KEZI is useless

So I went to the Atkinson event earlier tonight, and it was a blast.  He was upbeat, energetic, enthusiastic, and on message.  The crowd appeared very eager to support him.  Yard signs were given out.  KEZI news was there.  In theory.

I just watched the 11 o'clock news on KEZI.  Before the news started, the announcer said "watch tonight to learn more about the candidates" or something to that effect.  So I watched.  It started out looking good, because it was the lead story.  Then...

Well, here is how it went:

Anchor: "With the primary a few weeks away, many voters want to learn more about the candidates.  State Senator Jason Atkinson was in Eugene.  Let's hear from the Infobabe."

Infobabe: "Thank you, Anchor.  Jason Atkinson spoke to a crowd in Eugene."

(screen shows footage of people in the crowd, but not Atkinson; if you look carefully, you can see the thinning hair on the back of my head)

Infobabe: "Some voters are still undecided.  This voter came here after listening to Kevin Mannix earlier."

Voter: "Atkinson is less of a career politician than the others seem to be."

Infobabe: "Atkinson said he was proud of his grassroots support."

(screen shows footage of Atkinson talking, for about a half-second)

Anchor: "Thank you, Infobabe.  And now, let's spend the rest of our remaining 28 minutes talking about sports and the weather."

Seriously... that was about the sum total of the coverage.  Now, I'm not going to say how a "non-partisan" television station should or shouldn't cover campaigns... No, wait!  Yes I am!

If you want to provide your viewers with actual INFORMATION, try showing more than a micro-blurb of the guy in the lead during an important election.  Play him SPEAKING, instead of talking over the video, babbling your own inanities.  Let your viewers know about his positions on the issues.  Interview some of the many enthusiastic supporters, and ask them why they are sold on this candidate.  Break some new ground in the way you cover a grassroots conservative candidate.  That way, when he is Governor, people will be impressed that you were there documenting the campaign.  Instead, you are going to wake up after the election scratching your head and wondering "who the hell is this guy, and why didn't we know about him or report on him?"

Just a word of advice for you folks at KEZI: evolve, or go extinct.  After all, people who want to actually LEARN something about the candidate can get a lot more out of a blog post like this one than from your vapid Barbie-Doll-Wannabe and her useless "reporting."

Evolve.  Or go extinct.

UPDATE:

While uploading the above, the TV was still on in the background, and I saw my first Ron Saxton commercial.  In it, he touts his experience on the Portland School Board or whatever it was he did (having never been, you know, like, a Representative, or Senator, or anything), then claims that he can fix all of Oregon the way he fixed Portland schools.  Oh, yeah.  That's what we need.  Flush the rest of the state down the crapper.  If my best achievement in life was "fixing" Portland schools, the last thing I'd do is campaign on it.

But then, it's probably the best thing for Ron to run on, since "I am a good friend of child-rapist Neil Goldschmidt and gave money to Bill Clinton" isn't going to win over many Republican primary voters...

Comments

[lars]

remember when i dumped Jason Atkinson...because he backed the President on illegal aliens?

and he insisted on backing the President's plan...because Bush said it wasn't Amnesty>

Privately, Bush Says He Favors Citizenship

By DAVID ESPO
The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 26, 2006; 9:22 PM

WASHINGTON -- President Bush generally favors plans to give millions of illegal immigrants a chance at U.S. citizenship without leaving the country, but does not want to be more publicly supportive because of opposition among conservative House Republicans, according to senators who attended a recent White House meeting.

Several officials familiar with the meeting also said Democrats protested radio commercials that blamed them for Republican-written legislation that passed the House and would make illegal immigrants vulnerable to felony charges.

Bush said he was unfamiliar with the ads, which were financed by the Republican National Committee, according to officials familiar with the discussions.

At another point, Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada and other members of his party pressed the president about their concern that any Senate-passed bill would be made unpalatable in final talks with the House.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the second-ranking Democrat, said the lawmaker who would lead House negotiators, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, had been "intractable" in negotiations on other high-profile bills in the past. Bush did not directly respond to the remark, officials said.

The Republican and Democratic officials who described the conversation did so Wednesday on condition of anonymity, saying they had not been authorized to disclose details.

Bush convened the session to give momentum to the drive for election-year immigration legislation, a contentious issue that has triggered large street demonstrations and produced divisions in both political parties. Senators of both parties emerged from the session praising the president's involvement and said the timetable was achievable.

"Yes, he thinks people should be given a path to citizenship," said Sen. Mel Martinez., R-Fla., a leading supporter of immigration legislation in the Senate.

Martinez said it was implicit in Bush's remarks that many of the immigrants illegally in the U.S. would be permitted to remain during a lengthy wait and application period.

Under the Senate bill, immigrants in the U.S. longer than five years could apply for citizenship without leaving the country. Those in the U.S. for more than two years but fewer than five would be required to go to a border point of entry, but they could return quickly as legal temporary workers.

Several senators said Bush had spoken in favorable terms about the overall bill, but made it clear he will not issue an endorsement.

"I understand that he wants to maintain latitude as he heads into negotiations with the House," said Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. He attended the meeting and is a strong proponent of legislation that would allow most of the 11 million illegal immigrants eventually to apply for citizenship.

But Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said that raised the question of "how much leverage he (Bush) has over House Republicans at this stage on a volatile issue that is rattling up his (political) base."

Asked about the meeting, White House press secretary Scott McClellan said the president repeated to the senators what he has said in public. "The agreement that was reached by the bipartisan group of senators is a vehicle to get comprehensive reform moving ahead" and into compromise talks, McClellan said.

The president has spoken repeatedly in favor of legislation that includes stronger border protection and a guest worker program, but has been vague on specifics.

On Monday, Bush said "massive deportation isn't going to work," and that the Senate "had an interesting approach by saying that if you'd been here for five years or less, you're treated one way, and five years or more, you're treated another."

Bush did not mention that measure would allow millions of illegal immigrants to remain in the U.S. while waiting for citizenship _ a provision sharply criticized by some conservative lawmakers.

The House approved border security legislation last year that does not address the fate of illegal immigrants. Several Republican conservatives have criticized the Senate bill, saying it was little more than amnesty for lawbreakers.

Several officials said Bush sidestepped one issue during the meeting: the legal status of immigrants who have broken no law except by remaining in the United States.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., pushed Bush on the issue, noting that Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., has said the White House wanted the House-passed bill to make illegal immigrants subject to misdemeanor prosecution.

[Lisa]

Come on Lars, Jason has stated over and over again SINCE then that he WILL NOT SUPPORT AMNESTY. HE WILL NOT SUPPORT A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM IF IT LEADS TO AMNESTY! You are so stuck. I think you have a lot more issues to deal with trying to defend Saxton and his flip-flopping. Get over it Lars.

[Bobby]

Lars,

So you support a canidate who doesnt want to punish businesses who hire illegals, who supports civil unions, and gives money to democraps. The guy is playing you, but I guess since you burned every other bridge you have no other choice. Thankfully we wont have to ever see Saxton as governor.

[Gullyborg]

Lars can't let it go. Lars replies to every e-mail I send him, 99% of which have NOTHING to do with Jason Atkinson, the Oregon elections, the President, or illegal immigration, with a smear on Jason over guest workers.

He has demonstrated through his actions that he can't act rationally.

Also, since when does he trust an opinion piece in the Washington Post? The Post runs articles that say we went to war for oil, and Lars dismisses them. But when they try to paint Bush as pro-amnesty, when recent polling shows amnesty is a big negative, he assumes the paper has everything correct and in context.

Finally, he must still think this blog is worth reading, claims of "Kool Aid Drinking" to the contrary. But you don't catch me listening to his show. So I guess, in the end, I win.

[Sid Leiken]

Gully

Don't be too upset with KEZI on this one. It sounds like they were the only station there, is that correct? If so, this is fairly typical that on the 11:00 news they will scale things back than what they would have done at say the 6:00 news. The good news is that this was the lead story and Jason's name was mentioned. What this will do is cause some folks to go and find out more about him. Were there any other elected officials there last night? If there were some local elected officials this helps in getting the media there and to do some personal interviews. Overall, the way you described the event this went over pretty good.

[Gullyborg]

Mayor Leiken,

Yes, it is true that KEZI, for all its faults, was the only TV station there. To be truly fair, I should state that KMTR, KLSR, KTVC, KEPB, and KVAL all dropped the ball completely by ignoring the event.

I do hope you are right that this "teaser" news story on KEZI will at least get people interested in learning more. Of course, to learn more, they will have to turn to the internet, and blogs like Teapot Tantrums. I guess that just makes my point that television news is becoming less relevant.

So I am still dissatisfied with our local TV news. But, after reflecting upon your comments, I will at least elevate KEZI over the competition, for all that's worth.

[Ken]

The reason the MSM is listing hard to port and taking on water is because too many members of the MSM (e.g. David Gregory) think they are the star, they are the story. They think people are tuning in to watch a pretty face smile through the latest tragedy and, even worse, spread the latest lies about political inclinations that the MSM loves to hate.

"We got the bubbleheaded bleach-blonde,
comes on at 5
She can tell you about the plane crash
with a gleam in her eye."

[Independent Thinker]

I think it is telling that I see people like Mayor Leiken, Jack Roberts, and other prominent figures leaving more and more comments on blogs, while at the same time, they get less and less air time on local TV news.

TV news thinks they ARE the news, and forget that they are supposed to be covering the PEOPLE who make news.

[Sid Leiken]

Ken

I am old enough to remember the Don Henley song too and you are so correct. Independent, when I want to have the media to an event I am involved in I normally will get 2 out of 3 TV stations, the RG, Springfield News, and radio. I also like using the blogs too.

[The Oregon Conservative]

I have a confession to make regarding KEZI. It wasn't entirely their fault that their story wasn't complete. The reporter attempted, very hard, to get interviews from people there. First she asked a gentleman named Frank who, even though he is a staunch supporter of Jason's, declined.

Then she asked my husband Larry. Larry knows I am always ready to do an interview so he told the reporter to talk to me. He wasn't trying to get out of it. He just thought he knew I'd like the chance to do it, but the reporter had no way of knowing his reason.

However, I had come to the event in spite of feeling sick and I really needed to be sitting down. I was on some heavy-duty medication and doing anything requiring quick thinking wasn't a good idea. Standing, for any length of time, in one place made me feel sicker and I felt truly uneasy trying to overcome the sick feeling in front of the camera. I begged off even though she tried VERY hard to talk me into it.

She was very disappointed. I thought she'd go to someone else. I didn't know I was the third person she had asked. She left feeling disappointed and I thought she looked hurt and rejected.

Larry had no idea when he saw her leave that I hadn't given an interview. If he had known he would have gladly given her the interview.

I've been feeling awful about it ever since. I e-mailed an apology to the news director last night asking him to pass it on to her. If I knew her name I'd send an apology directly to her.

I feel as though I let everyone down. Usually, I am more than ready to do an interview so Larry was absolutely shocked when he learned I had passed on doing it. If there is a next time and I find myself in the same situation I will be sure to get someone else to do the interview.

Larry would have been the perfect interview because he came there not having decided for whom he was going to vote. He still felt some loyalty for Mannix and had, in fact, refused to attend the endorsing meeting of the Lane County meeting of the Oregon Republican Assembly because he didn't feel a strong preference toward anyone.

But, last night he was sold on Jason and had me write a check for $500. Larry has NEVER written a check that large for a candidate. It may not look like that much considering many people give that much or more, but Larry is hard to win over and believe me it wouldn't have happened if Larry hadn't been very convinced that he had just heard a true-blue conservative Republican.

That's what KEZI needed to hear and I'm certain she would have reported it.

I apologize to everyone for not doing better for them and for Jason.

[Tammy Brotton]

Hello -We are for certain that we do not want Ron saxton or Ben westlund for Governor candidates at all,Ron first of all supports recipricol Benefits and Ben westlund is backed by basic rights I am alot worried about having those demonrat votes/or demonrats in the republican party votes will go to Billary clinton for president( no Billary for president) How many women same sexers would vote for Billary we need a True red republican Like senator Jason Atkinson for Governor.

[DarePDX]

Your taking this wrong. The earned media of the news just mentioning his name and showing his face are huge.

Any media is good media for Jason.

In Portland it's as if he's been blacked out by the media. There is alot of talk that the Oregonain considers him a nonviable candidate because he's to conservative. The only time I've seen the Oregonian cover Jason is if they use him as a wedge against Mannix or other Republicans. They covered the Lars issue but not his actual campaign.

So chill out, its a good thing they covered his event.

[Jerry The Geek]

I know it's your blog and you can do whatever you want with it.

But I am getting SO tired of "Atkinson for Guv" posts.

Come on. I spent the money, I contributed to his campaign, didn't get a t-shirt.

Don't you have something more interesting to write about?

Or at least OTHER things to write about?

This is a One Note Samba.

[Gullyborg]

Jerry,

What, you didn't notice the post on United 93, the post on Neil Young, the post on the Carnival of Cordite, the post on the lack of good TV news, the post on my moving to Salem, the post on Michelle Malkin, or the post on Tom Cruise and Scientology?

Sorry to disappoint you. I guess I'd better blog on even more things. Maybe you should check out the new post on the immigration rally or the guy with bad table manners.

Jeez, there's no pleasing some people.