Comments on: Radical ‘fix’ for local TV news

By: Gunner

Gunner — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 04:05:55 +0000

Sooooo tired of the same old local news. I hope they they pull it off. Good luck NewsFix, be prepared for all the haters to come out. Oh wait, they’re already here…………….

By: msjetbn

msjetbn — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 19:55:54 +0000

A twist on Second City’s line: If it’s news today, it’s news to us!” Now it fits the old newsroom joke: When news breaks, we fix it! Boy, are we in trouble.

By: jim

jim — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:51:36 +0000

The future of Newsfix is in Tribune’s recent past.

A couple of years ago Tribune hatched a newscast in South Florida that was supposed to revolutionize local news in the morning.

The 4 hour show is the most painful and horribly conceived program that I have ever viewed. The ratings most often show a zero audience. The show is a financial drain. But Lee had high hopes at one time.

Abrams: WSFL Morning Show Will Revolutionize TV
http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/pulp/2009/05/abrams_wsfl_morning_show_will.php

By: Tony Russomanno

Tony Russomanno — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:00:39 +0000

NewsFix is the brainchild of ex-radio consultant and wacky memo writer Lee Abrams, whose innovative ideas helped make the Los Angeles Times the dog trainer it is today and contributed smartly to the current bankruptcy of parent company Tribune.

An example of his earlier thinking:

http://www.poynter.org/forum/view_post.asp?id=13355

By: Wayne Freedman

Wayne Freedman — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:33:28 +0000

Sorry, Amanda, but natpacks aren’t the answer.

To turn a ‘spectacular’ natpack requires an intensive and consuming effort by a shooter/editor. I doubt they will have the time.
To watch a natpack demands too much attention on the viewers’ part.
Unfortunately, most of them do not think like photographers, nor do they appreciate the nuance you would hope to include.
They do not watch a television news stories the same way we do. Never have, never will.

Integrate some true storytelling elements into a simple narrative, and you will attract and hold viewers.

By: Amanda Emily

Amanda Emily — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:03:16 +0000

If they have any prayer of pulling them off, I hope they spend the money to hire good photogs who can turn spectacular natpaks that can hold the audience’s attention and not just hand babycams to the former reporters.

Shooting a standup is easy, learning how to turn a good natpack is another ballgame altogether.

By: Scott Yates

Scott Yates — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:29:31 +0000

This experiment will not succeed. People watch the news because they want to hear what’s going on from a friend that they invite into their living room. With no anchor there…

Nobody wants to invite the criminals that make up so much of the local news into their homes.