goodness sakes, it is not like he committed a serious crime. Was the story newsworthy? Certainly, but only once and then perhaps with a follow-up when the criminal charges were resolved. The story was beaten to death so much that I change the station when any reference is made to that story.

In a time of fiscal

In a time of fiscal hardship, county leaders along with the sheriff should be setting a better example"

Sorry you are talking to a Republican here! From my side of the street the economy is great, the stock market is kicking, property values, even in downtown Knoxville, are higher than GIBBS HALL, the new city mayor is not a jerk or a GREEN DUDE, the tax base is strong and growing, the gas prices are FALLING, and if they (those with the new rides) want safty along with pride in AMERICAN OWNERSHIP then they have picked two fine ways to get around. As for UNDER 40K cars, please...you get what you pay for, the CHEVY brand is quality, lord even Dina Shore sang about them!

Truth is again WATE has shown their East Coast LIberal stance in this latest response, please think about who you are talking down to and realize the Knoxville area is filled with great folks who love this country and love their ability to pick a car that both takes care of their needs AND their saftey!

One reason I don't watch

One reason I don't watch WATE or WBIR is because I have a sattelite without local channels.
The main reason I don't watch local news is simply because the media itself. When any story is done about Hancock County, all the media wants to focus on is the poverty. You may recall a recent episode of Oprah, we had one of our very own talking about "Poor Hancock County".
What the media doesn't seem to understand is that Hancock Countians are a proud group of people. The media fail to mention we are in "good standing" according to our test scores. We are not a "targeted" school system. We obviously do well with what we have. There was a recent story on WBIR about our first football team.....All they wanted to concentrate on is our poverty.
We have homes here in Hancock County that list for $300,000.00. Do you show those when you display scenes of Hancock County?? How about our beautiful sunsets? No, you'd rather look at the shacks or barns that are falling down or even abandoned. Do you talk to a teacher with a Master's Degree or even a doctorate? No, you talk to someone that barely completed high school. It's so sad, but I get the feeling that other counties look down on us, because they don't have what we do. We have low crime rates, we have helpful people, we have beautiful people here and we have beautiful landscapes.
As a woman, I never worry about having car trouble in Hancock County... I know within a few minutes, someone, usually more than one person, will stop to help me. If that happened in Knoxville or Morristown, that would make the news because it is so rare.... Here, it happens every day. People here help each other and care about each other.

That's my 2 cents...

When I go to bed at night

When I go to bed at night I'm not in the mood for just "news", I want to feel good about tomorrow. That's where WBIR and even WVLT (With thier "east tennessee kinda thing" campaign and Alan W's "Where are they now" Segments) are beating 6. I can get the "news" anywhere. For the most part, the three stations report the same stories. The exception to the feel good rule at 6 is Hinkin, I'll often flip over to watch his weather just because I've watched him for so many years, and he's never over the top dramatic about things.Not that you and Lori aren't good, you're both quite professional and talented.

Also, probably the Idea of the higher ups I'm sure, 6 has gained a reputation for being a bit sensationalistic in thier newscast and promos.

As for why ratings are going down over all... It's a lifestyle change. With TIVO and the internet, most folks just don't have the patience to sit through a 30 minute newscast.

Republican? Guess what, I am

Republican? Guess what, I am a republican too. That has little to do with this though. You act like there is nothing else safe other than an expensive SUV. I drive a volvo for safety of my family, does that make me a communist now? But you seem bent on trashing this site so good luck. East Coast Liberal...lol, that is a good one. Good luck to you too Gene putting up with this character and keep up the good work.

What bugs me about local

What bugs me about local news?

1. Smart ass news anchors who think that they are there to make/create/opine on the news instead of reporting it.

2. Stations that continually shout "look at how great we are" instead of allowing the viewers to determine that for themselves.

3. Stations that, when they screw up, don't have the decency to make as big a deal out of the retraction/apology as they did in reporting/sensationalizing the false story in the first place.

4. News anchors and reporters who seem to be elated when reporting something negative about a particular politician/political party they aren't personally supportive of.

The list could go on and on, but I work for a living instead of acting for a living.

after reading all of this, i

after reading all of this, i don't have time to "watch" the news i get most of my news via the net i like the idea of one good story everyday, but if it's mandatory is it news? there's enough good news out there, but bad news draws a bigger crowd we don't have news any more we have infotainment and it's usually not worth the time investment i really don't have any interest in sensational stories outside the viewing area used for filler maybe someone should check the cutting floor why have an hour or half hour for news when your material is exhausted in fifteen minutes

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