# Just watched the nightly news...umm, WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 7, 2014, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996 "2014-08-07T00:32:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/21 "2014-08-07T14:09:31Z")
Between the dog stories and stories about sports figures, the network news is unwatchable. The lack of investigative journalism in both print and on TV is just appalling. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Librarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_librarian/32/402_2.png) [@The\_Librarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Librarian)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/22 "2014-08-07T14:31:37Z")
It helps if you remember that there is no such thing as “news”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/23 "2014-08-07T15:53:10Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Buzzfeed is probably the worst piece of media to ever exist. _Russia prepares to invade Ukraine and what happens next is unbelievable and will make you glad to be a human being…_ ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/24 "2014-08-07T16:36:10Z")
> [@7e42](#): > > I watched it and can’t for the life of me understand how a grown man gets his leg stuck in between the subway and platform:confused: [Mind the Gap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_the_gap) has been around since 1969, so it’s been an issue for at least 45 years. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/25 "2014-08-07T16:50:02Z")
I have no idea how people with web access have the patience to watch televised news, even of decent quality. You can’t skip the stories you have no interest in, and even the ones you are interested in can be read off a web site in like a hundredth of the time it takes for a talking head to read it to you. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/26 "2014-08-07T16:57:11Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Buzzfeed is probably the worst piece of media to ever exist. Except for nightly news. Yes. The bar is that low. ---
**Author:** ![7e42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/7/51bf81/32.png) [@7e42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/7e42)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/27 "2014-08-07T23:43:51Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > [Mind the Gap](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mind_the_gap) has been around since 1969, so it’s been an issue for at least 45 years. well he may have been high ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/28 "2014-08-08T01:41:11Z")
> [@Pai325](#): > > I think BBC has a better news show, and that’s what I watch. PBS Newshour is also worth a look. ---
**Author:** ![Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8c91f0/32.png) [@Bam\_Boo\_Gut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bam_Boo_Gut)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/29 "2014-08-08T14:42:18Z")
I also watch BBC, but lets face it they also have their no news policy - choosing this or that sensational story. > **[WHO declares international crisis as experts reveal Ebola can affect white...](https://tompride.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/who-declares-international-crisis-as-experts-reveal-ebola-can-affect-white-people-too/)** > > (satire?) Following an emergency meeting in Geneva today, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency after experts revealed the outbreak of Ebola in W… For UK news I check Tom Pride - it’s mostly satire (or is it?) but at least it’s funny and easier to read between the lines. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/30 "2014-08-08T15:35:12Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I have no idea how people with web access have the patience to watch televised news, even of decent quality. You can’t skip the stories you have no interest in, and even the ones you are interested in can be read off a web site in like a hundredth of the time it takes for a talking head to read it to you. My dad watched ABC news daily via TiVo. What with skipping the commercials and the fluff, it typically takes him about ten minutes to watch the whole show. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/31 "2014-08-08T16:27:49Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > they have skewed young with their newer format for a long time. significantly more feature, fluff and culture. Um that stuff is for the older folks, not the younger folks. The younger folks get real news off the internet instead. Broad generalizations of course. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/32 "2014-08-08T17:10:28Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > Um that stuff is for the older folks, not the younger folks. The younger folks get real news off the internet instead. > > Broad generalizations of course. You can always tell who they are catering to by the commercials. What gets advertised on network news these days? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/33 "2014-08-08T17:39:07Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > …also, wasn’t Cronkite a CBS man? I don’t get a chance to see it very often but I think Scott Pelley does I decent job given the 30 minute time limit. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/34 "2014-08-09T20:53:57Z")
When I win the lottery, I’m quittin’ my job and going to broadcast journalism school. Then I’m makin’ it my business to get the co-anchor chair at World News Now (the insomniac’s news program on ABC). I will spend ALL of each broadcast complaining about the non-newsworthiness of the stories on the pages in front of me, and insisting that everyone watching should be ashamed of themselves; that somewhere, there’s a rerun of Mr. Ed on that is less degrading to the viewers’ minds and dignity. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/35 "2014-08-10T02:24:52Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > they have skewed young with their newer format for a long time. significantly more feature, fluff and culture. Not their ads-pure geriatrics. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/36 "2014-08-10T02:30:13Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I have no idea how people with web access have the patience to watch televised news, even of decent quality. You can’t skip the stories you have no interest in, and even the ones you are interested in can be read off a web site in like a hundredth of the time it takes for a talking head to read it to you. 42" screen vs.14" ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/37 "2014-08-10T02:33:26Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > I’m assuming this is your first time watching ABC’s fine flagship news program. > > It’s ALWAYS like that. Glurge and utter crap. Every night. > > Want real news? Read Buzzfeed. [Ukraine](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=ukraine). [China Earthquake](http://www.buzzfeed.com/search?q=chinese+earthquake). Then listen to BBC Newsday at 10 PM on your local NPR talk station, for comet coverage and depressing Israel stuff. > > Down with David Muir! David Muir gets paid (handsomely) to read the script. He does not write it or select the items. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/38 "2014-08-10T02:53:00Z")
I think ABC News, both the broadcast and the internet versions, have replaced most of their experienced reporters with staff members who just monitor what is being talked about on Reddit. “ABC News. If you saw it on Reddit yesterday, it will be on our show tonight!” ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/39 "2014-08-11T00:39:35Z")
> [@LibrarySpy](#): > > Except for nightly news. Yes. The bar is that low. I have doubts that you’re familiar with buzzfeed. It’s like 90% lists of gifs that they steal from reddit. It’s worse than “Oww My Balls” or “Ass” from Idiocracy. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996/40 "2014-08-11T01:49:47Z")
On one hand, I sympathize. OTOH, half an hour of international “hard” news would be a never ending parade of impending disaster, suffering, war, trauma, grief, and death. I don’t think most people would watch that more than two nights in a row before turning it off forever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-watched-the-nightly-news-umm-wtf/694996.md?page=1)