Nov 10 2008
What’s The Point?
If you’re an avid news viewer, you know that a lot of new technology has been making it’s way into newscasts. But, does it do anything to add to the content of the show? While it might look cool, does it add to what the reporter is saying? Does it help the viewer better understand the story?
An example of fancy schmancy technology doing absolutely nothing to add to a story… is CNN’s attempt to “beam” reporter Jessica Yellin from Chicago into the studio with Wolf Blitzer on election night. I laughed when I saw that Wolf and Yellin spent more than 2 minutes talking about the technology, which means they spent more than two minutes less talking about the actual election. I also thought it was dumb (for lack of a better word, sorry) that when Wolf tossed to Jessica she explained the scene in Chicago, but we didn’t see it because they “beamed” her from Chicago into the newsroom. What’s the point of a live shot and explaining the scene when you don’t show your reporter there?
A common new tool that many networks and stations, including KXLY, are using is called Screenwriter. An anchor touches a screen and by doing so changes the graphic on that screen. Yeah, it’s cool but is it beneficial? Or is it just distracting? Saturday Night Live did a good job poking fun at the new technology, essentially suggesting that news organizations are using tools like Screenwriter and the “beaming” of reporters from one place to another, just to showoff it’s new technology, even when it doesn’t necessarily add anything to the story.
To see SNL’s skit click here and scroll about a quarter of the way in to watch Fred’s Maps.
(5 votes, average: 4.8 out of 5)
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I’m quite surprised no one has commented on this. Perhaps the reason most people are so sick of election stuff.
I personally don’t need the special effects any more than I need a reporter standing out in front of a dark building to tell me about something that happened there in broad daylight, or the poor person stuck outside on Snowqualmie Pass telling me it’s snowing.
Just glad it’s not my Baby Girl.