It's sad how far KOMO and KIRO have fallen. I know it's all part of the decline of broadcast economics, but it's a lot more that that, isn't it? KOMO is saddled with Sinclair's corporate free speech blockade and KIRO is apparently doing some prime union-busting. You can read all about in on other posts I have made here. I suppose that news viewers don't really care because the talent does its professional job on both channels and their viewers just want to know about Kimmel on KOMO and the day-to-day news on 7, no matter who shoots the footage. The debacles continue. And they probably aren't going away. I watch local news to observe changes in talent and presentation, etc., and I will continue doing so to keep my readers up to date. Doesn't mean I have to like it. You know the old saying, "it's a dirty job but....."
Not sure how recent events will impact KOMO. After the calls to “ban KOMO because of Seattle Is Dying,” ratings went way up, not down. Conservatives in all the outlying areas felt someone local was speaking for them, and democrats within King County (the kind that will vote for Harrell and Davison, not Kshama and NTK) felt someone was finally brave enough to say something about what was happening in our city.
ReplyDeleteObviously, this is an entirely different issue. However, calls to ban something often results in the opposite, as seen in banning books.
As for KIRO, until someone with journalistic interests rather than simply financial interests buys them, they will continue to struggle.
You wrote: "As for KIRO, until someone with journalistic interests rather than simply financial interests buys them, they will continue to struggle."
DeleteDon't hold your breath.
Has there been any update on what is happening with the potential sale of KIRO and the other Cox stations? Last I heard, Nexstar had expressed interest in them, and Gray had its eye on Cox's flagship, WSB in Atlanta.
Delete“Conservatives in all the outlying areas felt someone local was speaking for them” That’s not how journalism works, bro. If you’re seeking out different news sources because you don’t like what’s being said, it’s not the journalism that’s the problem. It’s you.
DeleteYou have ratings iniformation? Publish it for all of us to see.
ReplyDeleteYes! Please do!
DeleteI'm sorry to say it, but KING is slipping, too. Their stories are getting much longer because they have far fewer of them. Three minutes of neighbors saying how terrible it is does not give us news. They are spending more time on filler pablum like cold cases. I guess it's cheaper to send the intern to the archives than put a reporter in the field.
ReplyDeleteKIRO has it's struggles, but they seem to cover more stories, even if it's just the anchor reading them.
KIRO has always pushed high story count as the core of their news format and the station excelled at breaking spot news. I think their repetiton is too high. KING considers itself to be the cerebral station, likes longer form, and can still flaunt the Investigators and the best, most knowledgable sports department. That said, the presentation has gotten drier and slower for sure, to wit: their reporters have lost urgency in the field. The cold case stuff is old hat, not a draw. However, I still think KING is the most 'buttoned up' station. Meanwhile, Fox 13 is the 'cowboy' of the market, trying anything and everything.
DeleteKING 5 News does seem like it has lost a bit of energy in recent years. That said, some longer tenured reporters, like Erik Wilkinson, don't seem like they've changed their reporting style much at all over the years. The Seattle television market isn't exactly the highest energy market in the way that places like Los Angeles and Miami are. Its long been somewhat calmer, and KING 5's presentation style reflects that.
DeleteEmbarrassing what KIRO has become. Bringing in scabs to shoot? And for those who question the need for professional photojournalists, you are probably the same who don't think it is important to have those on the air to have the experience needed to be true journalists. Throwing a recent college grad out on the street, or in the courtroom, or god forbid asking them to "work" a story is asking for trouble.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the definition of a "true" journalist then? By the way, a recent college grad is not going to get the pick and choose of their stories when they're first starting out. They have to chase and enterprise their own stories instead of letting the assignment desk do the work for them. If you're not willing to stand out in the dead of winter to do a live shot for the 6a or have guts to stick a microphone to just get someone in city leadership to say why and how they did this, there are plenty other fields to choose from. This is how you get your stripes in this business.
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