OK, I’m A KSPR Fan
27 09 2007I know I’ve blogged a lot on KSPR the last week. Initially it was because two of the blogs that I read issued the invite to say what we thought. (One is Lost Chord, which I view now and then. The other is Ron Davis’ Chatter which is a daily must read for me.) It’s becoming clearer the more I view KSPR news that I happened to take a first view of them on an off-night. Still, I try to be honest here and post what I think and feel so I had to put the bad down with the good. I’ve taken some heat for it and had a few less than friendly messages (the most vicious reminding me my kid was a retard because his father was a retard.)
I decided to take a second look a little earlier than I planned because Mary Helen at Corner of the Sky was so insistent and because of something else I’ll mention further down this blog entry. As my “Second Tasting” blog showed I came away with a much better impression although I unfortunately wasn’t able to see more of Michelle Sherwood’s work. (I plan to view her this weekend to get my second impression of her. Given her throng of adoring fans in the blogosphere, I’m guessing that first night was an off night for her as well.)
I still wasn’t completely ready to declare my allegiance to KSPR News and leave my old standby of KY3 news. However, something happened tonight to seal the deal. A similar thing happened to jump start my second helping.
It was the fact at Michelle Sherwood and Christine Daues actually took the time to respond to my blog.
I was in broadcasting for twenty years and spent time all around the country. When I was in Minnesota, I worked at a station that shared a building with a television station and I’ve had other times where I’ve been up close and personal with television personalities. (They’re different than radio folks…I guess because they’re prettier. A lot of us radio geeks had faces for radio.) I met some good folks, some bad folks and a lot of plain, average folks (but those were mostly the camera guys and tech guys.) The one thing I never had happen in all that time was a television commentator/reporter/anchor seek me out to respond to any comments or criticisms I had made about their broadcast.
When I received a blog comment from Michelle Sherwood, I was a little stunned. I really didn’t expect to get any response from the folks on St. Louis Street. I especially didn’t expect to get any response from Michelle after being critical of her package that night! So I decided to give them a second chance sooner rather than later. I’m glad I did because I was very impressed as I hope if you haven’t you will go and read in that Second Tasting blog. (As I said before, unfortunately Michelle wasn’t working that day.)
Then tonight I received a completely unexpected message from Christine Daues. I know some people don’t think of Springfield as a big market but when you have four television stations you’re big enough. An anchor of a market this size could very easily just blow off the comments of local bloggers or more likely just not read the local blogs. Instead, Christine took time out from a busy night to read my entry and comment on it. (And respond to an e-mail.) And before you ask, I know it’s a busy night because she’s anchoring the newscasts. If you’re not someone who’s been involved in media let me just ask you to give me the benefit of the doubt when I say there is a lot of things you have to do to prepare for that half hour you’re on TV.
Christine’s comment just confirmed to me that KSPR is going to do things differently and in a good way. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes. Live debates for local political races? Local town hall meetings on issues that matter to the community? A Sunday public affairs show where local bloggers debate issues moderated by the incredibly sexy Joe Daues? (That last part put in there as a thank you to Christine.) I think KSPR is serious when they say they’re going to connect with the community. They’ve won me over tonight. I think they’ll win you over before too long.
Watch out KY3. The rookie is a five tool prospect who is putting it all together.
“Live debates for local political races? Local town hall meetings on issues that matter to the community?”
How exactly is this new to the community. Both KYTV and KOLR have done similar things in the past. (Joe has been involved with these … at least town hall meetings)
Sorry, but I am highly skeptical.
When your news producers are fairly hard left and its been how many years (not months) since Democrats and liberal positions like government ran health care are even treated like debatable issues - its hard for me to get excited about anything.
FWIW, Eric, the little shin dig hosted by KOLR over at Missouri state during the 2006 election was, well, laughable.
The deck was stacked and included a national figure who is a known antisemite and antiwar protester.
What would interest me is some actual intellectual honesty.
Hell will freeze over first, though.
Paul, I’ve seen nothing intellectually dishonest in the newscast to this point. If I did, I would mention it.
And Eric, I know you work for their competition and my comment was not meant as an insult toward you. I just see a fresh approach to those things versus what has been done in the past.
Perhaps.
What I have seen recently is not encouraging though.
When was the last time a Democrat or liberal ideal was challenged (or a report which shows the effects the tax burden has on small business, etc)?
Time will tell. As I indicated before, especially in light of who the producers are and their track records, I am highly skeptical.
Just call me a cynic. That would be an accurate description.
In my opinion, it’s good to be cynical. It means you’re keeping yourself educated on how and what information is presented to you.
At least, the great thing about TV is that you can watch and hear for yourself.
This reminds me…remember the story that msnbc did on journalists who donate to campaigns? Copy and paste this link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485/
Now that’s discouraging…and unfortunately, the reporter in the picture graduated from the University of Missouri–arguably, the nation’s best broadcast journalism school.
Paul Said:
“FWIW, Eric, the little shin dig hosted by KOLR over at Missouri state during the 2006 election was, well, laughable.”
What about the one BEFORE that which was moderated by Joe(Over at Drury), while Paul was working for the “evil empire”? There I said it. Only in jest tho…
( My grandfather worked at KY for nearly 30 years)
I actually crewed the 2006 event and my thought was … couldn’t we find people with different opinions. BUT just because a person is an “antisemite” or “antiwar protester” does not automatically negate what they say or think.
Jason Said:
“I just see a fresh approach to those things versus what has been done in the past.”
Maybe it is a fresh approach … but I don’t believe any of it is new to the market or has never been done.
I didn’t take anything as a slight at my station, I was just trying to point out that as with most things in media, it’s all been done before … it just has shiny new wrapping paper this time.
Eric,
Didnt see the one held by Joe. Cant judge it.
I would agree with your point of view about finding others with opinions - and that we can certainly entertain opinions of others.
I guess I would simply have liked to have seen a balance in opinion provided.
As to the guy who is antisemitic - his word was being taken as law without question. I guess that is what really bothered me about the event.
The man lied about what the NIE said and no one challenged or seemed to give a hoot about it.
Had someone on the panel or a reporter challanged him at some stage I probably would have a different opinion on the matter.
Enjoyed reading the blog. Thanks for the info.