# Is local news just universally the worst thing on TV? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 18, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137 "2005-12-18T04:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/1 "2005-12-18T04:50:43Z")
I mean seriously. Is local news the worst shit on EVERY channel, EVERYWHERE? Is there anywhere, anywhere at all, where there is something WORSE on TV than the locals news “team”? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/2 "2005-12-18T05:17:35Z")
You must not watch a lot of TV. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/3 "2005-12-18T05:24:38Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > I mean seriously. > > Is local news the worst shit on EVERY channel, EVERYWHERE? Is there anywhere, anywhere at all, where there is something WORSE on TV than the locals news “team”? I have had the pleasure of watching the local news in at least 100 different cities in the last couple of years, as I travel a lot on business. If anything, you’re being polite. Local news is universally shitty; I have never seen an exception. They’re all exactly the same, follow identical formats, have largely identical “news teams,” follow the same stories the same way, have the same shitty production values and the same stupid theme music. Dave Barry’s old description of local newscasts pretty much summed it up; “Here is a car wreck. Here is a building on fire. This is stock footage taken years ago, but you can rest assured objects just like these crashed or burned in the Tri-County area today.” The stock answer is that “well, it must work or people wouldn’t watch it” which I find dubious. Television also brought us “girls club” and “That 80’s Show” and “Tru Calling” so it’s not necessarily true that they know what they’re doing. I have never, ever seen a local news show that did not follow the Standard Local News Format. I don’t think anyone has ever tried it a different way. Actually, that’s not entirely true; CP24 here in Toronto has adopted the use of “videographers” to do the on site reporting, rather than the usual practice of having a groomed and well dressed reporter with a camera crew. The effect is, basically, to make it look like CP24 can’t afford more than one person per crew. So it’s not hugely successful. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/4 "2005-12-18T05:39:30Z")
I haven’t been able to watch local news in years. In addition to the usual dreck that is universal to local news productions everywhere (I find the forced banter among the “news teams” especially insipid) the stations in these parts also have the annoying habit of going completely bonkers over ordinary weather events. They love to break into regular programming to deliver breathless special coverage of thunderstorms. God help you if there’s even a hint of a tornado watch somewhere. They’re going to go balls to the wall for three hours straight. They act like they’re covering armageddon. It’s insane. I’d much rather watch live car chases. At least those can be entertaining. Does anyone else ever root for car fugitives to get away? I do. I’m sick, I know. I just think it would be funny as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/5 "2005-12-18T05:41:04Z")
The worst thing would have to be soap operas, infomercials and whatever is on Sunday and Saturday afternoon. The local new here in New York City is not that bad. ---
**Author:** ![priapus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@priapus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/priapus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/6 "2005-12-18T08:49:59Z")
well,at least there is always the naked news ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/7 "2005-12-18T10:48:53Z")
Are we talking programming here, or just anything on TV? Because if it’s anything, I’m gonna cast my vote for ads by lawyers and car salesmen. I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen an ad by a car saleswoman. If we’re talking about just the programming, I’d have to say that some of the “Real Court” shows are the worst, especially when the judge clearly graduated in the bottom of his/her class. ---
**Author:** ![Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Harvey\_The\_Heavy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harvey_The_Heavy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/8 "2005-12-18T11:42:38Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > the stations in these parts also have the annoying habit of going completely bonkers over ordinary weather events. They love to break into regular programming to deliver breathless special coverage of thunderstorms. At least Minnesota _has_ weather. You wouldn’t believe how little it takes to make the newscasters go nuts here in Los Angeles. “I felt a drop! Get the sandbags! Board up the windows”. > [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Does anyone else ever root for car fugitives to get away? I do. I’m sick, I know. I just think it would be funny as hell. Are you kidding? How boring! I root for them to clip a semi, cartwheel ten times, burst into flames, and then the cops smoke him as he crawls out of the wreck. Haven’t seen it happen yet, but that’s the beauty of seeing a chase live: You never know how it’ll end! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/9 "2005-12-18T18:33:26Z")
Yeah, it’s the worst. Now, this is not to say that certain other programs aren’t worse on a “head-to-head” comparison. But the news doesn’t **have** to be so insipid (there are actually good news programs to use as models), and it **should** be better – it’s supposed to be a public service of sorts, not some mindless drivel for the sole purpose of boosting ratings numbers. I find it flabbergasting that the brain-dead sheep who work in the field can keep a straight face while calling themselves “journalists.” I’m embarrassed just to be on the same planet with them. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/10 "2005-12-18T18:37:30Z")
Actually, some L.A. local news is first-rate. KTLA has for years been ahead of the curve on breaking stories and local politics. The rest, I am afraid to say, suck as bad as **lissener** thinks they do. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/11 "2005-12-18T18:40:35Z")
> [@priapus](#): > > well,at least there is always the naked news Naked newscasts have the least coverage. Ba-dum-BUM. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/12 "2005-12-18T18:49:39Z")
> [@](#): > > going completely bonkers over ordinary weather events I’ve seen this too, and also find it very annoying. I call it a “weather orgasm.” ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/13 "2005-12-18T19:06:28Z")
I dated a news anchor here in Chicago. She was a bright, informed journalist. I also got the chance to meet with the most of the staff at the station. Almost to a person, they were well-informed, hard working journalists. Then I met one of the producers. As he put it, news doesn’t sell, misery, hard luck stories and puppies do. I’ve been watching Chicago Tonight ever since. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/14 "2005-12-18T22:40:07Z")
My local news program had the slogan: “All the news WE THINK you need to know” They even put the emphasis on the ‘we think’ part. Made me nuts every time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@EvilHamsterOnCrack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilHamsterOnCrack)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2005, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/15 "2005-12-18T23:55:38Z")
I dunno, I don’t mind the local Atlanta news, especially with regards to approaching weather, etc. If anything, they’re useful to let us know when schools are out. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/16 "2005-12-19T00:34:36Z")
> [@TJVM](#): > > I’ve seen this too, and also find it very annoying. I call it a “weather orgasm.” The technical term is “meteorospunk.” ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/17 "2005-12-19T01:21:55Z")
One thing I’ll say, none of these ‘talking heads’ will ever be bumped up to any national news station, or even the big 3 in New York City. Those jobs are well wrapped up in human perfection aesthetically. These people are down right pretty or handsome, Movie star quality. How often I’ve laughed at the local news people…think being beaten by an ugly stick… There’s a lead anchor in Westchester that stands 5 foot tall. He looks like a 3 year old behind Dad’s desk. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/18 "2005-12-19T02:26:49Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I dated a news anchor here in Chicago. She was a bright, informed journalist. I also got the chance to meet with the most of the staff at the station. Almost to a person, they were well-informed, hard working journalists. Then I met one of the producers. As he put it, news doesn’t sell, misery, hard luck stories and puppies do. > > I’ve been watching Chicago Tonight ever since. Perhaps then you remember the noble WBBM experiment. Tired of being #3 in the ratings, they changed their local news to be intelligent, hard-hitting, analytical and devoid of fluff. News was REAL news, weather was short and to the point and sports was low on the totem pole. The critics were impressed. It tanked. It tanked badly. The ratings plummeted. The disaster was so complete that ratings doctors will use it for decades to come as an example of “news doesn’t sell.” ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/19 "2005-12-19T06:55:16Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen an ad by a car saleswoman. I have. They’re not any better. ---
**Author:** ![aktep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f0a364/32.png) [@aktep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aktep)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2005, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137/20 "2005-12-19T07:00:21Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The stock answer is that “well, it must work or people wouldn’t watch it” which I find dubious It’s not that people like to watch the news, it’s that people like to \* say \* they watch the news. I remember a few years ago, an article in the local paper about the local news ratings. When the ratings were gathered using the annoying little booklets you fill out and send in, the 3 local stations that ran news at 10pm came out ahead of the station that ran reruns of The Simpsons. For one rating period, set-top boxes were used to record what the TV was actually tuned in to, and it turned out that The Simpsons was a runaway winner in the 10pm slot. Also about that time, there was a survey conducted asking “Who is your favorite local news anchor?” “I don’t know” was the clear winner. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-local-news-just-universally-the-worst-thing-on-tv/336137.md?page=2)