When I first graduated from college, I worked for the NBC affiliate television station in Lexington, Kentucky — WLEX-TV, Channel 18.
I was a commercial writer and producer, but most of my friends worked in the news department. Lexington was ranked 65th in market size in the country, and all the news reporters and anchors dreamed of working for a ‘major market’ station like Chicago, Los Angeles or New York.
I remember one of my college professors telling me, “Carla, local news is local everywhere.” And he was right.
No matter how far up the food chain you go, local TV news can still be ridiculous at times.
Take today, for instance. New York City got slammed with snow, and the local NBC affiliate station pre-empted “Today” to report on the weather around the five boroughs.
What did we see?
- A reporter attempting to build a snow man on the side of a major highway — during repeated live shots — because he had a bet going with the cameraman over who was going to buy lunch
- Another reporter hanging out with two guys shoveling snow in front of a government building. He tried to help them…and pretty much threw out his back.
- A live shot just a few blocks from my house showing people getting out of cabs, sinking into the snow and ruining their shoes
I’m missing continuing coverage of the Vancouver Winter Olympics for this??
Wait — breaking news! A street reporter in the Bronx has just stopped a motorist who was driving his convertible with the top down. That woman has a nose for the news.
Reporting live from Manhattan, Carla Curtsinger, 18 Action News.
