MostlyYank

Heck they barely do any reporting at all on tv news anymore. They actually often read press releases verbatim.

Pete

HumphreyC

I agree with a lot of that post. However, one area where the detractors might have a point is with the local news channels. In the UK if you want to watch local news you have to wait for a dismal 15 or so minute slot at the end of the BBC or ITV's national news. In the US - in a lot of cases - you have a slick, well produced product which is highly popular. The result is that many people will place a greater emphasis on the local stuff over the national and world stuff.

The end result is a bit horrifying. I remember one of my first visits to the States and my mother in law saying that she thought it was very important to always watch the news. We sat down to watch it later on - turned out it was the local channel featuring stories about children being rescued from a swimming pool, bears being spotted eating from bird feeders and the latest shooting in Lawrence. Great for what is on your doorstep but about as parochial as you can possibly get.

A lot of people don't even watch the 'world news' slot from the main channels which are about 30 mins long. These seem to be depressingly lightweight and short on analysis (amusingly they nearly always feature a 'health scare' story - something along the lines of 'new evidence that your iphone can cause you to develop herpes'). Now it is true that there are many other decent sources of news in the US. It's just that the main ones people choose to draw on are pretty superficial to say the least.

Anian

I thought you were being sarcastic until I read the rest of your post, which said pretty much the same thing.

HarryTheSpider

I discussed this with several colleagues who are originally not USC, immigrated here from various parts of Europe, and ALL agreed this was an accurate, if subjective (!) description... To be precise, more absorbed than many people back home...

[waits for the flaming to begin]

Is it good/bad? Dunno.

It is different though, sometimes frustrating, and takes a while to get used to.

Doesn't stop almost every person I've met here being genuinely nice, sincere, helpful etc...

cluedweasel

This is a fight I have with the online editor at the local TV station quite often. He'll post a story and people will ask for more information in the comments section. His answer is always "that information isn't in the press release". He portrays himself as a journalist. At least call the source and ask the questions.

Bob

It's an impression based on the truth though.


You flick on the tele and the random news channel, or pick up a newspaper and well, that's what you get.

Sure there are great sources out, but you've got to look out for them.

And there isn't much anyone can do about it when the news just like any other program is a business to make money, it makes the news less reliable.

MostlyYank

Weasel, it's awful. Cheaper than paying reporters I'd expect.

Harry, agreed. Because we're so large we don't have the day to day interaction with other countries most others do, we tend to see the US as the 'world'. Well perhaps we see Canada dimly as some sort of 51st state, and Mexico as a giant spot on the southern map where garden workers come from.



Thanks for the compliments too

Pete

Sally Redux

I think that's a cop-out, or at least a chicken and egg situation.

HumphreyC

It's funny - outside of the NHL Americans don't appear to give a **** about Canada. Doesn't seem to be any coverage of it and you would be hard pushed to find people that know who the Prime Minster is. It doesn't seem to register on the public consciousness. Mexico does because of the immigration and the headless corpses. Maybe the trouble is that Canada is too civilized and boring.

Sally Redux

I have never heard anyone offer any kind of comment about Canada now you mention it, Mexico is just seen as a place that sends problem immigrants who nevertheless provide useful services. Highly doubt anyone around here knows anything about the country other than vacation resorts.

cluedweasel

Canada - it's America's hat!

ian-mstm

Less than a hat, I think... more like a condom!

Ian

WEBlue

Is this really true? Most of the stories on my local news seem to be traffic accidents, arson, & murders, leavened with a few cute stories about local school-kids or pets. Then there are several detailed weather reports. I don't see what products are being touted . . . ?

Sally Redux

Oh ours definitely does. The big news item is something like the latest Vegas show.

They also had a long news item supporting Taco Bell at the time there was adverse publicity about their 'ground beef'.

Deeks

Our local news is the same, reports of what's going on out there - crime, traffic, weather, etc. I can't see where the paid placements fit in.
As for Canada, we're close to the border so we do hear a bit about them and we can (and often do) tune into their newscasts.