So here we are, the early stages of the 21st Century, trying to desperately decide where the wheels all came off, or at the very least, trying to figure out if we can get them back on.
I turn on a local TV channel, and what do I find? A pair of giggling school kids engaging with a spiky-haired fellow who looks like the epitome of the failed tennis teacher, who also talks in a manner that makes him sound as if every word was badly written by someone with a 7th grade grasp of the English language.
That’s what I get for choosing local television news.
Where once there were dedicated writers and readers of the news, those who honestly thought this was a good career choice, there now sits and stands the worst actors since a grade school version of “The Tempest”. All of them are saving up for either their next move when the inevitable corporate cost-cutting short circuits all their hopes, the latest in multi-colored light flashing hair extensions, or doing an “in depth dive” on cosmetic surgery with the kindly doctor who will hand out a tidy discount for the free publicity.
Save for those markets who still have a lick of actual credibility behind them, places such as New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, LA and maybe even Dallas, local television news has done it’s part to undermine and delete what was once real news gathering and reporting that would both inform and educate the masses.
Their lack of professionalism and journalism, sometimes not entirely the fault of talking heads, is one main reason why America is quickly resembling the roaring crowd of “Idiocracy”.
There’s not much news in local TV news these days, unless of course you really need to know how that record-setting sand castle was built in the seaside mall just in time for the planned appearance of Wizzo the Wonder Weasel and his traveling kids showcase.
But seriously, folks. A good deal of local TV news is either an over-produced or under-achieving collection of bad ideas and even worse personalities, all of whom have done their part in dumbing down what was once a fairly savvy collection of viewers.
While the alleged “talent” gets plenty of hit here, as noted, it’s not all their fault. Local TV news has been steadily declining since overlord corporate gaggles swooped in seeking a quick turnaround dollar, often nodding their heads while editorial decisions are made with the flip of a coin, and training the next generation of electronic journalists in ham-handed fashion worse than allowing your Grandma to try her hand at the AI immersive version of “Lord of the Rings”.
Though I hear some of those ladies wield a mean sword.
Here’s why local TV news has run aground and will remain off the rails in the foreseeable future.
1. Focus on Sensationalism Over Substance
"If it bleeds, it leads" is a common saying in the news industry. I was actually working at the Miami station when the Head News Honcho coined that phrase. Local TV news often prioritizes sensational stories like violent crimes, accidents, or disasters because they grab viewers' attention quickly. Same idea as rubberneckers on a busy highway where overturned trucks are the focus. This leads to a disproportionate focus on fear-inducing stories, giving viewers the impression that crime or danger is much more prevalent than it actually is. In-depth analysis and context are right out the window because of……..
2. Time Constraints
Local TV news typically airs in short segments, with each story only getting 20 to 90 seconds of coverage. Complex issues are often boiled down to brief summaries, sacrificing depth and nuance for quick sound bites. Management lords over it by making their on-air heads say things such as, “if you want more details, be certain to head to our website for more!”. In other words, “we have other media sources and platforms to fill for the sake of advertisers, and we don’t want anyone to think we’re ignoring the people who would rather watch it all on their smartphone”.
3. Prioritizing Ratings Over Journalism
Local TV stations are under pressure to maintain high ratings to attract advertisers. This often results in a focus on entertainment value rather than in-depth reporting. The days of controversial or divisive topics being dealt with are history. Advertisers don’t want it, the short-attention span audience doesn’t pay attention to it, and the more giggling and guffawing “happy talk” you can fill the airwaves with guarantees the lower-brained will hang in and stay engaged. Don’t get me started on weather reports, blown well out of proportion when anyone with that same smartphone can get almost the same thing in any one of numerous apps. Nothing says less about news coverage than weather, save for when an event strikes and its “all hands on deck”. Most nights it’s more about filling the time by broadcasting from Kansas City and showing the upcoming trends in Seattle.
4. Limited Resources
Many local TV stations have small staffs and limited budgets, which makes it difficult to conduct investigative journalism or cover important issues in depth. This is honestly where the talent gets a break from criticism. They’re being forced to do the jobs of 2 or more people with limited resources because the corporate suits want to squeeze more profit out of the news stone. More stations are being forced to show incredibly biased propaganda reports approved by someone high up the food chain, which destroys their local credibility in seconds. Some stations still use packaged reports from national stories that have no business on a local broadcast, but they do fill time and that video just looks awesome! Complex issues and stories? Head to the website, Smokey.
5. Corporate Ownership and Consolidation
Which leads us to the core of what has turned local TV news into a journalistic sham. Media consolidation. Large companies owning most local news stations, many of which have no background nor expertise in news or news programming. For example, Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar Media Group own hundreds of local stations across the U.S. These corporations often impose centralized content on their stations, which can reduce local flavor and depth in favor of those pre-packaged segments we discussed that may not be relevant to the local audience.
The most dangerous part in this is how corporate owners, such as Sinclair and others, let their political bias slip thru with heavy-handed “you’ll read this or be fired” editorial control.This quickly limits the diversity of viewpoints presented and leads to a homogenization of news content. In many cases, these companies have been proven to be shoveling specific political or corporate agendas that influence local news reporting.They don’t give a damn about the news. It’s all about the propaganda and the profit.
6. Lack of Investigative Reporting
This isn’t a real “lack of”, as it is more about the complete “absence” of. Plenty of stations will give this lip-service and right around ratings sweeps time they’ll ballyhoo their “EXTRA SPECIAL RIPPING INVESTIGATIVE SERIES” for maximum benefit, but once ratings are done, back to basics and stop wasting all that money and time. Investigative journalism is time-consuming and expensive. Local TV news, with its budget and staffing limitations, often doesn’t have the resources to dedicate to in-depth investigations. As a result, it relies more on quick, surface-level reporting and the reporter in the field scouring and finding the latest in “live shot” yellow tape scenes for easy sensationalism. Investigative stories that could hold local officials or institutions accountable are often missing from local news broadcasts, often driven by the believe that shorter and more “eye candy” will keep the viewers mesmerized. Sadly. more often than not, that thinking is correct.
7. Repetition and Lack of Variety
Local TV news can become repetitive, especially in smaller markets where there may not be enough newsworthy events to fill a daily broadcast. As a result, stories are often recycled throughout the day or across different news segments, leading to a sense of monotony. Viewers might see the same news about car accidents, weather updates, or minor local events covered multiple times, but with little to no meaningful analysis or broader context. Short, quick, fill the time and move on with the next extra-spiffy animation graphic and “whoosh” sounds.
8. Overemphasis on Soft News
Local TV news often spends a significant amount of time on "soft news"—stories about local events, human interest pieces, or feel-good stories—at the expense of more serious issues like politics, education, or economic challenges. That’’s because they’re easy to cover, are often handed to the assignment desks by PR types, supply all the necessary guests and background, and if there’s a live shot connected to it, another place for their reporters to show up and front to show how the station is so “community involved”.
9. Decline in Local Newsrooms
Many local news stations have experienced cutbacks in the number of reporters and support staff due to financial pressures, most of which come from horrible mismanagement at the top of the chain and then the need to recover profit as quickly and easily as possible. This has reduced their capacity to cover local government, public affairs, and investigative stories. The decline of local journalism means that important civic functions, like reporting on city council meetings, local elections, or state politics, are underreported, leaving gaps in the public’s understanding of their communities. In other words, more dumbing down of the audience.
10. Formulaic Presentation
Many local news broadcasts follow a predictable, formulaic structure: starting with sensational or breaking news, followed by crime reports, weather, sports (maybe), and finally a feel-good story to end the broadcast. This formula can feel stale and repetitive to viewers. It’s the same format every time because, again, it’s easy. It doesn’t take much thinking whatsoever. Plug and play. Let us not forget anchors and reporters often rely on clichéd language ("breaking news," "shocking footage," etc.), which can make the news feel scripted rather than engaging or insightful. Local TV news is filled with more bad actors than a Pauly Shore double feature.
11. Lack of Local Relevance
In smaller markets, local news stations may fill airtime with national or international stories that have little direct impact on the community. While this is sometimes necessary, it can feel out of place when viewers are expecting local coverage. As noted earlier, the massive tanker fire in Walla Walla means absolutely nothing to anyone in Charlotte or Boston, but that video is damn near gripping. When bored or needing to fill time, local news stations may also rely on stories from wire services like the Associated Press or use national network feeds, reducing the amount of truly localized content that reflects the specific interests and concerns of the community.
12. Emphasis on Personality over Content
Many local TV stations focus heavily on their anchors' personalities or gimmicks (e.g., quirky weather segments, funny banter between anchors, dressing up in Halloween costumes) to build viewer loyalty. While this can make the news feel more personal, it often comes at the expense of delivering serious, substantive journalism. The anchors and reporters are denigrated by management to looking and sounding like a badly scripted clown show. While a good deal of those faces still trying to be professional abhor it, there’s a growing segment of talent who yearn for it, as they believe it will open more entertainment doors for them when they get canned. And they all will, eventually.
13. Dependence on Press Releases
Because of limited resources, local news stations often rely on press releases from local government, businesses, or other organizations to fill airtime. These stories may not be critically examined or independently verified, leading to a lack of journalistic rigor and potential bias toward those who supply the information. These are little more than mini “infomercials” where the subject and station have a symbiotic relationship. The business gets free advertising, the station gets something they can claim is “local” or important. In most cases, it’s pablum for the masses.
Yes, there has been a lot here to digest. It’s important that smart viewers understand what’s happening, and how their eyeballs and loyalties are being used for nothing more than profit. In many cases, upper management wouldn’t give a spit about actual news, so long as the quarter hour numbers remain steady.
Improving local TV news would require more investment in journalism, greater independence from corporate interests, and a focus on delivering meaningful content that truly serves the local community.
So long as you keep watching what they deliver, there is no reason for them to change. As always, it’s up to the viewing public to decide when they’re being used, and when they will stop allowing such sloppy or absent journalism to be practiced.
Cue the giggling school kids.
Join us for more fact-based and "no fear" commentary and news on our free email newsletters. "The Business Beagle" covers the business scene with exclusive commentary while scouring the web for business news you won't find anywhere else. "Shakedown Street" is the news/sports/commentary home of "No Fear" coverage of events and issues where propaganda and misinformation go to die. SUBSCRIBE today and join the conversations.
Comments