Comments on: Friday Question of the Day

By: Kalia

Kalia — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 00:33:56 +0000

Expat, I totally agree with you! I also am most annoyed by the sensationalist teaser tactic they use to try to con people into buying into their news channel. It is totally an insult. If people are going to watch the news for news they will anyways and if they are trying to capture more audience than maybe they should be better newscasters instead of using cheap scare tactics to get ratings.

By: saf

saf — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 17:06:37 +0000

All of the above, plus WTOP.

By: IntangibleArts

IntangibleArts — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:25:24 +0000

I never do the teevee. Although I’m comforted by the fact that Jim Vance is still with us. I’ve seen bits of the so-called “morning news” offerings on local stations and can’t stomach it. Particularly Channel 5, which needs to be burned to the ground immediately.

Actually, I’m sure we could produce a new, expensive, and hyper-local variation of fois gras, by force-feeding Will Thomas into the gut of Holly Morris and film it being serving it up during Restaurant Week, and air it on Channel 5′s morning broadcast. How irresistably meta.

Personally, I endorse WAMU, some WTOP, and the neighborhood listservs.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:13:25 +0000

WAMU. But I take my social commentary from BSG.

By: Expat

Expat — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:00:37 +0000

One word to explain why I refuse to watch local TV news: TEASERS. What a gross insult to the audience’s intelligence, and utter disrespect for their time. “A shocking new threat to your personal safety. We’ll tell you about it, later in this broadcast.” Bastards! Would it be that hard to have given a quick summary, rather than a content-free teaser?

Unfortunately, this technique has become so ingrained in our collective psyche that I very occasionally catch an NPR host using uninformative teasers. The difference is, on the rare occasion that NPR does it, it seems almost inadvertent or self-consciously ironic.

My poll answer: Washington Post, WAMU/NPR, and local blogs

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:52:38 +0000

I am assuming that all the praise for WAMU has to do with the fact that they are an NPR ( and its overly cool announcers) affiliate. It is not as if any of the local news has much depth…. Oh, except for the Redskins’ every move.

By: SingLikeSassy

SingLikeSassy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:00:23 +0000

I watch the news every a.m. and read the Washington Post (which is oftentimes the source of the newscast information) and then various blogs. I *trust* the Post most, but I’m also a journalist so …

By: Parkwood Person

Parkwood Person — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:35:49 +0000

Add another for WAMU.

I don’t think I’ve ever watched a full episode of the local news. I don’t dislike it per say, I just can’t seem to physically sit through it, I’m not sure why. Something about it just doesn’t work for me.

By: Sheepy

Sheepy — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:03:13 +0000

WAMU (NPR) all the way!

By: dclounger

dclounger — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:57:48 +0000

Love the local tv news personalities. It is one of the few truly universal subjects that all locals (and _only_ locals) can relate and bond about. Nothing to do with the quality of the newscasts, but who can’t share a few laughs over Lindsay Czarniak’s weave/extensions, Jim Vance’s cadence and odd pauses, the hilarity of the Fox 5 news team (who’s out in the field tonight and who’s behind the anchor desk? what’s up the perfectly-plucked eyebrows of Will Thomas?), McGinty’s mailbag, the height of Topper Shutt, the sports girl that 9 brought in to compete against Lindsay Czarniak, Leon Harris’ truly magnificent ‘stache, and what about the Sunday night newcasts’ amateur hour? Goodness, do I love me some local tv.