84 replies to this topic

[safly]

Just like on Ron Burgundy. I love it when he commits the act and then proceeeds to walk off the studio as if nothing happened, and then SCREAMS bloody Mary when he sees himself on the playback. He gone.

[shipman]

I'm a little late to this discussion, but I agree... The evening news is a joke no matter what channel you watch! It's all sensationalist garbage when there's plenty of other important things going on in the world to inform people about and discuss...

My wife usually tunes into the Channel 5 news by default, and I never fail to point out a segment that is usually based on some "story" or fad that was circulating on the internet earlier in the week! I mean, they must have one guy who just surfs the web and says "Hey guys! I found something for you to talk about! Some guy made a list of how you can reach the operator quicker on corporate 800 numbers!"...

[safly]

THEY REALLY DO THAT! THAT JOB DOES EXIST! NO JOKE.

And Now In Denton can think Gov. Perry for creating that job. J/K!

I TOTALLY agree about how these news stations get their TEASE WORTHY news from the internet about 3 days later. BREAKING NEWS does not exist anymore for local TV stations. I get my CNN on, my Bloomberg, MSNBC, and of course the HOLY GRAIL of stations, ESPN. During campaign season and important national or international events and crisis, I get my C-SPAN on.

If I want to watch a car chase being ensued, I go to a special website cam for that or watch FOX News (non-local). Cable news and ala carte stations "KILLED THE LOCAL NEWS STAR."


Little news SECRET: (Whispering) News stations only care about the ratings or viewership when the sweeps are in, and will ALWAYS tease their WEATHER FORECAST. No news channel shows their locals (weather forecast) early in the show. WINK!


That is why the WEATHER CHANNEL trumps these fools. ACCUweather.com is another great resource for local weather and forecast.

Plus, I cannot stand it when a segment will include a "for more information regarding, or to hear more about this and other stories..." they make you LOG-IN to their own website to get information for the stories OWN WWWEBLINK. Just TOTALLY disinterests me from then on.

And I hope they are reading this.

[EricTCU]

John McCaa has the best moustache in town.

[safly]

Second only to Babe's BEARD. In the facial hair world.

[cjyoung]

Second only to Babe's BEARD. In the facial hair world.

Babe would also win a "who's the blackest (as in race) contest."

[safly]

Babe's sports segments are "TIGHT". He may be looked at as more of a "brutha" than NEWY. HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

Somebody tell that CASTILLO guy that he is only doing high school sports highlights because he MOST LIKELY will not have to stand on top of a peach basket during his FRIDAY NIGHT interviews. HEEE HEEHEE! I made a funny.

[WTx]

Anybody notice how much Troy Dungan is NOT doing the weather at night anymore? I like Pete Delkus well enough but it seems as if Troy isn't around nearly as much anymore?

[JBB]

At some point this summer, it was officially announced that Troy Dungan was cutting back his schedule to one newscast a day (6:00, I think) with Pete Delkus taking over the other shifts. It was whenever they stopped doing their Team Weather segments on the 10:00 news.

[youngalum]

Troy is to retire before the year is out. Dale is next.

[heathPS]

I grew up watching David Finfrock and still love his weather reports. BUT does anybody else notice that when he's talking he seems to be on the verge of a coughing or sneezing attack?

[texastrill]

Troy is to retire before the year is out. Dale is next.

excellent!dale be gone.

[JBB]

I thought Troy was supposed to be around through July of next year.

I'm not sure we're lucky enough for Hansen to retire anytime soon.

[vjackson]

I returned from vacation this week to see that Channel 8 news has moved into its new Victory Park studio. I usually only watch Channel 8 news on Saturday mornings, but I've been watching off and on to see the new location. I must say it's very impressive. They're really playing it up. I was at the gym last night and although I couldn't hear the story, Channel 8 did a beautiful presentation on Victory. I also walked by it yesterday on my lunch break and it is awesome to see the studio in person. People were driving by in their cars with gapping mouths and several tourist were snapping pictures of the LCD screen and ticker tape beneath it. I can't wait to see it at night!!! All in all, I must say it's awesome!!!!!

[JBB]

Last night's 10pm newscast was the first time I've been able to watch it and really pay attention. I think the studio is really sharp and I can't wait to see it when there is more activity and more people in the background. I think Victory Plaza is one of the most exciting projects in this area.

For a good laugh, go read the Texas TV board on Radio Info and see all the WFAA haters screaming about how the whole venture is a pointless waste of money.

[vjackson]

For a good laugh, go read the Texas TV board on Radio Info and see all the WFAA haters screaming about how the whole venture is a pointless waste of money.

I can see why some would say it's a waste of money. It definitely wasn't something that was necessary. I think Channel 8 is mainly after the visability. Being in Victory with a studio like that will undoubtedly make them the most visable news program in the metroplex. And the studio and news LCD screen will become part of the Dallas "culture" and a new landmark for the city. When you see promos for Dallas now, BELO's channel 8 studio will probably be shown. As much as I dislike BELO as a company, it has been a good corporate citizen for Dallas.

[JBB]

Yup, except for that little thing of making their rank and file employees pay for their circulation scandal, they've been a pretty good corporate citizen.

[vjackson]

Yup, except for that little thing of making their rank and file employees pay for their circulation scandal, they've been a pretty good corporate citizen.

That's only one of many underhanded, sneaky deeds committed by BELO.

[Now in Denton]

I have never trusted any one source. In Print, Radio, Or TV. But I would say the Fort Worth Weekly is a awful rag. Thier so far to the left. Im scared to go outside my door in Fort Worth if I read the Weekly rant about Fort Worth. I just don't give flip about Women criminals not getting good heath care. Or that the Mayors son is doing investment in southeast Fort Worth. I say good! That part of town is long overdue.

This weeks Weekly story ? Illegal allian heath care! Good Grief. And just last week I was talking to a African American lady. And her cousin died in the lobby at JPS last year waiting and waiting all d@#%m day for her turn. What about the native poor born in the city? Or the poor topless bar owner being forced out to make way for the Trinity River Vision. The Fort Worth Weekly is a anti-establishment paper. Yet they gladly take the "Establishment" money. Printing ads for thos high end condos in DT Fort Worth.

And I would also say Chris Heinbaugh. Of Channal 8 is a mouthpiece for Dallas City Hall. He did a series about the Dallas bond package. Never giving opponants an opportunity to have thier say. He was showing his personal support for the bond package. He sounded like the Mayor Miller. So no I never trust just one news outlet ever.

[vjackson]

^^^^
Why do you continue to read a free paper you find so awful. You seem to know every story they print. The Weekly isn't awful because it's left leaning, IMO. It's awful becaue of poor writing and boring stories. The restuarant reviews read as if they were written by a 5th grader. The Weekly was owned by New Times a comany that owns several "alternative" weeklys, including the Dallas Observer. And the FW weekly was the worst one. It was purchased by one guy, can't remember his name, a few years ago. I don't know if he still owns it, but the writing and stories seem to have gotten worse.

[cbellomy]

Disclaimer: my name has appeared in the Weekly several times, both as a subject and as a contributing writer. I have also had a pretty public disagreement with their entertainment editor. So my opinion is probably biased both for and against that publication, as you shall see.

Editorially, the Weekly is really two different publications: news in the front, and entertainment in the back. As a news publication the Weekly is a pretty solid publication, however unapologetically liberal it may be. Betty Brink in particular is a terrific reporter. They also act as the only real counterweight to the 7th Street Gang -- if it weren't for the Weekly's reporting, the corruption and waste emanating from the Trinity River Vision would likely never have had any light shed upon it. When TRV turns out to be the world's most expensive toxic mud puddle, at least it won't come as a complete surprise to everyone.

The back of the book is a different deal altogether. I think Kristian Lin is a decent enough film critic, and Chow, Baby is consistently written with real flair. Otherwise, the entertainment writing is mostly poor and largely uninformed/disinterested about happenings in FW. As this is the real reason most people read alt weeklies, I consider this a real shame.

[JBB]

I couldn't agree more with you about Betty Brink. Her stories are always enjoyable and informative. I also enjoy Dan McGraw's work and the short columns by the UNT journalism professor (can't remember her name). I rarely read any of the entertainment section. Static and Chow, Baby almost always make reading worth the time.

[CurtisD]

I drove by the Channel 8 studios last night. All I can say is "wow"!! There's simply nothing like that in Texas. I saw the story the station did last night. And once Victory is up and running, game nights are going to be incredible!!! Also I can't wait for the AFI film festival this spring. Watching movies on those screens is going to really be something to see. I've always favored Channel 8 news, so now I have more of a reason to watch.

[Now in Denton]

Sorry but I don't see a extreme left or right as balanced. You saying "expensive toxic mud puddle" You know you cant prove that and you know it. Just as the power that be says evey inch of of the new river will be open to the public.

Now is not the time to hold hands and sing kum ba yah. But.. facts and truth are the first casualty by both sides who have extreme views. If the 7th street gang or the FWWeekly have extreme views either way it is not balanced. And the people of Fort Worth will be the ones hung out to dry.While the papers go one to live and write another biased day.

As a former extreme right winger myself. Knowing seeing and getting older. I hold a lean right of center position. In other words both extreme left and right views are nuts! Unapologetically liberal? Lord help us!

[cbellomy]

Denton,

Balance is a myth. A mirage. It never actually exists.

What's left is writing with an honest point of view. This used to be the norm in the newspaper business. In Dallas, the Morning News covered the news from the pro-business pro-establishment perspective while the Times-Herald worked from the point of view of the little guy (and gal). In Fort Worth, it was the Star-Telegram doing the bidding of the 7th Street Gang while the Press covered things from the POV of the working person. If you wanted balance, you read both. Simple enough.

Today, if you want balance on television, you have Fox News on the one hand and one hour of MSNBC programming (Countdown with Keith Olbermann) on the other. What would be delightful would be if both reported facts as honestly as possible, with ideological slant admitted and accounted for. The outlets that strive to straddle the fence, like CNN, end up doing he-said/she-said journalism that tells the reader the facts and the lies, but with no way of distinguishing between the two. It's worthless.

But if you want balance in print, you can read the Star-Telegram and the Weekly and figure out where the middle ground lies. In Dallas, it's pretty similar with the News and the Observer. But asking one publication to pretend to cover all angles is really asking it to be fundamentally dishonest. The publisher always has a point of view, and the publication will always reflect it. There's nothing wrong with that as long as the publication is open and honest about it.

As for my contention that TRV is building the world's most expensive toxic mud puddle, I admit that it's conjecture on my part, a bit of literary license to assume that's how it's going to turn out. But I'll also tell you that it's very hard for me to imagine it ever being any other way. Stagnant lake water in a drainage basin surrounded by concrete equals some pretty nasty water pollution. I've seen nothing in their plans to make me think this will be any different. But I guess we're gonna find out whether we like it or not.

[JKC]

^^^^
It was purchased by one guy, can't remember his name, a few years ago. I don't know if he still owns it, but the writing and stories seem to have gotten worse.

he still owns it.

I have been in several cities served by New Times publications and I guess I've never thought of them as an actual news resource. I suppose I've always thought of them as strictly entertainment. Someone has to poke the most sensitive issues without encomberances of fact-checking, right? Someone has to sniff out a conspiracy....somewhere,,,,, If there isn't one, we just need a more imaginative nose.


Reading posts from last year........I agree that John Mcaa has the most significant mustache. It seems to have it's own gravitational force over-stabilizing the upper lip.

And, if the sheer repetition of the phrase "Arctic Blast" is any indicator, local news is for enterianment only too.

[vjackson]

Was I the only one who got sick of the constant weather coverage by all of the news stations this weekend?? How many #@!! times can you say the same thing. No national news, no local news, no sports, not even the latest on Brittney Spears!!! I'm sure she was somewhere without her underwear this weekend.

[Dallastar]

Was I the only one who got sick of the constant weather coverage by all of the news stations this weekend?? How many #@!! times can you say the same thing. No national news, no local news, no sports, not even the latest on Brittney Spears!!! I'm sure she was somewhere without here underwear this weekend.

I'm right there with you Vjack, how many ways can you say it's cold, and ice may be on the bridges and overpasses. geewizz.

[JBB]

Bad weather, be it severe storms or the winter variety = ratings. They wouldn't cover every angle if they didn't have the captive audience.

[Now in Denton]

Denton,

Balance is a myth. A mirage. It never actually exists.

OK.

[cbellomy]

Denton,

Balance is a myth. A mirage. It never actually exists.

OK.

Well, a better way to put it would be that balance is something a reader achieves by reading/watching/listening to multiple outlets with multiple points of view. No single publication can realistically reflect multiple POVs.

[seurto]

I just gotta snicker about the weather thing -- How many times this winter has David Finfrock told us it was gonna snow and absolutely nothing happened; then last night, he said we MIGHT get a few small flurries in certain areas. So I wake up this a.m. and everything is white.

I think they (weather people) should give up forecasting and just do what they do best, explain why the weather we had yesterday happened. Except possibly summer - we can all forecast that - "Hot, humid, sunny."

[JBB]

TxDoT wasn't ready either. I drove into FW from Bedford and the roads are a complete mess. Every ramp at I-30/I-35 was closed and the only thing I saw sanded was the Spur 280 exit to 4th St. (not the bridges leading up to it) and Forest Park around Pier One.

[JKC]

I just gotta snicker about the weather thing -- How many times this winter has David Finfrock told us it was gonna snow and absolutely nothing happened; then last night, he said we MIGHT get a few small flurries in certain areas. So I wake up this a.m. and everything is white.

I think they (weather people) should give up forecasting and just do what they do best, explain why the weather we had yesterday happened. Except possibly summer - we can all forecast that - "Hot, humid, sunny."

Snicker me too!! Total surprise this morning.

I like the idea of reporting yesterday' weather! Please pass that along as a sure-fire way to get it right every day.

[Thurman52]

I drove by the Channel 8 studios last night. All I can say is "wow"!! There's simply nothing like that in Texas. I saw the story the station did last night. And once Victory is up and running, game nights are going to be incredible!!! Also I can't wait for the AFI film festival this spring. Watching movies on those screens is going to really be something to see. I've always favored Channel 8 news, so now I have more of a reason to watch.

I was very impressed with the studios look. Can we be lucky and get some station to build one in DTFW