Frustrated by news networks

[ajbrown]

I may be the only one with this opinion, but it amazes me that every channel that deals with news is covering the hurricane. I get that it is a big storm, I get there is a big surge, but every channel for every minute?

You would think one channel would have an approach of covering daily news and use a banner, then have a 15 minute update every hour or something.

Is Libya a new vacation resort?
Romney's hair still perfect?
US economy on the mend?

How would I know by watching tv, there is a hurricane coming :cus:

[14thMed]

It's on the EAST coast! Its going to hit New York. Nothing else matters...

[Virtual Geezer]

I agree. Look what was going on a few months back with the rising of the Mississippi River in LA do to heavy spring rains in the Midwest and snow melt up north. It was the hot topic for days and then nothing. Did everything just go away and things are back to normal? I would have liked to know what happened to all the farm land that was flooded because of the spillways being opened. What is currently happening to that area now that it is under a sever heat wave?

[Sally Jo]

AMEN!!!! It's ridiculous.

[villagegolfer]

Thank goodness for the Golf Channel.:beer3:

[GeorgeT]

Wow, the hurricane is a serious issue for everyone north of SC now and should be the #1 news story as it is. You are sitting at a computer right now and can read about any news story you want so what's the big deal?

[ilovetv]

After Katrina, there is hyper-awareness and hyper-warning going on.....the elected politicians don't want to get blamed and vilified when people make no effort on their own to get themselves out of known danger on its way.

[graciegirl]

The people who decide WHAT is news are playing a numbers game. They are showing what MOST people want to see.

It is a business like any other. A judgement call.

You know what ole Abe said.

I am interested in the Hurricane news.

[CarolSells]

I totally agree, also. I'm somewhat of a night owl and tuned in vey late last night and at first it was interesting. I also leave my television on all night so I checked in periodically and on several different channels.

Here are some things I saw:

1) HLN (the sensationalism channel a.k.a. Nancy Grace's station) had a female shreiking about people who "just blatantly refused to evacuate" as if she got left out of the Casey assasination!

2) All sorts of helpful hints for survival such as "bring those trash cans in - don't want those blowin' around", "turn your lawn furniture upside down to protect it", and "if you don't live in a poorer area and have some money left here at the end of the month go to the ATM and take out some cash" Really! "Stay away from windows!".

3) And the perrenial fav: "We have Bill on the line who lives in Atlantic City, N.C. where they are reporting torrential rain right now. (Add split screen shot where we can see said rain). So, Bill what can you see as you look out you window?". (She missed #2).

Oh well, at least they are leaving the housing market alone! Thanks for reading.

:a040:

[tainsley]

If you get FLIX channel, Great Expectations is on. Good movie. I am watching the hurricane from my family room window. Oops power just went off. Oh its too early! Anyway... ah it's back on! Wind gusts are up to about 40-45 mph. Sure hope my trees can handle it. Still no cable...cable back on! Gonna be one of those days. Can't wait to get back to TV!

[cybermuda]

Try the BBC on PBS - world news every evening at 6pm (not sure about weekends)

A lot of their coverage the past few days has been on Libya, and before that it was Syria, but they have reported on the hurricane, financial matters and other events as well

[joycenemetz]

With this hurricane afftecting 29 million people, it is a pretty big deal. Even pretty far inland in NE PA, we have moved all the deck furniture out of harms way, stocked up on food & water, and batteries for the flashlights. All of our electric lines are above ground and here in PA we have a lot of old trees with old branches that could fall on the electric wires - we may not have power for a while - good to keep the news on and keep informed with the status of the storm.

[ajbrown]

Wow, the hurricane is a serious issue for everyone north of SC now and should be the #1 news story as it is. You are sitting at a computer right now and can read about any news story you want so what's the big deal?

I do get my news from many places. I am not trying to change the world; just chatting on TOTV and wondering how others felt. When I use the computer I listen to the tv flipping between CNN and FOX, so I miss it when the cable news channels do this.

I whole heartedly agree Irene is the number one news story today, but I do not feel it is the ONLY news story of the day. The program manager for these stations feel the 24 hours coverage is best for their business, but I wonder if that is what MOST viewers want or they fear not keeping up with the other guys.

I could see running a normal Saturday segments updating us on the storm every 30 minutes as an option.

I would think a channel like MSNBC with lower ratings would take a chance and try to capture a new audience by NOT simply following the others.

Just my opinion as I await the first showers from Irene to arrive.

[ajbrown]

With this hurricane afftecting 29 million people, it is a pretty big deal. Even pretty far inland in NE PA, we have moved all the deck furniture out of harms way, stocked up on food & water, and batteries for the flashlights. All of our electric lines are above ground and here in PA we have a lot of old trees with old branches that could fall on the electric wires - we may not have power for a while - good to keep the news on and keep informed with the status of the storm.

I hope no one reads into my posts that I do not think the hurricane is a big deal. I know it is a big deal and will affect many folks. If my posts diminished that concern, it is my lack of writing skills, not my intent.

I only started this thread curious how others felt about FOX, CNN, MSNBC and HLN providing exactly the same coverage as the Weather Channel every minute all day.

[villagegolfer]

I hope no one reads into my posts that I do not think the hurricane is a big deal. I know it is a big deal and will affect many folks. If my posts diminished that concern, it is my lack of writing skills, not my intent.

I only started this thread curious how others felt about FOX, CNN, MSNBC and HLN providing exactly the same coverage as the Weather Channel every minute all day.
I agree , you would think that a Hurricane Update every 15 minutes would be enough or running a banner at the bottom of the screen.
Like someone said, maybe they are doing it because every other channel is doing it?

[cybermuda]

Do you remember when O J Simpson was driving along the freeway and every channel - not just the news programs - switched from their regular schedule to helicopter footage of the Bronco?

Then they showed it again. And again. And again.

Yawn!

Only when people started complaining that they had had enough did a few brave stations decide to show something else.


I agree with AJ - there is no need for every station to cover just the one event 24/7, however important that event is. If that's all I want to know about, I can stick to the Weather Channel or go on-line.

[pauld315]

I hope no one reads into my posts that I do not think the hurricane is a big deal. I know it is a big deal and will affect many folks. If my posts diminished that concern, it is my lack of writing skills, not my intent.

I only started this thread curious how others felt about FOX, CNN, MSNBC and HLN providing exactly the same coverage as the Weather Channel every minute all day.

Hey, that's nothing. In addition to all the national news channels we have continuous coverage on all of the local network channels here in Raleigh, NC. Even though the storm has essentially left NC and was never much of an event here in Raleigh, it is still on, 60 minutes an hour, on all local stations thus removing all regular programming since last night. The ironic part is that most of the people who might still be interested (near the beach) don't have power now and can't watch TV anyway.

[cybrgeezer]

It's on the EAST coast! Its going to hit New York. Nothing else matters...

One of my favorite sites is fark.com, with links to news stories, but its readers' own spin on headlines to the links.

A couple of years ago, following a massive winter storm in the Midwest, Fark linked to the story thusly: "250,000 without power in St. Louis. If this had happened in New York City, you'd already know all about it."

[BaylorBear]

Thank goodness for the Golf Channel.:beer3:

:BigApplause:

[ajbrown]

I am in MA without power since 10 am sunday. We have never lost power for this long in my 20 years. I have no idea what is being covered today. I am awaiting a visit from Anderson Cooper for detailed minute by minte coverage of thawing meat and warming beer

I better go check that beer.....

PS: forgive my typing as I am so bored I am trying to use TOTV from a black berry

[Shimpy]

The dramatic news coverage is a foregone conclusion. My favorite is the reporter with raingear on standing on a beach in 65mph winds saying "Don't, and I repeat don't go outside".

[tainsley]

I am in MA without power since 10 am sunday. We have never lost power for this long in my 20 years. I have no idea what is being covered today. I am awaiting a visit from Anderson Cooper for detailed minute by minte coverage of thawing meat and warming beer

I better go check that beer.....

PS: forgive my typing as I am so bored I am trying to use TOTV from a black berry

Hey ajbrown! I am in Chesapeake, VA...without power since 10:40 Saturday morning. Still have my generator though! I might reconsider and bring it to TV with me. Hope you get your power soon...mine is supposed to back on by 11 pm this evening...they said that last night too. Have a good evening! :)

[rubicon]

I do get my news from many places. I am not trying to change the world; just chatting on TOTV and wondering how others felt. When I use the computer I listen to the tv flipping between CNN and FOX, so I miss it when the cable news channels do this.

I whole heartedly agree Irene is the number one news story today, but I do not feel it is the ONLY news story of the day. The program manager for these stations feel the 24 hours coverage is best for their business, but I wonder if that is what MOST viewers want or they fear not keeping up with the other guys.

I could see running a normal Saturday segments updating us on the storm every 30 minutes as an option.

I would think a channel like MSNBC with lower ratings would take a chance and try to capture a new audience by NOT simply following the others.

Just my opinion as I await the first showers from Irene to arrive.

:agree: IMHO quality, priority importance does not matter given news 24/7. The time needs to be filled and they don't care . the hurricane was important but people didn't need a second by second description of what was going on...periodic updates would have been fine. Why does Lindsey Lohan or Casey anthony get as much of qulity air time as foreign policy, th economy etc. why because news stations focus on ratings. Can you imagine

There was a time in the past that news stations took pride in the fact that they distinguished themselves from other stations by focuing on the more importnat and relevant stories. Now with 100 plus stations you can't escape much if it. thank God for old fashion reruns. I am even going back to I Love Lucy just to get away from this deafen and depressive drum roll by these idiot news people

[tainsley]

POWER TO THE PEOPLE...happy to report my power has finally come back on...RIGHT ON! :pepper2:

[senior citizen]

I totally agree, also. I'm somewhat of a night owl and tuned in vey late last night and at first it was interesting. I also leave my television on all night so I checked in periodically and on several different channels.

Here are some things I saw:

1) HLN (the sensationalism channel a.k.a. Nancy Grace's station) had a female shreiking about people who "just blatantly refused to evacuate" as if she got left out of the Casey assasination!

2) All sorts of helpful hints for survival such as "bring those trash cans in - don't want those blowin' around", "turn your lawn furniture upside down to protect it", and "if you don't live in a poorer area and have some money left here at the end of the month go to the ATM and take out some cash" Really! "Stay away from windows!".

3) And the perrenial fav: "We have Bill on the line who lives in Atlantic City, N.C. where they are reporting torrential rain right now. (Add split screen shot where we can see said rain). So, Bill what can you see as you look out you window?". (She missed #2).

Oh well, at least they are leaving the housing market alone! Thanks for reading.

:a040:

I hear you. But, "food for thought". Those in the midst of it all probably had no electricity, thus no television reception. The lucky ones had battery powered scanners.

Any early warnings were directed mostly to those along the eastern coastline. Many who did not heed the warnings did drive through flood waters and sadly drowned. Same thing happened in Vermont to unsuspecting people who didn't quite realize how serious a situation this was.

Our own Governor of Vermont was vacationing in Canada but flew home when he realized the enormity of this "tropical storm" upon the rugged state of Vermont, as he calls it. He's been blamed for not evacuating the state, but truthfully........where would everyone go???? We are an inland state.

It was a hit and miss type of storm. But even at a category 1, in a non coastal state, it wreaked havoc up here. All we were warned about was the possibility of flooding...........but no one thought that barns, cows, homes, you name it, would be floating down their main streets, or that their roads and bridges would be washed out and destroyed by the raging flood waters, leaving them isolated. It was the worst flood in 80 years or else it's being called the 100 year flood for the state. It's quite unimaginable except for those going through it at the moment.

In our area, the winds were not that bad......but everyone had battened down the hatches and secured things beforehand, just in case.

It was the flooding up here that was, and still is , devastating. The president never even came to Vermont when he was running for election the first time.........now supposedly, he's sending a "team"...not sure if he's coming personally. Our Governor actually landed his helicopter in Bennington after surveying the damage statewide.

Again............better safe than sorry. We are a low population state, unlike say the New York New Jersey metro area..........no one imagined Irene could do what she did. Hopefully, this next one will not come this way.

[graciegirl]

.

[CarolSells]

I hear you. But, "food for thought". Those in the midst of it all probably had no electricity, thus no television reception. The lucky ones had battery powered scanners.

Any early warnings were directed mostly to those along the eastern coastline. Many who did not heed the warnings did drive through flood waters and sadly drowned. Same thing happened in Vermont to unsuspecting people who didn't quite realize how serious a situation this was.

Our own Governor of Vermont was vacationing in Canada but flew home when he realized the enormity of this "tropical storm" upon the rugged state of Vermont, as he calls it. He's been blamed for not evacuating the state, but truthfully........where would everyone go???? We are an inland state.

It was a hit and miss type of storm. But even at a category 1, in a non coastal state, it wreaked havoc up here. All we were warned about was the possibility of flooding...........but no one thought that barns, cows, homes, you name it, would be floating down their main streets, or that their roads and bridges would be washed out and destroyed by the raging flood waters, leaving them isolated. It was the worst flood in 80 years or else it's being called the 100 year flood for the state. It's quite unimaginable except for those going through it at the moment.

In our area, the winds were not that bad......but everyone had battened down the hatches and secured things beforehand, just in case.

It was the flooding up here that was, and still is , devastating. The president never even came to Vermont when he was running for election the first time.........now supposedly, he's sending a "team"...not sure if he's coming personally. Our Governor actually landed his helicopter in Bennington after surveying the damage statewide.

Again............better safe than sorry. We are a low population state, unlike say the New York New Jersey metro area..........no one imagined Irene could do what she did. Hopefully, this next one will not come this way.

SeniorCitizen,

Please forgive me. I in no way meant to minimize the seriousness of the situation for all who were affected by the storm. News coverage and warnings are extremely important.

I was merely trying to comment on the quality and delivery of news about any news event and how sometimes they beat a situation to death and just keep running on and on when there is really nothing important to add or overly sensationalize the event. JMO. I'm sure that I could have expresed it in a better way.

I sincerely hope that everyone receives the attention, aide, and funds that are needed at this time.

[English Ivy]

All I know is 6 years ago this week when we were evacuated to a hotel in Memphis TN from Gulfport MS because of Hurricane Katrina, and had no idea if we would have a home to return to, we were very thankful for all the national and cable news channels that continued to report up to, during and after the storm. It was our only way to find out what was happening back home.

Some of the reporting is redundant and sometimes borders on the ridiculous, but I know for me it was very helpful throughout a terrible situation.

[senior citizen]

SeniorCitizen,

Please forgive me. I in no way meant to minimize the seriousness of the situation for all who were affected by the storm. News coverage and warnings are extremely important.

I was merely trying to comment on the quality and delivery of news about any news event and how sometimes they beat a situation to death and just keep running on and on when there is really nothing important to add or overly sensationalize the event. JMO. I'm sure that I could have expresed it in a better way.

I sincerely hope that everyone receives the attention, aide, and funds that are needed at this time.

No harm done. I certainly didn't mean it that way. I was referring to what was happening in our state in that people are saying NOT ENOUGH WAS DONE UP HERE to warn people. Not to worry.

I guess it just depends where everyone was during this very very slow moving storm. We rarely, if ever, get hurricanes and certainly not tornados........but this past springtime, not to mention the past several years, global warming has definitely changed our weather.

Probably even if the people were watching the t.v. news (those that had electricity), they would not have heeded it......meaning Vermonters. From now on they will.

Does anyone care to guestimate where "Katia" might hit next?

[senior citizen]

All I know is 6 years ago this week when we were evacuated to a hotel in Memphis TN from Gulfport MS because of Hurricane Katrina, and had no idea if we would have a home to return to, we were very thankful for all the national and cable news channels that continued to report up to, during and after the storm. It was our only way to find out what was happening back home.

Some of the reporting is redundant and sometimes borders on the ridiculous, but I know for me it was very helpful throughout a terrible situation.

That would have been an extremely frightening experience to me.
Especially the suspense of not knowing what was occuring back at home while you were in the shelter. Hopefully, your home was spared.

[English Ivy]

That would have been an extremely frightening experience to me.
Especially the suspense of not knowing what was occuring back at home while you were in the shelter. Hopefully, your home was spared.

It was an experience I'll never forget. Fortunately we only had some minor wind damage to our home, many trees in our yard down, and the backyard fence blown over. We were about 8 miles north of the Coast. It was all easily fixed compared to the devastation so many endured. What the fury of water from a storm surge can do is incredible.

[senior citizen]

It was an experience I'll never forget. Fortunately we only had some minor wind damage to our home, many trees in our yard down, and the backyard fence blown over. We were about 8 miles north of the Coast. It was all easily fixed compared to the devastation so many endured. What the fury of water from a storm surge can do is incredible.

That was a blessing and good to know. Glad the damage was minimal.
No amount of damage is good news, but it can always be worse.

Our state has just experienced the "fury of water" as you mention and the resulting catastrophic damage.

Something one might expect in a coastal state, but hardly in an inland mountainous state. With the weather changes all over our country, I would think nothing is really predictable anymore.......not even the seasons.

[rubicon]

All I know is 6 years ago this week when we were evacuated to a hotel in Memphis TN from Gulfport MS because of Hurricane Katrina, and had no idea if we would have a home to return to, we were very thankful for all the national and cable news channels that continued to report up to, during and after the storm. It was our only way to find out what was happening back home.

Some of the reporting is redundant and sometimes borders on the ridiculous, but I know for me it was very helpful throughout a terrible situation.

English Ivy, yes yes and yes you are correct and your appreciation is notable as they did get it right on Katrina. However, every aspect of news reporting weather, crime celebrity, etc is being so hyped this country is confusing priorities and importance. But judging from the hype you would think every storm is katrina. I laughed to hear weather people hype about an expected three inch snowfall when where my home of orgin 6 inches daily was a dusting.

How important are Kardashians relative to what is occuring in the Middle East?