the evening news… at 5… and 5:30.. and 6…
My mom and I went to visit my grandparents today in Connecticut — they just moved into an assisted living community and my mom wanted to check the place out. Anyway, on the way back we started talking about the evening news, and how much it bites. We both agreed that the local FOX affiliate is pretty bad, channel 7 (WHDH-NBC) is probably just as bad, and channel 4 (WBZ-CBS) and channel 5 (WCVB-ABC) used to be OK but are now imitating 7 and FOX. Our main beef was the sensationalism. Also, while I was in the hospital, since I had nothing else to do, I just kept the TV on. I learned that in the space of an hour, the news repeats the same news about three or four times, without a breaking development or anything. It’s the same thing over… and over again! Also, the weathermen are all pompous.
I have a feeling that the local evening news around the country pretty much sucks as well, but I thought I would toss out that question to local folks. I don’t remember what the news used to be like in the ’80s, when I was a kid, but people who have lived here longer than I have can probably answer it better. Has it gotten worse? Better?
Also, where does everyone get their local news from? I usually read the city section in the Globe — I guess the only other alternative is the Herald, and uh, no.
I usually watch the news in the morning while I get ready. I have Channel 5 on and then sometimes watch the local news again when I get home. It depends. Sometimes all the redundant pieces get on my nerves. I check out Boston.com too.
For local stuff — Boston.com and my town’s online bulletin board. I usually don’t get home unbtil after the local television news is over and done with, but I do miss the old Channel 4 news. I learned about the nonexuistence of a certain holiday figure in the first or second grade when said “Next up, when to tell your kids that he doesn’t exist.” I was hoping it was god, but it turned out be someone I had really liked.
I think as long as Nat is on Channel 5, there will always be some journalistic integrity found there (i.e., not just sensationalism disguised as news a la Fox & Channel 7)