I am not often asked for advice by Tribune Co. executives. In fact, but for the occasional query regarding the quality of an upcoming mini-series, I am never asked for advice by Tribune Co. executives.
Two new executives who have not asked my advice are Bob Gremillion and Mike Adams. They are, respectively, the vice president/general manager and the news-programming director of Tribune-owned ChicagoLand Television News Inc., an ambitious cable channel operation that begins beaming 24 hours of news, weather, sports, baseball games and other yet-to-be-determined programming into about 600,000 Chicago area homes on Jan. 1.
This will be, and here I quote the channel`s press material, ”the first and only 24-hour local cable news channel devoted to covering the city of Chicago and the eight surrounding counties, including Northwest Indiana.”
In doing this, the channel will take advantage of the resources of WGN`s television and radio outlets by airing some of their news reports, and, come spring, the Cubs, by airing some games.
It will also draw on the newsgathering operation of the Chicago Tribune. What that means is that colleagues of mine will be part of the on-air reports and programs from time to time.
There is no doubt that if Gremillion and Adams have been watching what passes for local news in these parts, they are aware of many of the do`s and don`t`s. But since I have been watching our local news longer than either of them, I thought I`d offer them some unsolicited advice. If they can adhere to some-if not all-of the following rules, ChicagoLand might have a shot.
– No Costumes for Reporters:
There is no reason, even in the cause of ”investigative” reporting, to dress reporters in silly outfits or have them wear theatrical makeup.
WBBM-Ch. 2`s Walter Jacobson was one of the first to take this route. In February 1991, he donned some tattered clothes, put on a phony beard and wandered the streets as a homeless man to give us a series of self-consumed reports. More recently, he pasted on a bushy fake mustache-people around his office thought he most resembled porn star Harry Reems-for a series about the ease with which he was able to enter restricted areas in hospitals.
The dressing up of reporters is theater. It`s not news.
– No Goofy Sidekicks:
Chicago is filled with interesting characters, but too often they react to a TV camera by behaving like fools.
The most stunning example of this was when Mark Giangreco and Steve McMichael teamed up on WMAQ-Ch. 5`s Sunday post-Bears game sports show.
The original idea was, I have to believe, to have the outspoken McMichael provide analysis of the games and insights into the team`s workings. Unfortunately, with the sometimes dangerously playful Giangreco cultivating McMichael`s most obnoxious instincts, the show turned into a weekly series of scatological humor, woman and gay bashing and generally boorish behavior better suited to a drunken fraternity party than an informational program.
When seeking on-air analysts and experts, look to the serious-minded.
– No Weather Hype:
This is Chicago. It snows here. Sometimes it snows a lot. Those of us who have lived here know about snow.
Some stations-”Stormwatch `92”-treat every cold front, rain storm or snowfall as the beginning of the apocalypse. Recently, WBBM resorted to ”team coverage”-three reporters at various locations-in anticipation of snowfall that was expected to reach, yipes, 4 inches.
This sort of hyperbolized coverage-and what is one to make of WMAQ`s ability to show us lightning strikes hundreds of miles away?-is a sham. Weather, especially in the winter, is a serious matter in these parts. Treat it as such and not with the-sky-is-falling hysteria.
– No Video Oddities:
Technology now enables local stations to see the world-to avail themselves of a constant stream of amusing, eye-catching, titillating but ultimately meaningless images.
Why, but for the fact that it exists and frightens, should we be shown a videotaped beating of a convenience store clerk in Oregon? Who, but the person whose car may have been swallowed by it, cares about some huge pothole in Kansas?
Having to fill up as much air time as you will have to, the urge to pick up a video clip of some pig race in Oklahoma or a ski-lift accident in Switzerland will be tremendous. Remember, it`s the cheap way out, giving the illusion of information but no substance.
– No Walking and Talking:
Generally credited to WBBM`s Jay Levine, the art of walking and talking on camera is becoming increasingly prevalent and irritating. I admit that because television is a visual medium, it makes a certain sense to have some movement in shots. But the walking-talking has gotten so out of control that one fully expects to see reporters tripping over themselves (indeed, a WBBM minicam van appeared to be stalking a walking-talking Larry Mendte last week). Make your reporters stand still except when absolutely necessary to move.
– No Phony Teases:
It is not without reason that the short video clip aimed at getting you to stay tuned for a report is called a tease. They are merely hucksterish extensions of those carnival barkers who would tease customers with intriguing come-ons. Some of what passes for teases on the local news-those ”Hard Copy”-like graphics with pulsating soundtrack-come close to being deceptive advertising. Don`t fall into this trap. There are ways to cleverly tease a story without misrepresenting it.
– Give Reporters Beats:
Too often reporters are mere mannequins, delivered to various locations with the barest preparation and knowledge. It`s painfully obvious when reporters-no fault of their own, generally-are covering a story with which they have little or no familiarity.
Of course, that`s often the nature of breaking news. But let your reporters cultivate beats-and the sources who go with them-so that they will bring a real authority to their reporting on crime, politics, the gaming industry or whatever, rather than acting as human microphone stands.
– Be Careful With Crime:
Murders, drug busts, gang shootings, fires, sex and other notes from the police blotter are numerous and easy to cover. Most news crews and reporters travel to the inner city, and to suburban crime locations, only on the backs of emergency crews. They are a ghoulish patrol.
Try to exercise more reasonable judgment in picking the stories you cover. Not every bit of mayhem is worthy of attention-and, indeed, may fuel paranoia and bigotry. Good stories, even from neighborhoods perceived as
”bad,” are not lacking. Dig for those stories.
– Bring Back Commentators . . .:
Those of us who grew up with the political commentaries of Len O`Connor and, later, Walter Jacobson, miss the sting and insight of such news show items. WGN`s Joel Weisman and WMAQ`s Dick Kay still practice this vanishing art, but it`s time to find and cultivate people who can provide insights into the inner workings of local governments.
– . . . and Investigative Reports:
Most of the local news stations relegate the once-proud practice to their afternoon newscasts, deeming it, I sadly suppose, too time consuming, expensive and demanding of viewers. There are plenty of stories, problems and people that could use an investigative team`s probing.
– Know Your Streets:
Although one of the bosses at ChicagoLand said in a speech that 60 percent of its reporters have a ”Chicago connection,” that doesn`t mean they`ll know-or take the time to learn-the difference between Highwood and Highland Park, or be able to correctly pronounce Cantigny.
There is no more damaging mark against a station`s local credibility than to have reporters mispronounce the names of streets, civic officials or a whole suburb.
– Cover Arts and Entertainment:
There is a shameful lack of reporting, criticism and features on this front. But for the occasional piece from WMAQ`s Norman Mark, WGN`s Roy Leonard or WFLD`s Amy Scott, Chicago`s theaters, galleries, clubs and museums might as well not exist.
Of course, the big show coming in from New York-”Miss Saigon”-gets some air time, making us look like a hick town.
The city (and, increasingly, the suburbs) is filled with all sorts of exciting cultural diversions. Since the city`s newspapers have spawned the two most powerful film critics, the Sun-Times` Roger Ebert and the Tribune`s Gene Siskel, there`s no reason to think you can`t find people capable of exciting arts and entertainment coverage.
– Beware Overeager Reporters:
A number of colleagues are all but salivating at the prospect of being on TV.
Although there are many examples of local print reporters moving to high- profile TV jobs-John Chancellor, Mike Flannery, Andy Shaw, Pam Zekman and Tim Weigel-the chance that ChicagoLand will be a springboard to similar success is remote.
The nature of mass communication is changing radically, and it`s probably a good thing that this paper and ChicagoLand will forge a new sort of communications package. Perhaps there is some staff member who will flash that network anchor style, but those who are too eager for TV time and fame should be handled carefully.
– And . . . :
Keep the ”clever” banter between anchors and reporters to a minimum. I`ve yet to hear a TV news person who`s half as clever as he thinks he is.
Don`t allow sports reporters-hello, WLS-Ch. 7`s Jim Rose-to become so enthusiastially sycophantish that they behave as if they`re a member of the team. He`s not the only graduate of the ”We won/we lost” school of post-game analysis.
Newspaper reporters can be an unattractive lot. Don`t put any on air who you think might frighten children, lest we lose future readers and viewers.
Remember what Mark Twain said: News is history in its first and best form.
Oh, one final thing: Don`t let critics get you down.
