I’m not exactly sure when it happened, but my dream job would definitely be becoming a network news anchor. I don’t even know if I would prefer being on the Evening News or in the morning, but think how cool it would be to be the face of one of the top three television networks in the United States.
Having stated that dream, I have basically no experience in front of a camera, but I’m to change that by getting an internship in the fall with a local TV station in Peoria, and I could practice using a teleprompter and talking in front of a camera off-of-the-air. Although I love writing, and hope to always write feature stories (I will post one I wrote this week about Bradley basketball assistant coach in a couple of days) at my future job, broadcasting has always intrigued me as something I would love to do.
Now after giving out my goals for my future, I think Katie Couric is making the right move for her by going to daytime television, because she wasn’t the average network anchor. Couric is almost bigger than the news. However, even though she is a big time anchor, she didn’t produce for the Evening News. Some places are going to say its because she is a woman, and that women aren’t successful in television anchoring. I disagree with that point of view. Couric just didn’t suit the Evening News. She was excellent in the morning, but failed at night because it just wasn’t her style. Couric is one of my favorite broadcasters, but she doesn’t fit in the group of Brian Williams, Diane Sawyer, or Dan Rather. Those broadcasters just have the style that suits them for politics, and the trouble in the world. Couric is much more chippy and exciting, which makes her the ideal morning news anchor. My comparison would be Stuart Scott would be an awful news anchor, because his personality doesn’t fit the rugged and tough news.
Another debate topic is the falling of network news. No longer are people flocking to the news on CBS, ABC, and NBC, but rather listening to the conservative Fox News or liberal CNN.
Here are the evening news ratings for the week of April 4th and March 28th:
April 4th ratings:
NBC- 8,430,000 total viewers/2,560,000 aged 25-54
ABC- 7,840,000/ 2,140,000
CBS- 5,420,000/ 1,670,000
March 28th ratings:
NBC- 8,760,000/2,610,000
March 28th ratings:
NBC- 8,760,000/2,610,000
ABC- 7,860,000/2,170,000
CBS- 5,620,000/1,690,000
I want to discover ways to make the evening news better for the next generation as the 25-54 numbers are pretty grim, and I don’t think the under 20 age group is adding to those weekly ratings. The evening news has to produce something that I can’t find on the Internet, and forces me to watch it everyday. 60 Minutes is a show that does a great job of that. Other than that, that is the big answer that I’m searching for. If anyone has some great ideas, throw a comment onto this post.
I want to discover ways to make the evening news better for the next generation as the 25-54 numbers are pretty grim, and I don’t think the under 20 age group is adding to those weekly ratings. The evening news has to produce something that I can’t find on the Internet, and forces me to watch it everyday. 60 Minutes is a show that does a great job of that. Other than that, that is the big answer that I’m searching for. If anyone has some great ideas, throw a comment onto this post.
The truth needs to come out.. how do we get the truth out? well this blog is a start.
ReplyDeletePeople who set out to go into journalism to uncover truth is who we need in there.. but that won't change what the networks force you to cover.
we have few options, NPR, liberal? no I don't think so. The public is truth. great democracies start go side by side with countries with great public media.
The role of the TV "evening news" in our lives has changed due to the vast improvements in communications technology. Now you can get/see the news 24/7 on your cell phone, Ipad, whatever. What news do you hear for the 1st time on the evening news? More detail or human interest aspect, usually. I think. GN
ReplyDeleteI agree with the more human interest aspect, but CBS already has 60 Minutes, and the morning shows usually cover human interest topics. I think the news is in an extremely tough situation, and that morning news is going to become what the evening news use to be for a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteBobby