Social Media Clobbers Traditional Media on Bin Laden Coverage

May 2nd, 2011

I was first alerted to an “important” President Obama speech through a text message on my Android X from CNN.  I checked in with MSNBC.com and found out the speech was happening at 9:30 p.m. Central.  Several minutes later a crawl on NBC TV gave me similar information.  That was the extent of the info.

I jumped on Facebook and Twitter – and quickly was able to find out what really was going on – Osama Bin Laden was dead!  Killed by a U.S. special ops team!  The information was now pouring in on social media.  Bin Laden had been shot in the head.  The U.S. did DNA testing on his body to assure it was the bastard.  He’d been killed in a mansion in Pakistan.

Meanwhile the TV networks were treading water – blah-blah-blah – as they waited for President Obama to come out for the speech.  The minutes droned by.  It was obvious the networks knew what the speech was about – but apparently bound by some kind of an embargo from their sources – were  tight-lipped about what the speech was about.

Meanwhile on social media I was interacting with people from across the country – ecstatic that the 9-11 terrorist leader was finally dead.  I was sharing our relief and sense of pride that Americans had killed Bin Laden.  I was reading heartfelt comments from people who had lost friends and relatives in the Twin Trade Towers collapse.  And, of course, there was also erroneous information on the streaming social media “news reports.”  One post said that six Americans had been killed in the raid.  That turned out to be untrue.  But even that “mistake” was corrected within minutes by other posts.

Finally, the traditional TV networks, growing weary of President Obama’s continuing delay of his speech, confirmed that Bin Laden had been killed.  I believe CNN led the way in breaking the self-imposed embargo.  But that was the extent of their information.  They returned to their blah-blah-blah – this time with so-called expert opinions.

At the same time, I was growing frustrated at the traditional media’s talking heads because I knew – thanks to social media – that Americans were responding to the news even before Obama made it official.  Twitter feeds told me that fans at a Philadelphia Phillies game had broken out in chants of “USA, USA.”  I learned from Twitter that hundreds of people were gathering outside the White House singing the national anthem and chanting “USA.”  The traditional media had a live shot of the White House from a distance – but apparently no one thought (even though they had reporters on the White House grounds) to show viewers some live video of the gathering celebration.

The Twitter Universe told me other fascinating information.  The widow of a man killed on 9-11 was on an airplane when she learned the news – broke out in tears – and the entire cabin was comforting her.  Many were now gathering at Ground Zero to share this historic moment.  A Facebook page had been created dedicated to Bin Laden’s death and there were already over 120,000 people on it.  There was a $25 million bounty on Bin Laden – would the Navy Seal who pulled the trigger get that money?

Finally, CNN showed live video of the now thousands of people outside the White House – cheering and waving American flags.  That was about 30 minutes after I learned about this impromptu celebration from social media.  It was nice to finally see those happy people – but I only gave it a glance.  I was too busy learning more information – and the American perspective of this historic event – from social media.

Social Media even beat the traditional media on when President Obama was finally going to make his appearance.  While the network talking heads chatted away with no word of when he might show up, I learned from Twitter that the speech was going to be in two minutes.  Sure enough, a couple minutes later CNN showed President Obama strolling toward the microphone.

For a guy who has been involved in the traditional news business for over 40 years – this was a real lesson learned.   If the traditional networks lost a guy like me to social media on one of the most historic nights in American history – what chance do they have to capture the hearts and minds of the younger, highly connected generation.  Many make the mistake of thinking these younger folks in their 20′s and 30′s have no interest in keeping up with the news.  That is a very wrong – and potentially deadly view for traditional media to take.   Did you see who the majority of those excited people were outside the White House – it was those 20 and 30 year-olds.   They care about news – but as traditional media plods along – stuck in its old ways – these youger folks – and even some aging Baby Boomers like me – turn to the lightning fast, more interesting, more connected social media universe instead.

I learned one other important lesson about social media during the Bin Laden event  – it is a a helluva lot more satisfying to engage in the two-way sharing of this historic moment with “real people” whose lives were changed forever by 9-11 – than sitting passively watching anchors and experts give their one-way opinion.

Jim

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Larry The Cable Guy Knows News!

April 3rd, 2011

I was at a Larry The Cable Guy Show the other day, laughing along with everyone else until he went off on a rant about local TV News.  I was shocked to see that Larry The Cable Guy knows news.  It has been evident throughout his very successful “redneck” comedy career that he understands middle America.  But I saw it first hand when he went off on local TV news.

Larry said, “I never watch TV news.  It is nothing but bad news.  98% of us love our neighbors, are good people and lead good lives.  But all you see on TV news is bad news.  Every night they tell us – ‘The economy is bad’ – well no @#$% we all already know that.”  Most viewers share Larry’s viewpoint.  In fact, in a recent telephone study in a Midwest market – over 60% of all local TV news viewers said they had stopped watching because of the nightly beat down of bad economic news where they lived.

I wish that every news director, producer and reporter in America could have been sitting in that audience when Larry tore into local TV news.  The audience roared their approval, and gave him the biggest applause of a night of big applause.  It was eerie – I could feel the passion of the people sitting all around me.  They agreed strongly with what Larry was espousing and I could feel their anger about the situation.  It turned into the most emotional focus group I have ever been in.

Of course, we at AR&D have been telling our client TV stations for years that they need to mix in positive news with the daily dose of bad news.  Unfortunately, that always seems to get misconstrued into – “Oh, you want us to do ‘good news’ – you know like the water-skiing squirrel and the 100 year-old’s birthday party.”  NO!  NO!  NO!  We want you to reflect your community.  Reflect the good things going on, as well as the bad things.  Bring balance to your newscast.

And please be more creative than putting a “Good News” or “Positive News” segment in a newscast once or twice a week.  Weave the balance of positive and negative news throughout every newscast.  Don’t do a package on the latest one-on-one murder, and then do a 10-second voiceover of a ribbon cutting for a new business.  Tell your viewers how many jobs that new business is providing – and how to get them.  That is balance.

In recent months, we have added a question to our TV viewer surveys – gauging their interest in a station that “Uncovers encouraging stories of economic change, positive outcomes and what’s working around the area – proof that things aren’t all bad.”   You guessed  it – it scores in the top three for viewers in market after market.  And, NO, they are not saying the politically correct thing – they are reflecting the view of a huge majority of viewers in your market.  They want balance.  They want hope along with the bad news.

If you still don’t buy into that philosophy – I invite you to go to a Larry The Cable Guy live performance – and feel the passion for yourself!

Jim

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TV Networks Wise Up – Finally Embrace Baby Boomers

March 13th, 2011

Faithful readers of my ramblings over the past few years – are aware of my passion to get the network suits – and advertisers – to embrace the really big spenders – The Baby Boomers.   While the misguided network buyers and bosses focus on the 18-49′s – the Baby Boomer Bubble keeps getting bigger and bigger – and therein lies a huge chunk of disposal income.

That’s why I was amused by a recent Wall Street Journal article that acknowledged this situation – and quoted network execs who also have apparently seen the light.  The article titled “Television’s Senior Moment”  noted there are now 80 million Baby Boomers – aged 47-to-65  – who watch a disproportionate amount of TV and control over half of all U.S. consumer spending.  The article notes what I have been saying for a long time – that the Baby Boomer generation is not like previous generations that pulled back their spending when they turned 55.

That difference is the linchpin that television execs and advertisers need to explore and understand.  They have chased that 18-49 age group believing that they are more likely to switch from their favorite brands and spend more on everything from soft drinks to electronics to cars.  Today’s Boomers differ greatly from their parents.  They are a much livelier group investing in iPads and Kindles, buying expensive vehicles and willing to try new brands instead of the same old one they’ve used for years.  These Boomers have forged their own unique path from birth through their teens and on to today.  They are not their fathers’ Oldsmobile!

Baby Boomers watch more than an hour more television every day than the younger generation, and they embrace new technology – half of them tape favorite shows on their DVRs.  They also are saving the traditional Big Four networks by making up the bulk of their audience.  Baby Boomers are the TV Generation – why should they change just because the calendar says they are in their 50′s and 60′s?

How important are the Boomers to network television?   The Wall Street Journal article notes that the 55-plus crowd makes up 60% of the weekly audience for “Dancing With The Stars” and “The Good Wife.”  Even the younger-skewing “Glee” relies on Boomers for over 20% of its weekly viewership.

So now the TV networks are asking advertisers to pay more for the “quality” of the audience – instead of just selling that young demo.  I love the quote from David Poltrack who is chief of research for CBS.  He says, “We’re saying…look the fact is an affluent 58-year-old is certainly more valuable than a 22-year-old who is just getting by.”  Amen brother!

And one final comment from the Wall Street Journal article before I smugly rest my case.   NBC Universal did a study of what they called “Alpha Boomers” – people aged 55-to-64.  NBC’s Alan Wurtzel says they found them willing to “change brands, spend on technology, use social network sites, and buy online.”  Hmmm – sounds just like those coveted 18-49′s doesn’t it?

Jim

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LEX18 creates a community of over 54,000 on Facebook

February 26th, 2011

One of the biggest communities in the Lexington DMA is the Facebook fan page on WLEX-TV with over 54,000 “residents.” It is also one of the fastest growing communities in the market with several hundred “moving in” every day. That has propelled the LEX18 Facebook fan page – in the 62nd market – to the #1 local TV Facebook page – by population – in the country.

It is an amazing story of using social media to its full potential. The numbers are staggering.

LEX18 had 11,000 Facebook fans in January of 2010. Thirteen months later – it has exploded by 500% – to over 54,000 fans. The station projects that number to be 80-to-90,000 by the end of 2011. That would be more Facebook fans than watch LEX18’s #1 six p.m. newscast.

LEX18 news director Bruce Carter is the driving force behind this growth. He remembers thinking a year ago that “Facebook was something people did for fun with their friends. How can we tap into that as a news organization?”

Today, Carter says, “Facebook is a vital part of what we do on a daily basis.” At least one-in-eight TV news stories every day come from tips from their Facebook community. It also allows them to keep in touch with viewers’ concerns and issues, have a daily conversation with them, and is a source of major referrals to the station’s website.

News tips come flowing in every day on Facebook – along with pictures and video – from around their DMA. Bruce cites the ease of doing this on Facebook as a major advantage. Before Facebook, he says, a viewer may have wanted to give them a news tip – but first they had to look up the phone number and then wonder whom they should talk to. As at most TV stations, there also was a big chance of getting someone on the phone who was very busy and not interested in taking the call.

So – the big question is how did LEX18’s Facebook growth explode? Bruce began engaging viewers every morning on Facebook – asking them questions about the day ahead, issues that were important to them, how they were feeling etc. He also began asking them for news tips (“if you see something in your community let us know”).

The big turning point came in May of 2010 when there was major flooding overnight in the Lexington area. That’s when Bruce says he saw the “real power” of Facebook as a community. People flocked to the LEX18 Facebook page to tell the station where the worst flooding was occurring, the problems it was causing and they sent hundreds of pictures – and for the first time – video of the flooding.

Then another Facebook phenomenon happened. The LEX18 Facebook community started talking to each other – “here’s a street to avoid” – then more neighbors chimed in – “here’s another street you need to be aware of” – suddenly the true social media advantages of being part of the community blossomed.

Something else happened during the big flooding conversation – the number of LEX18 Facebook fans grew by 2,000 in less than 72 hours. The station put together a promo spot thanking their Facebook community for being a major part of their flood coverage – and for helping each other through the dangerous situation. The population of the LEX18 Facebook community exploded.

WLEX continues to engage the Facebook community every day through those daily morning “conversations” (including their morning anchors during the newscast), they do web polls and invite comments that become a big part of their 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. newscasts. The topics vary but center around topical issues and pop culture. They post a Facebook question for their 4 p.m. newscast by about 2 p.m. every weekday – and get from 30-to-150 comments by the time the newscast airs.

Some companies are reluctant to use Facebook so strongly – fearing it will harm visits to the TV station’s website – “where we make money.” That is misguided. Facebook is tied with Google search as the #2 source of referrals to the LEX18 website.

Lex18.com is averaging 120,000 page views daily in 2011. And listen to this – over 400,000 people have been referred from the LEX18 Facebook page to the station website in just the first 7 weeks of 2011!

The increase in referrals from Facebook to the station website is incredible. There were 10,000 referrals in January of 2010. That increased to 39,000 by last April. It jumped to 173,000 referrals in December of 2010 – and to 235,000 a month later.

WLEX reporters post from the field to the LEX18 website – and Facebook page – throughout the day. They ask for help with their story content, sell ahead to the next newscast and engage their community.

If you don’t have a strong Facebook strategy – you are missing a great opportunity to truly connect with your fans every day – and also drive them to your station website and newscasts.

Jim

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Bulletin: Local TV News Causes Cancer

February 4th, 2011

Didja hear – watching local television newscasts causes cancer?   Really?   Well, it had to happen sooner or later since everything we eat or drink causes cancer, right?

It seems that every day there is a new story that this or that causes cancer – followed, of course, a few months later by a story that it really doesn’t cause cancer.  So, now it is local TV news’ turn to get labeled as causing cancer.  OK – they really didn’t say it “causes” cancer but they did say it was a “significant source of cancer fatalism.”

Researchers from Cornell University, and The Ohio State University say that a “steady diet of local TV news leads people to believe that they have little or no control over whether or not they get cancer.  Come on!  Really?

These researchers theorize that happens because local TV news “is more likely than other news outlets to emphasize recent scientific findings and less likely to include context and information about prevention.”   This is just a thought – but don’t you think that maybe all those crazy so-called “scientists” who one day say artificial sweeteners cause cancer, and then the next day say they don’t cause cancer – might be the real root of the problem?  Just sayin’?

So let’s take this theory one step further – like the scientific community tends to do.  That would mean that watching too much local TV news with its penchant to show an inordinate amount of crime news will make you go out and commit a crime.  I guess based on these cancer theories – local TV news needs to always add – “and committing this crime is illegal and you shouldn’t do it” – just to add context and information about prevention.  Right?

Jim

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Balanced News Is Important And Wide-Ranging

January 15th, 2011

In the minds of television news viewers having a Balanced Newscast goes way beyond presenting both sides – or all sides – of the story. That’s important but so are a myriad of other elements.

We all know that TV newscasts have lost credibility. AR&D research shows that balanced news presentations – both on TV and Online – can help new outlets regain believability from news and information seekers.

In their own words, viewers say a balanced newscast “covers all sides of a story,” “gives the pros and cons of the situation,” and “gets all the facts before reporting.” Transparency (telling what you know right now and what you are working on to get more facts) is also a critical element of Balanced News.

At AR&D we believe that providing Continuous News on your website – giving short bursts of information and updates as a story develops throughout the day – is transparency at its finest. It showcases your efforts to “get the facts,” to be “accurate” and “dig deeper” on a story all day as it evolves. These are more Balanced News attributes mentioned by viewers.

But they also mention Balanced News elements you probably haven’t thought of. Mixing in “positive news” is an extremely important way to demonstrate balance. So is showcasing the fact that you are “objective,” “unbiased,” “reliable,” and “thorough” in your reporting.

The public also sees “offering people a chance to offer opinions” as being balanced in your news coverage. They want to see “different viewpoints,” that “allow viewers to make informed choices.” This speaks directly of the need for your news organization to be very active in listening and engaging in conversations with your customers on your website and through social media on Facebook, Twitter and beyond.

Balanced News is also holding officials accountable. They want you to “ask questions I would ask” of those in powerful positions. They hold you accountable to “double check reports for accuracy,” for “researching before reporting,” and for offering “thorough reports.”

Let me boil this down for you into a few words – Balanced News is simply good journalism. Showcase your efforts and expertise and you will gain their trust.

It is as simple – and as complicated – as that.

Jim

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New Year Resolutions: 7 For 11

January 10th, 2011

Here are seven resolutions to make your newscasts prosper in 2011.

1) Be Relevant.  Viewers are turning away from local TV newscasts because they are not relevant to their lives.  They want real issues and real news that affects them and their families.  You continue to give them meaningless crime, car accidents and other stories that fill the space between commercial breaks – but are worthless drivel to viewers.  Find and report relevant content every day or the viewer erosion will continue.

2) Hold Officials Accountable. This kind of TV reporting requires a little extra work, more digging, and the courage to ask the tough questions of public officials on behalf of the viewers.  The vast majority of viewers AR&D talked with during research projects in the past two years want their local TV station to ask the questions they can’t – because they do not have access to these officials.  Viewer anger is real and continuing – and they want a station to step up and hold officials from local school districts and little towns to Washington accountable for their actions.

3) Balanced News. Viewers also desire a balanced newscast as never before.   Some TV news managers scoff at that saying – “Isn’t that a given, don’t they all want a balanced newscast?”  Damn straight they do!  But they say the majority of local TV newscasts are one-sided and don’t give all the facts of the story.  This also takes a little extra work.  You have to seek out the other side on a story instead of going with one lame soundbite.  In reality – this is just good journalism.

4) Be Accurate. Again, you would think this is a cost of admission issue – but that’s not the case.  Viewers have a strong desire for an accurate newscast and weathercast – but in some markets 25% of them say no local TV newscast delivers on it.  Accuracy is reflected in copy that offers some perspective, has all sides of the story, and is clear and easy to follow.  You also can’t be seen as accurate with misspelled graphics.  You need to showcase your fact-finding, your extra digging on a story, and your balanced approach – which all adds up to being more accurate.

5) Mix In Positive News.  Local TV news viewers – already depressed by a tough job market and economy, have tired of “doom and gloom” newscasts.  While TV news producers and reporters might get excited about that old style of newscast – your viewers want to find out ALL the news – they want the good with the bad.  What positive things are happening in their community?  What good things are teenagers doing?  What business is hiring?  Don’t mistake this desire for a quick, cute kicker story like the classic water skiing squirrel.  Viewers want you to give them a mix of negative and positive news throughout the newscast.

6) Cover Only Real Crime. AR&D has been saying for years and years that viewers are fed up with one-on-one crime that has no affect on their lives.  Yet TV stations continue to make this meaningless content a big part of their newscasts.  Crime is an important content item for viewers if there is a rapist loose in their community, or a burglar is hitting hard in one part of town.  But they have no interest in the latest overnight shooting between two unknown people who had a fight.  Put  this content on your website – where crime is much more valued than on your TV newscasts.

7) Be Everywhere, Anytime. Your audience is highly mobile and is less and less inclined to make an appointment to watch your scheduled evening newscast.  They want the local news NOW – on their laptops, computers at work, mobile devices, computer tablets etc.  To be relative in their new world, you must provide Continuous News – as it happens, with updates throughout the work day.  Get out of the “finished news” business (posting a package after it has aired on TV) and get into the “unfinished news” business.  This is a continuous stream of news – continually updated with a few sentences – as it wends its way through the day.

One more thing: These numbers are really in no particular order.  #7 may be the most important resolution on the list.  I invite you to go through the list – set your own priorities – set a strategy – and follow it through the new year.

Jim

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It Must Be Some @#$% Consultant!

December 17th, 2010

We’re all creatures of habit and like to go places we know, and where we’re comfortable.  That premise was the basis for a very popular TV series called “Cheers” – where everybody knew your name.

That holds true at the places where we frequently shop too.   When I’m at my favorite East Texas fishing lake I always shop at the Wally World store in Gun Barrel City.  It’s a Walmart Super Store and I know exactly where everything is that I need.  I can be in and out in less than ten minutes on a good day.

That is – I USED to be able to walk right to the aisle that had what I needed.  Then this summer, someone got the bright idea of changing EVERY aisle and every shelf in the store.  Comfortable was no longer the word that came to mind.  Everyone in the place from the worker bees to the shoppers were bumping into each other, scratching their heads, and getting very angry at not being able to find anything in its old place.  What a zoo!

Months later I can now find some of the items I need in that store.  Life was finally returning to normal.  That is until I walked into my corner Kroger Food Store this week.  OMG! – another zoo had broken out in the once comfortable store I had known for two decades.

Now Kroger was moving EVERY item in the store to a different aisle.  Nothing made sense.  Garbage bags and toilet paper were where the Diet Sunkist soda used to be stacked.  Just as at Wally World – every employee shrugged their shoulders when asked where some item might be, shoppers were not smiling, and I was grumbling to whoever would listen.

Just like when Walmart went through its metamorphosis I asked every employee – “whose idea was this?”  Just like at Walmart every Kroger staffer said they had no idea who decided this was a good idea – or why.

Then it struck me.  Of course!  I know whose idea this was.

It must have been some @#$% consultant!

I hope you have a peaceful holiday season and a great 2011 – and that every one of your favorite places remains comfortable.

Jim

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NBC TV Websites and Tweeters – A Social Networking Marriage Made In Cyberspace

November 30th, 2010

Media purists prepare to gasp in exasperation! NBC Local Media is looking for the top 20 most influential Tweeters in their ten O&O markets to bring eyeballs to their TV websites. OMG! – Media purists will say – a further blurring of the line between “real” journalists and those “other people.”

As for us at AR&D – we think it is a brilliant move. Our 2.0 Guru Terry Heaton has been helping client TV stations hook up with the most influential folks in the local Blogosphere for years. He recognized a long time ago that these writers, who truly are immersed in their community, can draw attention to a local TV station’s website. Moving to the “Twitter-Sphere” is a natural progression of Terry’s forward-thinking.

NBC Local Media will identify the Top 20 Tweeters in each of their local markets and give them a special section on NBC’s TV websites. They’ll be asked to comment on many topics – fashion, culture, dining, sports, education, politics and the like. Specifics are fuzzy but they also say these Tweeters will be featured on air.

While Facebook continues to have 2-to-3 times more users than Twitter – there are still 95 million Tweets sent every day. It is becoming a stronger force in the marketplace – and many of my clients use it specifically for news and information exchanges with Tweeters for story ideas and perspective on stories.

Our research shows that most local TV websites have a difficult time gathering eyeballs that do not already belong to fans of their local newscasts. In fact, AR&D research across the country consistently shows that the percentage of people who visit a local TV station website is equal to about half of their Favorite Station percentage. In other words, if a station has a 30% preference score – about 15% of the market will visit their website. Obviously, to be successful you must move beyond your current local TV news constituency.

That’s why this move by NBC Local Media is an excellent idea. It extends their reach beyond fans of their local TV news. I assume the “Chosen 20” Tweeters will be those with the largest number of followers.

And for you news purists – you do know, I assume, that pro sports organizations are now issuing credentials to influential bloggers in their markets? You know – those non-professional writers who gather large numbers of followers on the web! In fact, one of them, Chris Botta who writes a popular blog about the New York Islanders just had his press credential revoked for writing about his disagreement with management of the NHL team. Wow! – that’s just like a real professional journalist eh?

Jim

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This is Local TV News? Really?

November 15th, 2010

A news release about a new “local” newscast in Gainesville, Florida caught my eye the other day. It stated “stories are produced locally by a Gainesville staff, but its anchors and production facilities are based in Iowa.”

Say what? This is a “local” newscast? Really?

I dug a little further and found that the company – International News Network – is based in Davenport, Iowa. They apparently produce and anchor newscasts for TV stations in Omaha, to Montgomery, Alabama to Alexandria, Louisiana. While it may be admirable to want a small market newscast to have a larger market look and feel – I have major problems with this approach.

First off, we at AR&D believe that local news anchors need to be much more than “talking heads” somewhere hundreds of miles away from the market they are serving. In our book, Live, Local, Broken News – we espouse the idea that local TV news anchors need to be the Chief Journalists at their stations. It is impossible to know your market, and be the lead journalist in the newsroom when you are simply reading copy for several stations a day many states away from the market you are supposedly serving.

Secondly, I have a real problem with how these stations are not being up front with their customers about the “distant anchor” situation. For instance, the bio for anchor Bryan Latham – who anchors the news in Gainesville from Iowa – states that he “looks forward to meeting new people and making new friends.” How is he going to do that? Is he going to Skype some viewers in Florida?

Cathy Catlett – an anchor from the International News Network in Iowa – appears on the websites of at least three different stations that I found. Once again the stations are not very forthcoming in explaining this “distant anchor” arrangement.

Catlett’s bio on KPTM in Omaha says, “She’s thrilled to be serving the Omaha community.” It doesn’t say anything about – “while sitting in an anchor chair hundreds of miles away.” On the KLAX website her bio reads, “after spending three years with Indiana 9, Cacky left to pursue her current position as anchor/producer for KLAX-TV.” Once again there’s no mention that her anchor chair is nowhere near Alexandria.

There was a company that started providing “local” weather for smaller markets about a decade ago – also from a distant studio. I believed then, and I more strongly believe now, that if a local TV station is truly serving their market – they can’t have part of their newscast – especially important staff members like anchors and meteorologists – based hundreds of miles away but appearing to be onsite. That is pure deception – plain and simple.

Now, I understand that these “local” newscasts served by the Iowa Company generate their own local stories, and have their own local news director. So apparently the TV stations feel that at least that much localism is important. So, why not let those local folks also anchor the newscasts? That’s how we built the next generations of anchors for over 50 years.

That’s how stations have served their communities – and in many cases – become the dominant station in their market. I have no use for these distant talking heads – especially when the stations deceive their viewers. Doesn’t exactly build trust does it?

Jim

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