Crisisblogger
I’ve been a loyal and regular viewer of Seattle’s KING5 (NBC) news for many years–way back to the Bullitt sister’s days. It has consistently been, in my mind anyway, the class act among local news options which include KOMO (ABC), KIRO (CBS) and KCPQ (Fox).
This despite hiring a reporter who while working at another TV station engaged in very unethical behavior in my opinion and coerced me to do the unthinkable–stop an interview with my client part way through and menace to prevent it from continuing if the line of questioning continued. Still I observed.
I even observed through the often ludicrous “investigative reports” that so obviously mimicked the news magazines. The poor reporters were increasingly desperate to uncover the excellent scandals, consumer manhandles, threats to the environment, whatever, that required them to engage in the most embarrassing forms of “gotcha journalism” I’ve ever seen. How many times do we need to see a reporter following an unwilling interview subject to his car, the camera taut on him, while the reporter in the framework continually yells “Why won’t you talk to us tormentor?” I wish some journalism student would do a investigate on how many times this little drama has played out over the past few years. But even this charade didn’t stop me from watching.
But “Get Jesse” ultimately has. OK, I’ll admit that watching Seinfeld was often painful for me because my tummy would turn with the amazingly embarrassing situations that George Costanza would get himself in. And my belly turns in the same way with Get Jesse. Jesse Jones, a big African-American reporter no doubt has some good reporter abilities, but are hidden by a very aggressive, angry behavior and a most annoying way of signing off his reporters by telling “JESSE Jones, King five News.” Now they have given him his own segment in which “gotcha journalism” is carried to the most degrading insides imaginable. On the flimsiest pretenses, he will make a massive drama out somebody’s complaint. Of course, what they want is to stimulate viewers to complain so they have fodder for these kinds of stories.
My complaint is in large part the manhandle (see the lasik story discussion as an example) of those people victimized by this desperate need to entertain. I mean, why is it always those complaining who are in the right?
But my deeper concern is this as continuing evidence for the way old media is dealing with the loss of audience crisis. They go further and further away from traditional, credible journalism and ever deeper into infotainment. They are desperate to find and hold an audience in order to support their ad rates. Understandable. But until they see that these extreme measures such as Get Jesse are counter productive to building an audience, they will proceed this steep slide into melodrama. I think we need to find a way to let them know that this kind of “journalism” drives us away. I’m switching channels and encouraging those of you who agree with my concern to do the same.
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twelve thoughts on “Why KING5 News is forcing me to switch to an alternative”
I could not agree more. Same story here in Chicago. If they’re not pandering to fear and emotions (I literally used to write down how many times newscasts on WMAQ-TV, our NBC affiliate, used “shocking,” “controversial,” “emotional,” “worst nightmare,” “disturbing” and other words intended to manipulate viewers) or broadcasting thinly-veiled infotainment that’s obviously targeted at certain demographics, than they’re trumpeting the latest shooting, fire, robbery or car accident that frankly have on influence on most viewers lives. Oh and let’s not leave behind the “hard news” that I already know because I read it online hours –if not a day– ago. TV news is an irrelevancy. I proceed to miracle at how Chicago supports five English language television news operations when they all showcase THE SAME STORIES.
I take no pleasure in watching journalism fall into a crevice. But like you, my life will go on without these bozos.
“My complaint is in large part the manhandle (see the lasik story discussion as an example) of those people victimized by this desperate need to entertain. I mean, why is it always those complaining who are in the right?”
I think you said it all right there – why is it that you are in the right? Some of us like Jesse Jones and his signature sign-off. Perhaps a little tolerance on your part might be needed. Love the display for what it is and disregard the points you don’t like.
I’m glad to hear there is someone who likes it. I find your suggestion that I should love the “demonstrate” interesting. Might be an age and culture gap here–I still tend to view newscasts not as a showcase but as journalism. And that is my point–they have become “shows” and need to be treated as that when the only decisions to be made revolve around how to draw an audience and entertain them to keep them tuned in. I will very likely proceed to have a hard time loving that showcase.
Jesse Jones is a wonderful person!! He actually got my dryer motionless and got me compensation for money I had to spend at a laundry facility! He is NOT mean or annoying…..He does what he does and gets results…….Perhaps it is that YOU are wishing YOU were as popular and well known as he is.
I agree with the fresh commercial for Get Jesse…….JESSE ROCKS!!
We used to observe Jesse’s sign-off, and found it ridiculous, but charming. His foray into consumer advocacy, however, misses its mark. I imagine he’s a cool man, and well-intentioned. That doesn’t mean that “Get Jesse” upholds the standards of journalism I’d like to respect out of a news institution. It all began in this market with Q-13 and that alien Leslie woman and it all slipped downhill from there. In every town I’ve ever lived in, I’ve always depended on the NBC affiliate, believing faithfully, but perhaps wrongly, that their news was the “class act.” “Get Jesse” should be one of those 1/Two hour shows like evening magazine, and not passed off as news.
Put me in the group that likes him. Plus, now we have an issue and might actually be contacting him…
As for his sign-off – don’t leave behind, he has a bit of a dramatic pause right before he says it… long enough that you know what is coming, and can say it with him — “JESSE Jones…”
Yeah, but why does he have to look so angry?
Why KING5 News is forcing me to switch to an alternative, Crisisblogger
Crisisblogger
I’ve been a loyal and regular viewer of Seattle’s KING5 (NBC) news for many years–way back to the Bullitt sister’s days. It has consistently been, in my mind anyway, the class act among local news options which include KOMO (ABC), KIRO (CBS) and KCPQ (Fox).
This despite hiring a reporter who while working at another TV station engaged in very unethical behavior in my opinion and compelled me to do the unthinkable–stop an interview with my client part way through and menace to prevent it from continuing if the line of questioning continued. Still I observed.
I even observed through the often ludicrous “investigative reports” that so obviously mimicked the news magazines. The poor reporters were increasingly desperate to uncover the superb scandals, consumer manhandles, threats to the environment, whatever, that required them to engage in the most embarrassing forms of “gotcha journalism” I’ve ever seen. How many times do we need to see a reporter following an unwilling interview subject to his car, the camera taut on him, while the reporter in the framework continually yells “Why won’t you talk to us tormentor?” I wish some journalism student would do a examine on how many times this little drama has played out over the past few years. But even this charade didn’t stop me from watching.
But “Get Jesse” ultimately has. OK, I’ll admit that watching Seinfeld was often painful for me because my tummy would turn with the amazingly embarrassing situations that George Costanza would get himself in. And my tummy turns in the same way with Get Jesse. Jesse Jones, a big African-American reporter no doubt has some good reporter abilities, but are hidden by a very aggressive, angry behavior and a most annoying way of signing off his reporters by telling “JESSE Jones, King five News.” Now they have given him his own segment in which “gotcha journalism” is carried to the most degrading innards imaginable. On the flimsiest pretenses, he will make a ample drama out somebody’s complaint. Of course, what they want is to stimulate viewers to complain so they have fodder for these kinds of stories.
My complaint is in large part the manhandle (see the lasik story discussion as an example) of those people victimized by this desperate need to entertain. I mean, why is it always those complaining who are in the right?
But my deeper concern is this as continuing evidence for the way old media is dealing with the loss of audience crisis. They go further and further away from traditional, credible journalism and ever deeper into infotainment. They are desperate to find and hold an audience in order to support their ad rates. Understandable. But until they see that these extreme measures such as Get Jesse are counter productive to building an audience, they will proceed this steep slide into melodrama. I think we need to find a way to let them know that this kind of “journalism” drives us away. I’m switching channels and encouraging those of you who agree with my concern to do the same.
Post navigation
twelve thoughts on “Why KING5 News is forcing me to switch to an alternative”
I could not agree more. Same story here in Chicago. If they’re not pandering to fear and emotions (I literally used to write down how many times newscasts on WMAQ-TV, our NBC affiliate, used “shocking,” “controversial,” “emotional,” “worst nightmare,” “disturbing” and other words intended to manipulate viewers) or broadcasting thinly-veiled infotainment that’s obviously targeted at certain demographics, than they’re trumpeting the latest shooting, fire, robbery or car accident that frankly have on influence on most viewers lives. Oh and let’s not leave behind the “hard news” that I already know because I read it online hours –if not a day– ago. TV news is an irrelevancy. I proceed to miracle at how Chicago supports five English language television news operations when they all showcase THE SAME STORIES.
I take no pleasure in watching journalism fall into a crevice. But like you, my life will go on without these bozos.
“My complaint is in large part the manhandle (see the lasik story discussion as an example) of those people victimized by this desperate need to entertain. I mean, why is it always those complaining who are in the right?”
I think you said it all right there – why is it that you are in the right? Some of us like Jesse Jones and his signature sign-off. Perhaps a little tolerance on your part might be needed. Love the display for what it is and disregard the points you don’t like.
I’m glad to hear there is someone who likes it. I find your suggestion that I should love the “display” interesting. Might be an age and culture gap here–I still tend to view newscasts not as a display but as journalism. And that is my point–they have become “shows” and need to be treated as that when the only decisions to be made revolve around how to draw an audience and entertain them to keep them tuned in. I will very likely proceed to have a hard time liking that showcase.
Jesse Jones is a wonderful person!! He actually got my dryer immovable and got me compensation for money I had to spend at a laundry facility! He is NOT mean or annoying…..He does what he does and gets results…….Perhaps it is that YOU are wishing YOU were as popular and well known as he is.
I agree with the fresh commercial for Get Jesse…….JESSE ROCKS!!
We used to witness Jesse’s sign-off, and found it ridiculous, but charming. His foray into consumer advocacy, however, misses its mark. I imagine he’s a cool stud, and well-intentioned. That doesn’t mean that “Get Jesse” upholds the standards of journalism I’d like to respect out of a news institution. It all began in this market with Q-13 and that alien Leslie woman and it all slipped downhill from there. In every town I’ve ever lived in, I’ve always depended on the NBC affiliate, believing faithfully, but perhaps wrongly, that their news was the “class act.” “Get Jesse” should be one of those 1/Two hour shows like evening magazine, and not passed off as news.
Put me in the group that likes him. Plus, now we have an issue and might actually be contacting him…
As for his sign-off – don’t leave behind, he has a bit of a dramatic pause right before he says it… long enough that you know what is coming, and can say it with him — “JESSE Jones…”
Yeah, but why does he have to look so angry?
