“…at knifepoint.” That sounds pretty dramatic, but demonstrates your point!
I am part of the demographic that appreciates a traditional newscast format. And I also appreciate the importance of identifying ways to make news relevant and available to today’s younger viewers.
I am imagining a future newscast completely consisting of TikTok type videos!
Thank you for sharing your interesting perspectives.
Jim, I hope you're wrong about TikTok videos! Seems like a waste of time to me, but again, I'm not the intended demographic. Thanks for reading and responding!
2. Comedians do weather forecasts with the Chief Meteorologist writing the actual forecast.
3. Sports go wild. Loud, fast paced sports with quick "top 10" scores and highlights.
4. A reporter watching and taping the competition to report on stories missed by this station's newscast... also add a little commentary on the competition's newscasters "Did you see the outfit Jack was wearing tonight?".
5. A young, social media reporter who takes trending viewer comments with the announcement "We've got email"
6. A segment weekly live from a well-known resident that tours their house and checks their refrigerator.
As for #4, I think Channel 5 already does that, I mean the 'watching the other stations' part. Their news is always a day late. But they do have the best forecast!
I'm right there with you, Dave, as usual. We both aged out of the target demo quite a while ago, and we both remember many ill-fated and short-lived "reinventions" of newscasts. Like the infamous "News Out of the Box" experiment, most were forgotten as quickly as possible, and replaced with painfully predictable, traditional formats.
I enjoy showing my college students examples of newscasts that are designed to lure younger viewers. And yes, I have to show them, because of course they aren't watching on their own. Generally, their responses range from a shrug to a chuckle. A TV newscast trying to look like TikTok is like an old guy trying to look young and cool. It rarely works.
For old guys like us, the answer is acceptance; eventually, we stop struggling to be something we aren't. It's liberating not to need everybody's approval. Television stations don't have that luxury, and I actually admire their efforts, even if I do feel a bit of gentle skepticism. They have to keep trying. Now and then, somebody succeeds.
Spot on, Scott. I just don't know that anything is going to bring younger viewers back to TV news. I used to think once they reached the age where their kids are in school and they have a mortgage, they'll plug in more to what's happening in their communities, but I think there are so many other ways to do so besides watching TV news or subscribing to the local paper.
Here in Des Moines, there are several must-read digital news outlets that do an excellent job covering the area. Several of them are staffed with former Register reporters. MSP has the same, in fact some pioneering websites there staffed by former print newsies.
TV news can be critically important, especially during a crisis or perhaps emergency weather. Viewers want us to be there during those times, certainly. We've got to figure out how to keep viewers engaged on normal news days.
Very interesting, Dave. You didn’t mention the most important sign-off skill by the anchor(s)… rearranging, then tapping vertically the papers we’re meant to assume was their script. Just for a change why not have them tear the papers into little pieces as the credits roll? Reminiscent of Nancy Peloisi tearing up Trump’s speech after his first State of the Union.😎
Richard, that was certainly the case at one time but anchors don't have scripts anymore. They all hold iPads! Which I think is a great tool. It saves a lot of paper, and producers can change a script at the last minute and have it show up instantly both in the teleprompter and on the anchor iPad. Previously, they would have to reprint then run copies around to both anchors, the director, etc. (In partial defense of the paper arranging, there was a LOT of paper but in those days. A TV script was always divided vertically down the page, with video directions on the left side and anchor script on the right. And the font was huge so it's easy to read under the bright lights and on prompter. So one page might hold only two or three sentences. An hour-long newscast could close run to 100 pages. Gathering it all into a neat stack at the end of the newscast was not only a time-honored anchor tradition, but necessary just to gather it all into a pile. Probably more than you wanted to know...)
Until Americans stop using TikTok, news media have to experiment. Speaking of TikTok, can you imagine growing up with traditional TV and watching the news, knowing that 1/2 of all the news was being presented by TV stations owned by the Chinese. I think people would have stopped watching that news.
An early 60's (in age) viewer here that especially likes the PBS News Hour style of news presentation...fewer stories, more depth, and frequent special segments (e.g. Friday night Capehart & Brooks). That said, I don't watch their newscast regularly. With J. Woodruff soon to depart, and A. Nawaz and G. Bennett set to replace her, it will be interesting to see if they start experimenting more with their format. I'm open to it!
As for local news (I live in Central Iowa), I've gone away from viewing television coverage...KCCI was my preferred choice...for many years now. Easy access to on-line newspapers, a few regular periodical subscriptions (e.g. The Atlantic), weather station data just outside my door (viewed on my phone), and sport websites with detalied boxscores.
I'm not certain any format change will ever return me to regular television news viewership.
It’s been awhile… but always glad to listen to your thoughts on the news biz. I’m five years retired and removed from local and national news. I find it easier to get almost all my information from my phone/iPad… but tonight well really this afternoon, because now my old station KABC has decided to air World News Tonight live at 3:30pm… I saw the beginning of the newscast with David Muir. And you know what, I got out my stopwatch, well who has a stopwatch… ( ok, 60 minutes does) that’s what my IPhones for. 2:22 later…. That’s quite a long cold open… he got into the lead story which was weather…. Taken from the old ABC7 playbook … always lead with weather if there’s an angle. But let’s get back to the cold open…. 9 times… “tonight” or stunning or catastrophic”. You know what you could do with a 2:22 news hole… how about an in-depth look at the war in Ukraine or if you want something more clickable… what about put a team in Hawaii and really report on the volcano erupting. What I’m saying is, the nightly national newscast is 22:30 maybe… and you just gave up 10% to say nothing. Sure you’re trying to grab your viewers, but in this day and age, those viewers aren’t grabbing the remotes… they’re happy to have found the right channel.
Take care
And if you respond … I promise to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Bruce! So nice to hear from you. I seem to recall some good outdoor ping-pong matches with you somewhere, but can't recall where.
I'm a CBS News watcher since I spent 40 years at a CBS affiliate, and the same observation goes for CBS Evening News. A LONG cold open that if I DVR it I usually fast-forward through. Just get me to the top stories. They all must have some research that shows a long cold open can hold viewers. I believe in short cold opens to tease what's ahead, but I sure prefer to get to the top story quickly.
Can't believe you've been retired five years. I'm coming up on four years at the end of this month. Did you settle in LA?
I'm enjoying retirement. Lots of volunteering, some travel, and getting exercise. Hope you are well and thanks again for responding.
Settled in L.A. … travel and exercise for us too and a lot of golf… plus we have a 4 month old grand daughter… so the wife’s very happy… happy holidays
It’s a format change that has worked well in Denver for years and is the No. 1 local newscast in the state. It’s a news recipe that takes out most of the typical newscast flash, focuses on telling important stories, good news, and making real community impact. They have a micro-giving segment that raises money for charities and causes that has a huge impact. Strong questioning anchor and team of reporters, strong format and digital savvy elements. Tegna has copied the basics of the format in Minneapolis and beyond.
Interesting. I enjoyed watching it, Tad. Excellent story-telling. Calm presentation. Do you know what time it airs? It feels somewhat like Chronicle that some Hearst stations do.
I usually watch the World News Tonight on ABC but I am getting tired of all the repetition. First the anchor tells us the main story, then he repeats it in telling all of the stories. And he repeats them all again when introducing each story. And, of course, the reporter then tells the same story. It really gets tiresome.
And in the local news, it is almost laughable the way the anchors walk around the set while they tell their stories. I'm just waiting for one of them to trip and fall! What's wrong with them sitting at their desks? They have nowhere to go, so just sit there, why don't you?
“…at knifepoint.” That sounds pretty dramatic, but demonstrates your point!
I am part of the demographic that appreciates a traditional newscast format. And I also appreciate the importance of identifying ways to make news relevant and available to today’s younger viewers.
I am imagining a future newscast completely consisting of TikTok type videos!
Thank you for sharing your interesting perspectives.
Jim, I hope you're wrong about TikTok videos! Seems like a waste of time to me, but again, I'm not the intended demographic. Thanks for reading and responding!
The ideas I proposed in the 90's:
1. 5 minutes of hard news at the open.
2. Comedians do weather forecasts with the Chief Meteorologist writing the actual forecast.
3. Sports go wild. Loud, fast paced sports with quick "top 10" scores and highlights.
4. A reporter watching and taping the competition to report on stories missed by this station's newscast... also add a little commentary on the competition's newscasters "Did you see the outfit Jack was wearing tonight?".
5. A young, social media reporter who takes trending viewer comments with the announcement "We've got email"
6. A segment weekly live from a well-known resident that tours their house and checks their refrigerator.
Ads must be quirky, fast paced and not slow.
could be interesting! Where and to whom did you propose these ideas?
As for #4, I think Channel 5 already does that, I mean the 'watching the other stations' part. Their news is always a day late. But they do have the best forecast!
I'm right there with you, Dave, as usual. We both aged out of the target demo quite a while ago, and we both remember many ill-fated and short-lived "reinventions" of newscasts. Like the infamous "News Out of the Box" experiment, most were forgotten as quickly as possible, and replaced with painfully predictable, traditional formats.
I enjoy showing my college students examples of newscasts that are designed to lure younger viewers. And yes, I have to show them, because of course they aren't watching on their own. Generally, their responses range from a shrug to a chuckle. A TV newscast trying to look like TikTok is like an old guy trying to look young and cool. It rarely works.
For old guys like us, the answer is acceptance; eventually, we stop struggling to be something we aren't. It's liberating not to need everybody's approval. Television stations don't have that luxury, and I actually admire their efforts, even if I do feel a bit of gentle skepticism. They have to keep trying. Now and then, somebody succeeds.
Spot on, Scott. I just don't know that anything is going to bring younger viewers back to TV news. I used to think once they reached the age where their kids are in school and they have a mortgage, they'll plug in more to what's happening in their communities, but I think there are so many other ways to do so besides watching TV news or subscribing to the local paper.
Here in Des Moines, there are several must-read digital news outlets that do an excellent job covering the area. Several of them are staffed with former Register reporters. MSP has the same, in fact some pioneering websites there staffed by former print newsies.
TV news can be critically important, especially during a crisis or perhaps emergency weather. Viewers want us to be there during those times, certainly. We've got to figure out how to keep viewers engaged on normal news days.
My teenagers watch very little television, period. I can't imagine what would make them regular viewers of a tv newscast.
Very interesting, Dave. You didn’t mention the most important sign-off skill by the anchor(s)… rearranging, then tapping vertically the papers we’re meant to assume was their script. Just for a change why not have them tear the papers into little pieces as the credits roll? Reminiscent of Nancy Peloisi tearing up Trump’s speech after his first State of the Union.😎
Richard, that was certainly the case at one time but anchors don't have scripts anymore. They all hold iPads! Which I think is a great tool. It saves a lot of paper, and producers can change a script at the last minute and have it show up instantly both in the teleprompter and on the anchor iPad. Previously, they would have to reprint then run copies around to both anchors, the director, etc. (In partial defense of the paper arranging, there was a LOT of paper but in those days. A TV script was always divided vertically down the page, with video directions on the left side and anchor script on the right. And the font was huge so it's easy to read under the bright lights and on prompter. So one page might hold only two or three sentences. An hour-long newscast could close run to 100 pages. Gathering it all into a neat stack at the end of the newscast was not only a time-honored anchor tradition, but necessary just to gather it all into a pile. Probably more than you wanted to know...)
Until Americans stop using TikTok, news media have to experiment. Speaking of TikTok, can you imagine growing up with traditional TV and watching the news, knowing that 1/2 of all the news was being presented by TV stations owned by the Chinese. I think people would have stopped watching that news.
An early 60's (in age) viewer here that especially likes the PBS News Hour style of news presentation...fewer stories, more depth, and frequent special segments (e.g. Friday night Capehart & Brooks). That said, I don't watch their newscast regularly. With J. Woodruff soon to depart, and A. Nawaz and G. Bennett set to replace her, it will be interesting to see if they start experimenting more with their format. I'm open to it!
As for local news (I live in Central Iowa), I've gone away from viewing television coverage...KCCI was my preferred choice...for many years now. Easy access to on-line newspapers, a few regular periodical subscriptions (e.g. The Atlantic), weather station data just outside my door (viewed on my phone), and sport websites with detalied boxscores.
I'm not certain any format change will ever return me to regular television news viewership.
Hi Dave,
It’s been awhile… but always glad to listen to your thoughts on the news biz. I’m five years retired and removed from local and national news. I find it easier to get almost all my information from my phone/iPad… but tonight well really this afternoon, because now my old station KABC has decided to air World News Tonight live at 3:30pm… I saw the beginning of the newscast with David Muir. And you know what, I got out my stopwatch, well who has a stopwatch… ( ok, 60 minutes does) that’s what my IPhones for. 2:22 later…. That’s quite a long cold open… he got into the lead story which was weather…. Taken from the old ABC7 playbook … always lead with weather if there’s an angle. But let’s get back to the cold open…. 9 times… “tonight” or stunning or catastrophic”. You know what you could do with a 2:22 news hole… how about an in-depth look at the war in Ukraine or if you want something more clickable… what about put a team in Hawaii and really report on the volcano erupting. What I’m saying is, the nightly national newscast is 22:30 maybe… and you just gave up 10% to say nothing. Sure you’re trying to grab your viewers, but in this day and age, those viewers aren’t grabbing the remotes… they’re happy to have found the right channel.
Take care
And if you respond … I promise to upgrade to a paid subscription.
Bruce Cramer
Bruce! So nice to hear from you. I seem to recall some good outdoor ping-pong matches with you somewhere, but can't recall where.
I'm a CBS News watcher since I spent 40 years at a CBS affiliate, and the same observation goes for CBS Evening News. A LONG cold open that if I DVR it I usually fast-forward through. Just get me to the top stories. They all must have some research that shows a long cold open can hold viewers. I believe in short cold opens to tease what's ahead, but I sure prefer to get to the top story quickly.
Can't believe you've been retired five years. I'm coming up on four years at the end of this month. Did you settle in LA?
I'm enjoying retirement. Lots of volunteering, some travel, and getting exercise. Hope you are well and thanks again for responding.
Settled in L.A. … travel and exercise for us too and a lot of golf… plus we have a 4 month old grand daughter… so the wife’s very happy… happy holidays
I would recommend checking out “Next” from KUSA-TV in Denver, if you haven’t already.
https://www.9news.com/next
It’s a format change that has worked well in Denver for years and is the No. 1 local newscast in the state. It’s a news recipe that takes out most of the typical newscast flash, focuses on telling important stories, good news, and making real community impact. They have a micro-giving segment that raises money for charities and causes that has a huge impact. Strong questioning anchor and team of reporters, strong format and digital savvy elements. Tegna has copied the basics of the format in Minneapolis and beyond.
Interesting. I enjoyed watching it, Tad. Excellent story-telling. Calm presentation. Do you know what time it airs? It feels somewhat like Chronicle that some Hearst stations do.
It replaced their 6pm newscast that had falling ratings for years, streams daily at 7pm CST.
I usually watch the World News Tonight on ABC but I am getting tired of all the repetition. First the anchor tells us the main story, then he repeats it in telling all of the stories. And he repeats them all again when introducing each story. And, of course, the reporter then tells the same story. It really gets tiresome.
And in the local news, it is almost laughable the way the anchors walk around the set while they tell their stories. I'm just waiting for one of them to trip and fall! What's wrong with them sitting at their desks? They have nowhere to go, so just sit there, why don't you?