Thursday, September 07, 2006
KATIE'S NO-NEWS NONSENSE
Like most of the better known and more popular pundits, this writer will take his turn in either praising or denigrating Miss Couric on her maiden tries into the realm of serious news broadcasting. Well, actually she has not done that yet.
What ever happended to CBS News? Wherever it went, its departure was likely coincident with Katie Couric's arrival, rather than as a result of it. Sure, Katie seems to be a programmed humanoid, moving from this posture to that posture as per queue. But maybe she will get over that and regain the spontaneity for which she is known. But what happened to the news?
CBS appears to have replaced the news with some kind of dumbed-down, shortened, mediocre, human interest and public affairs version of 60 Minutes. It is slow-paced and rather boring. Obvious pandering to the left and to the right is evident in its "free speech" segment, and to a lesser extent in other topic selections.
Don't pander, just give us the news! Cut the magazine stuff. Don't script out the host's (excuse me, anchor's) most endearing qualities. Those are the reason for paying the big bucks.
The second segment's story on Central American mothers was inappropriate for a news program, and it was stretched so far left as to leave even the moderates behind. While guest George Bush may be the president, he turns 60% of the audience off. The scheduled appearance of Rush Limbaough will lead at least 75% of the viewers, including the Militant Moderate, to other channels.
Who in the world is making those programming and formatting decisions at CBS? Whoever it may be, those persons are sabotaging the $15 million dollar girl. Come on, give her a chance!
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
What ever happended to CBS News? Wherever it went, its departure was likely coincident with Katie Couric's arrival, rather than as a result of it. Sure, Katie seems to be a programmed humanoid, moving from this posture to that posture as per queue. But maybe she will get over that and regain the spontaneity for which she is known. But what happened to the news?
CBS appears to have replaced the news with some kind of dumbed-down, shortened, mediocre, human interest and public affairs version of 60 Minutes. It is slow-paced and rather boring. Obvious pandering to the left and to the right is evident in its "free speech" segment, and to a lesser extent in other topic selections.
Don't pander, just give us the news! Cut the magazine stuff. Don't script out the host's (excuse me, anchor's) most endearing qualities. Those are the reason for paying the big bucks.
The second segment's story on Central American mothers was inappropriate for a news program, and it was stretched so far left as to leave even the moderates behind. While guest George Bush may be the president, he turns 60% of the audience off. The scheduled appearance of Rush Limbaough will lead at least 75% of the viewers, including the Militant Moderate, to other channels.
Who in the world is making those programming and formatting decisions at CBS? Whoever it may be, those persons are sabotaging the $15 million dollar girl. Come on, give her a chance!
Dr. Edwin E. Vineyard, AKA The Militant Moderate
