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News :: Media |
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The Oncoming DE-Localization Of Our Local "NewsChannel" |
Current rating: 0 |
by Paul Riismandel
Email: paul (nospam) mediageek.org (unverified!)
Address: Champaign, IL |
21 Jan 2003
Modified: 10:01:04 PM |
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Tonight on NewsChannel 15 News at 10 I saw the first glimpse of the impending dismantling of local news at that station, as planned by owner Sinclair Broadcast Group. |
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Just after tonight's 10 PM local news broadcast ended, at about 10:34, I saw a new commentary segment called "The Point with Mark Hyman." It was a 30 second editorial, in the style I used to see when I was younger, when the local news director or station manager would come on and comment on a local issue.
Only this commentary had nothing to do with a local issue. It was about three seventh graders at La Valle Middle School in Colorado who were expelled for bringing a laser pointer to school, along with an exhortation to call the school to complain.
While the segment ran the following web address was on the screen: http://www.newscentral.tv
As a ardent mediageek, I know that NewsCentral is a new program being rolled out by Channel 15 owner Sinclair that will centralize local news broadcasts, with most of the program coming from their central studios in Maryland. This "the point" segment, I guess, is our first taste of this new approach to "local" news.
Really, of how much real interest is this story about studens expelled in Colorado to people in East-Central Illinois? While the story may be roughly indicative of a broader trend in school administration, it's otherwise of little consequence to people locally, except as something to get upset about that we actually have no control over.
Is this what we want from our "local" news?
Unfortunately, just recently Sinclair announced that it plans to roll out the full half-hour NewsCentral to all of its stations, including WICD-TV Ch. 15, within two years. This program will replace the local news broadcast. Say goodbye to your local newscasters, say hello to "local news" from Maryland.
I'm writing a longer article on this and the potential affects of the FCC media ownership review on our local media for the February issue of the IMC's newspaper, the public i (http://publici.ucimc.org). (psst -- you can see a draft of it right now at: http://print.ucimc.org/newswire/display/425/index.php )
For more news about Sinclair and its proclivities, see some entries on my website:
"Concern about Media Monopolies Plays in Peoria" - http://www.mediageek.org/archives/001992.html#001992
"Comments to the FCC on Media Ownership" - http://www.mediageek.org/archives/001991.html#001991
"Sinclair Moves To Consolidate Local News" - http://www.mediageek.org/archives/001923.html#sinclair |
See also:
http://www.newscentral.tv
http://www.mediageek.org
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Re: The Oncoming DE-Localization Of Our Local |
by Beth Stockstill
bstockstill (nospam) mindspring.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
19 Mar 2003
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Thank you for your observations. Our local news (WB22) in central North Carolina has been dismantled as well. I have tried to protest directly to them, but if you don't want to "tell us what you think" about a "point" they are not interested ( that is, I have been unable to get e-mail delivered). I am outraged that our weather guy and sports guy have been fired. I am outraged that we are being fed canned spam from where ever Sinclair is located. Help!!! |
