MMMM #33 - Broadcast News Pet Peeves

Nobody asked me, but heck, it's my blog, so here are some of my pet peeves about broadcast news writing (and since most radio stations left the newsgathering and writing field, it's mostly local TV we're talking about here):

• "WSSS has learned that such and such..." That phrase is supposed to be reserved for stories in which the station's news department obtained through hard work, not some Associate Producer clicking on a list of the latest AP stories. It implies a certain amount of investigative journalism was involved, not a mouse click.
• "WSSS obtained the exclusive interview...." If nobody else was trying for an interview with the Assistant to The Assistant Secretary of Chicken Coops, it's not an "exclusive". There has to be a certain amount of competition involved, otherwise it's just an interview nobody else wanted, not an "exclusive".
• "WSSS was first to report..." Just an observation: there's always been competition in the news biz. Breaking stories provides a sense of satisfaction that somehow makes up for the minimal salaries so many reporters are paid. Now the Wall Street Journal (under Rupert Murdock ownership) is reviving that competitive spirit with a vengeance. Break stories or else. And there's this too: back in the day, you guarded your exclusive stories jealously till they were in print or on-air. Now, with the web, you basically are handing your story details to your competition as soon as you post it online. Perhaps utilizing Twitter and RSS feeds will help reporters maintain an edge?

• "Thanks for the report, John...". Enough. Unless it is a live report and the reporter can actually hear you, no need to say thanks. When a network offers a live report for affiliates to use at the top of newscasts, dozens of stations will likely pick it up. "Back to you" is the generic toss back to the individual stations. But since the reporter can't hear the anchors, just who are they saying thanks to? On the other hand, being good southerners, would we criticise them for not saying thanks if they followed my advice?

• "We have a developing story..." What story isn't developing? Somewhere along the line consultants decided the word "developing" has power, so lots of stations use it. But really now, wouldn't that description fit all of the other stories in your cast too? A murder is followed by an arrest and then a trial and then sentencing and then appeals and then, if nothing else, an anniversary... all stories are developing.

[The Monday Morning Media Memo is a regular feature of this blog]