We have all had that conversation with people who invariably say they don't watch the evening news. Then there are those who will admit they do but tell you they hate watching. Which begs the question for both of these people, why?
The answer is really quite simple. There is nothing to see here. In this episode, Ric tells you about his time in the world of television news and what it was once like. Now with the internet hanging around, it seems sort of redundant to have such an institution around. What purpose does it serve? Here's a hint, it doesn't serve the public any more.
Years ago, I spent some time in the television industry. It was a wild time, for sure. At one point I was working with Austen Onek in Kansas. Over the years, as situations occur in this business, people move from city to city.
Well, our paths crossed again here in Memphis so I sat down with Austen and what did we talk about? The weather, of course. Among a bunch of other things.
I spent quite a few years in the world of journalism. It was a great time and at the same time, I'm glad I am not in that industry anymore. There is no way I could survive in today's newsrooms. With that said, there are a lot of things about the people who work as journalists and reporters many people don't really understand.
News is a difficult business. These days, it's a whole different ballgame. These days, the public likes to shoot the messenger, a lot.
I am certainly no stranger to making ridiculous statements. It's what I do. Sarcastic at times, I'll give you that. This episode certainly falls into the category of "provocative". Will it be? We're about to find out.
Consider it an experiment in the rules of provocation. That is because I say some rather unpopular things here. Feel free to join the discussion.
Those who know me, know of my past in the television news industry. Those same people will tell what I think about the television news industry. For those of you who don't know, and not to put too fine a point on it, it sucks. As it is said, "It ain't what it used to be."
Self-centered reporters giving about one third of the truth on something that has NO relevance to you at the time. Making the story about themselves. Exaggeration. Indictments. It's all there and those are just some of the reasons why I don't watch it. TV news has a tendency to piss me off. Ed Murrow once said of television, "... this instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely lights and wires in a box."
When I was cutting my TV teeth at WTVA in Tupelo, Mississippi, I struck up a life long friendship with a man named Tom Dees. He was a photographer there and a damn good one at that. We spent a few years working together there uncovering all sorts of ugliness and "news worthy" things. To make a long story short, the day came when I left for greener pastures and Tom moved to the other side of the camera and became a great reporter.
Dees has since moved to Memphis and can be seen on Fox 13. He's been here for many years and he's easily the best interviewer in the business and has a certain knack for getting the best out of his subjects as the following video shows. He blames me for that. On a side note here: It's his fault I'm in Memphis, so there. We're even. Yet another long yarn for later.
Anyway, he has been able to do something I could never do in my brief TV career. He's an award winning TV guy and after some two Emmy awards later, Tom is putting together a great career in an otherwise slimy business. I give you the following example of one of his latest stories:
This, in my opinion is how TV news should be done. I think I smell another Emmy for Tom Dees... the bastard.
