Why TV news is dying

Well, I watched last night's "news" story on blogs, courtesy of KVAL.  It was lame and uninformative.  In case you missed it, here is a condensed-but-accurate report of all that transpired:

KVAL Anchor: And now, our Info Babe will tell you everything you need to know about the next big thing... er, Internet web blogs!

KVAL Info Babe: Blogs are really cool!  Lot's of college kids are all about blogging!  Let's talk to one now!

Drunken Sorority Babe: Um, blog?  Like, is that, you know, some kind of, like, drink?

KVAL Info Babe: And now let's hear from someone who actually finished college!

OSU Professor: Blogs are very, very important.  Just look at Blogs For Bush and MoveOn.Org!

(editor's note: MoveOn.Org is not a blog - Resistance is futile!)

KVAL Info Babe: But where did blogs come from?  Let's ask a local computer programmer who wrote some blogging software!

Local Computer Programmer: Blogs are great because they let you get your message across without getting interference from traditional media outlets that...

(editor's note: at this point, the Local Computer Programmer was still visible on the screen, talking and making hand gestures, but what he was saying was cut out by a voice-over from the KVAL Info Babe - Resistance is futile!)

KVAL Info Babe: And now let's go back to the Professor!

OSU Professor: Blogs are very, very, very important!

KVAL Info Babe: And now, back to you, KVAL Anchor!

KVAL Anchor: Thank you, Info Babe!  Well, now we all know all about the, er, blog-oh-sphere!  Now we can spend 20 of the remaining 25 minutes of our broadcast telling you that there might or might not be rain at the Civil War football game, which might or might not be won by either Oregon or possibly Oregon State!

Now that I have provided you with this highly accurate report, you have no need to watch it on KVAL.  And if this is the best they can do, is it any wonder that more and more people are getting their information from blogs?

Comments

[geoffrey davis]

I could not have said it better myself. Journalism at it's finest moment

[Jeff]

Too bad I don't get the Eugene channels. KVAL InfoBabe? Is she worth looking at at least?

[Bring back Deanna Connell!!!]

You have to understand that "Info Babe" is a relative term. In the Eugene news market, you are lucky if you can tell the news men from the news women. So by our local standards, she stood out, mostly as "definitely female." Your results may vary.

[Jay]

Living in Little Beruit, I don't get KVAL, so I downloaded the audio clip.

It appears that even if I lived within their broadcast range, I wouldn't "get" KVAL.

Your interpretation was pretty dead-on.

[Gullyborg]

I just want to say, kudos to the cry for Deanna Connell! Gosh, I miss her on our local news!

[Robin]

Yup! that was pretty much says it all and why I don't waste my time watching the local news.

[Sean]

Go Beavs.

[Gullyborg]

Go Butthd.