Category: Media

Heh heh, you said “Humpback”…

whalesNothing shows our Sacramento like whales accidentally swimming upriver. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about this occurrence and the news it generates that amuses me so. I think it has much to do with the fact that it is a completely random natural anomaly — like a hermaphroditic sheep or Lindsey Lohan — but since we live on the river and have the news 24/7 we have kind of come to expect it. It is given the sort of seasonal reverence that the cicadas get back east. But it’s really more akin to sap on a maple tree in the shape of a Saint, if you think about it. Anyway it amuses me. I hope these gentle giant idiots get the technical assistance they need to find their way back into the ocean.

(By the way, I kid the whales. I do really hope they’re not in danger and I think I probably would go see them in Rio Vista.)

Makin’ controversies at CBS13

Or is it CBS13.com? Or is it just CBS13.com (the show) or CBS13.com (the website)? I don’t even know anymore…

Yesterday’s news out of Riverbank about an entire family killed in a collision with an Amtrak train is truly frightening. The stuff of nightmares. CBS13’s led with this story all day, with Mike Dello Stritto and Serene Branson on scene.

A fatal accident on the highway in central California. Remind you of anything? I think it reminded CBS13 of the problems Solano residents are having with Highway 12, and they decided to run with that. Dello Stritto continued to report from the scene at the 11:00 newscast, even though it was pitch black outside and so the crossing arm he pointed to could have been anywhere. He tossed back to Sam and Pallas who… tossed back out to Serene Branson, standing seemingly a few feet away from Dello Stritto to report on another angle of the story. Awk-waaard.

And then they call K-Ming. Continue reading “Makin’ controversies at CBS13”

Imus have said something bad

By now many of you have heard of controversy that nationally syndicated (and future former) radio host Don Imus has put himself in:

The drama started when Imus referred to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as a group of “nappy-headed hos.” The remarks were a seemingly off-the-cuff reference to the squad, which had just lost the annual NCAA women’s national championship, but Imus’ insensitivity to a group of college athletes who were coming off a remarkable season aroused public ire that seemed to increase with each passing day.

Interestingly (and why I’m writing about it here, of course), it turns out that Imus used to work as a radio host in Sacramento:

Continue reading “Imus have said something bad”

“Monster Teacher” reporting

I was a lot more fired up to write about female teacher-male student molestation scandals last night, when I thought there was a brand new scandal on the heels of the Dry Creek situation. I swear there was a teaser for a story about an “FTMS” scandal with a mugshot of a completely different woman. But that was right before bedtime. Turns out, like many stories are on the Sacramento news, that was a flub. I just confirmed with RonTopofIt, he saw the same thing. Get it together, people.

But still, there’s much to discuss. It’s a shame that the reporting on cases like this always has to highlight the “double standard” controversy, but it’s still shocking when you hear the double standard working in soundbites and it goes completely unremarked. Like the neighbor of Kelly Spaich, who was quoted on the evening news saying “She’s an attractive woman… seems like she could get a man.” Or the numerous acquaintances with the perp who say “she’s a good person… I’m not going to judge her, I’ll leave that for the jury.”

Continue reading ““Monster Teacher” reporting”

News10 news director weighs in on inform vs. exploit

The Bee’s Sam McManis clued me in tonight to a blog post by Stacy Owen, News Director at News10, about the interview of the daughter of Annette Brodovsky that I ranted about earlier this week. She has some interesting things to say: “In the newsroom, we even alerted each other to local blogs about that interview.” Heh.

I love reading that Karen Massie expressed reservations about the assignment; I was right about her. About Owen’s conclusion though, I’m not sure. The family told you they wanted to talk on camera…after you asked them. Obviously I don’t have to deal with that moral dilemma so I have no idea what I would actually do with this situation. I do think it’s a great thing for a news director to explain the newsroom thought process because it goes a long way toward making cynical folks like me understand.

Victim reporting hits rock bottom

Mike TeselleBetween the DUI-related fatal crashes and the dangers of highway 12, it’s been a tragic month in the area. Each story is accompanied by on-camera appearances by the victims families–not family spokespeople, but spouses and children. In their rush to be first to the scene and get the highest level of access, I think local news agencies are throwing common sense and good taste to the wayside.

Continue reading “Victim reporting hits rock bottom”

“No red flags” found in radio contest death

From the “I don’t wanna go off on a rant here” files we learn today that Sacramento County prosecutors will not file any criminal charges against radio staff in the water-drinking death of a Rancho Cordova mother of three (read Runnergirl’s comment).

“Any reasonable person wouldn’t have concluded that she was seriously ill or in danger of dying,” said district attorney’s spokeswoman Lana Wyant. “There were no red flags.”

Uh, uh, really? The Sac Bee article goes on to cite facts to the contrary (saving me the trouble). My hunch is (and you legal eagles out there can help me out) that this is cost saving move to the County and the taxpayers. Thus allowing the civil case to move forward and the real fireworks to begin.

As much as I am behind personal accountability I just can’t come to terms with the footage of the DJs flippantly dismissing the callers who tried to warn of the dangers of such a contest.

Paul’s Long Run

Even if the only time you listen to Y92 is when you’re at the dentist office, you probably know who Paul Robins is — the morning DJ and former longtime on-air partner of Phil Cowan, comprising the duo Paul & Phil (AKA “The Nicest Guys in Radio.”)

Less than an hour ago, Paul left his morning drive studio to start on his 92.5 mile run around the Sacramento area to raise funds to purchase new vans for Atkinson Youth Services. He will return to his studio by 7am tomorrow to finish up tomorrow morning’s show. If he needs to be pushed in a wheelchair to get there, he will donate $5,000 out of his own pocket. He is committed to making it the entire way under his own power.
Continue reading “Paul’s Long Run”