I have traveled to many cities in this country one thing that I always try and do even if its just a lay over is watch some sort of the locals news . Habit I guess sometimes in a Hotel room at a friends House in a terminal or on the phone.
In saying this I gauge all other Local Television News channels by WSOC-TV in Charlotte. This gauge is simple things like
1 ) Do the anchors know how to read?I mean I have sat at the anchor chair at CNN twice and read the prompter its not a difficult task but, one that needs to get accustom to .Do the anchors try and put to much arm movements and or facial expressions making the broadcast seem very fake?
2) Camera work are they some where they are or are not supposed to be?And when they switch from local to national is it seamless?And how many of those " Hey the camera should be on the person talking moments"
3) Reporters that actually report and ones that know just a little about what is going on at their location ok do a little home work.
4) Report stories that matter not Ms Smith left her gas cap at the c-store and 3 weeks later when she remember it someone " she guesses stole it
5) Give back to something for the area that people see you " Tools for schools" " Coats for kids" just to name a few. Show some sort of emotion about the story not a fake tear in your eye....
Well, this is my scale to gauge all news check out other channels . I mean how many bleach blonds does it take to read a " Q" card. Even the positioning of their legs tells you they are trying to get a audience HOW?. I think one channel should have a makeup company to sponsor them they use so much of it WSOC is for me http://www.wsoctv.com/index.html
Enjoy the News ...