The 'News'
Posted: November 20 13, 11:16 am
I'm going to branch out here and use MCG's post to start it:
For instance, around here, the City of Conway bought a $130K Christmas tree that will be used every year for the foreseeable future during the holiday season. It's the biggest Christmas tree in Arkansas and is being put outside it's downtown area full of retail shops...a way to add to the atmosphere.
If people don't like it, that's fine. I understand the anti-government sentiment, obviously.
But, here is a transcript of a story that aired on the news last night and an excerpt:
This is basically just a narrative the news station has probably followed a million times. Taxpayer money, so find a taxpayer who doesn't like it.
Problem is, it's not taxpayer money. Well, it is, and it comes from a 2% tax that hotels and restaurants pay that goes to an advertisement fund for the City to do projects like this. As explained in this news story that actually covered what is actually happening.
Anyway, driving into work today, I listened to a local dj yick yacking about how the taxpayer money was being wasted. It's pretty obvious how misinformation breeds misinformation in a situation like this. And, basically, imo, it all boils down to a news station being too lazy to actually report what is happening and instead rely on the old tried and tested narrative of 'wasting taxpayer money' even when it is not.
Blah blah blah.
Annoying. I don't have anything to do with this project, but I do get irritated with irresponsible reporting that has seemingly taken over and rely on the old negative clichés to grab attention.
News organizations have seemingly gotten lazy with what they report. I know that controversy, fear, bad stuff draws more attention than success stories or feel good make you happy stuff. But, the same bad stuff is just being drummed up over and over and over, and then over, again because I guess that's what news organizations think sells.MrCrowesGarden wrote:Today, perfect example of ridiculous criticism.
We had a minor carbon monoxide scare at an apartment complex overnight. 30 people had to stand outside or sit in their cars for about two hours while fire crews and utilities ventilated (opened doors and windows) the apartment. No big flashing lights from fire trucks or anything like that. Honestly, it wasn't even all that big of a deal because it never even got below 40 last night. Of course, we sent our photographer out there to check it out and bring back video because that's what they want.
I get an email from my boss this morning saying we dropped the ball. The other two stations were live, should've sent our reporter out there live for two hours, our threshold for breaking news is extremely low, etc.
Except it doesn't merit that kind of coverage. We stuck with our initial story because it's got a broader impact to our target audience and viewers as a whole. I'm sorry, but 30 people who have to hang tight outside for a couple of hours doesn't mean that much to a metro area of about a half million people.
I also know that if we did send our reporter live, we would've been told that we need to rise above the herd mentality, don't just go out there and tell the same story five times (which this would've been), and think for ourselves.
It is the definition of a moving goal post, and every day jim's philosophy makes more and more sense-- and becomes easier and easier.
For instance, around here, the City of Conway bought a $130K Christmas tree that will be used every year for the foreseeable future during the holiday season. It's the biggest Christmas tree in Arkansas and is being put outside it's downtown area full of retail shops...a way to add to the atmosphere.
If people don't like it, that's fine. I understand the anti-government sentiment, obviously.
But, here is a transcript of a story that aired on the news last night and an excerpt:
http://www.katv.com/story/24016007/conw ... stmas-treeCONWAY (KATV) - A Christmas tree is supposed to symbolize the season, a season of giving. But some Faulkner County residents say their city's tree represents thousands of wasted tax payer dollars.
Christmas time is almost here and so is Conway's $130,000 reusable Christmas tree. The 54-foot tree is supposed to draw some attention but not this kind.
"I don't really believe it very wise to spend that much money on a tree," said Joanne Evatt, a longtime Conway resident.
It's the ultimate sticker shock for Evatt who can't decide which is a bigger deal a 54-foot community Christmas tree or the fact that it cost the city $130,000 of tax payer money.
This is basically just a narrative the news station has probably followed a million times. Taxpayer money, so find a taxpayer who doesn't like it.
Problem is, it's not taxpayer money. Well, it is, and it comes from a 2% tax that hotels and restaurants pay that goes to an advertisement fund for the City to do projects like this. As explained in this news story that actually covered what is actually happening.
http://www.thv11.com/news/article/28797 ... -to-Conway"We hope that it will bring a lot of business to downtown Conway. It will be a good draw and we've done a lot of things to downtown and it brings a lot of people from all over into downtown," said Gail Strack of Park Hill Home.
Though the price tag is a hefty one, Williams said it's money the city has already set aside. Hotels and restaurants pay the 2 percent advertising and promotion tax for projects like these.
Anyway, driving into work today, I listened to a local dj yick yacking about how the taxpayer money was being wasted. It's pretty obvious how misinformation breeds misinformation in a situation like this. And, basically, imo, it all boils down to a news station being too lazy to actually report what is happening and instead rely on the old tried and tested narrative of 'wasting taxpayer money' even when it is not.
Blah blah blah.
Annoying. I don't have anything to do with this project, but I do get irritated with irresponsible reporting that has seemingly taken over and rely on the old negative clichés to grab attention.