Monday, September 10, 2007
LEARNING FROM RICHARD
Here is what a reader said of Express' coverage of the story about the frightened villagers, yep, the same story Melissa bungled. The reader said "Very well written article Richard Charan." Media Watch agrees. Melissa take note.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
RECOGNIZING NEWS 111
Did a Head of Government in Caricom die? The wires tell Media Watch yes, Sir John Compton, the Prime Minister of St. Lucia passed away.
AP's story was posted on Sat Sep 8, 3:39pm. But Media Watch would never have guessed the people in St. Lucia are in mourning because the newsrooms locally treated the story like it was just another murder.
The weekend news on TV6 and IETV buried the story somewhere in their newscast. Shame on you all. Media Watch waited to see how the newspapers were going to cover it and Media Watch must tell you...our admiration for Newsday is growing.
That was the only newspaper to give the story any prominence. Media Watch is beginning to believe the time has come for all producers and editors to be enrolled in the "Recognising News" course, at least the beginners' level. Come on now.
AP's story was posted on Sat Sep 8, 3:39pm. But Media Watch would never have guessed the people in St. Lucia are in mourning because the newsrooms locally treated the story like it was just another murder.
The weekend news on TV6 and IETV buried the story somewhere in their newscast. Shame on you all. Media Watch waited to see how the newspapers were going to cover it and Media Watch must tell you...our admiration for Newsday is growing.
That was the only newspaper to give the story any prominence. Media Watch is beginning to believe the time has come for all producers and editors to be enrolled in the "Recognising News" course, at least the beginners' level. Come on now.
NO JOKE
Media Watch could not believe it...the lead in sounded bizarre but Media Watch thought okay, let it slide, it's probably a case of a reporter trying way too hard to grab the viewers' attention. But then up came Melissa Wong's voice and a package that went on way too long confirming that it was not just an attention grabber, but IETV making a joke out of the serious business of news.
What is Media Watch talking about? A Melissa Wong piece about villagers hearing voices in their heads and seeing a goat wearing a gold chain. According to Melissa, this superstitious figure was causing villagers to commit suicide and she even had an interview with a pandit to back up her claim.
Well, well, let's try to entertain this foolishness for a while. Let's say the people do believe they saw this goat; Melissa where was the expert's opinion to give the story the serious tone it deserves if it's indeed causing deaths? By the way, Melissa only pointed to one woman who reportedly killed herself because of this goat...but she had the pandit tell us that he knows of others who've died. Names, dates anyone?
To Melissa and the weekend producer at IETV, please, it's not Comedy Central. Think through your pieces seriously, and even if you thought it was a valid story idea that's not the way to approach it. You need statistics, a psychologist and/or a sociologist to tell us what might be causing these villagers to think this way. What about police reports?
If those villagers are indeed suffering, your piece evoked no sympathy for them and your anchor trivialised their plight even more by adding "we couldn't make it up even if we tried."
News is serious business IETV.
What is Media Watch talking about? A Melissa Wong piece about villagers hearing voices in their heads and seeing a goat wearing a gold chain. According to Melissa, this superstitious figure was causing villagers to commit suicide and she even had an interview with a pandit to back up her claim.
Well, well, let's try to entertain this foolishness for a while. Let's say the people do believe they saw this goat; Melissa where was the expert's opinion to give the story the serious tone it deserves if it's indeed causing deaths? By the way, Melissa only pointed to one woman who reportedly killed herself because of this goat...but she had the pandit tell us that he knows of others who've died. Names, dates anyone?
To Melissa and the weekend producer at IETV, please, it's not Comedy Central. Think through your pieces seriously, and even if you thought it was a valid story idea that's not the way to approach it. You need statistics, a psychologist and/or a sociologist to tell us what might be causing these villagers to think this way. What about police reports?
If those villagers are indeed suffering, your piece evoked no sympathy for them and your anchor trivialised their plight even more by adding "we couldn't make it up even if we tried."
News is serious business IETV.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
UNDERSTANDING HOW IT WORKS
A couple of quick things...Ms. Ramdhanie, shouting doesn't equal authoritative. Stop trying for a Shelly Dass; only she does what she does well. You turn the viewers off when you come across loud and banging. Find yourself Charlene.
Gayelle, did Odessa Kerr do most of your day's stories? Surely not, but why did Media Watch have to hear her threeeeee times...back to back. Unwise and also very boring. No one wants to hear the same voice over and over and over again and it tells the public there are staff problems. TV6 you are sometimes guilty of this too.
Gayelle, did Odessa Kerr do most of your day's stories? Surely not, but why did Media Watch have to hear her threeeeee times...back to back. Unwise and also very boring. No one wants to hear the same voice over and over and over again and it tells the public there are staff problems. TV6 you are sometimes guilty of this too.
WHY DOUBLE ANCHOR?
C's power team is back...Charlene Ramdhanie rejoined Golda Lee and Naette is no longer flying solo. But seeing them all again just made Media Watch wonder for the millionth time about the need for a double anchor in a 1/2 hour newscast...especially when these young ladies are the ones voicing up most of the day's stories.
Does not make much sense at all.
And while on the topic of C, why did the file footage about the
2-year-old who drowned consist of Mark Bassant's stand up from last night? And why did Robert Dumas keep putting the source of his information at the end of the sentence? Robert, in broadcast always put the attribution first. "Jack Warner says he will not give up" not "He will not give up, says Jack Warner."
Also tell your set designer that the huge screen behind you, yeah that same one, it overpowers you and is distracting. Return to the original concept. Worked better.
Does not make much sense at all.
And while on the topic of C, why did the file footage about the
2-year-old who drowned consist of Mark Bassant's stand up from last night? And why did Robert Dumas keep putting the source of his information at the end of the sentence? Robert, in broadcast always put the attribution first. "Jack Warner says he will not give up" not "He will not give up, says Jack Warner."
Also tell your set designer that the huge screen behind you, yeah that same one, it overpowers you and is distracting. Return to the original concept. Worked better.
CNC WINS AGAIN
Maybe the time has come for the powers that be to give CNC3 a national license. Why? Because sometimes St. Vincent Street seems to be the only news station consistently getting it right.
How come none of the others thought it necessary to send a reporter to the Minister of Health's constituency to get the people's reaction to his resignation? Poor, very poor TV6 and C News.
Your political big wigs, Curtis Williams and Sasha Mohammed, are they on holiday?
How come none of the others thought it necessary to send a reporter to the Minister of Health's constituency to get the people's reaction to his resignation? Poor, very poor TV6 and C News.
Your political big wigs, Curtis Williams and Sasha Mohammed, are they on holiday?
IS HE A ROOKIE?
So on Wednesday the PNM rolled its election caravan into Laventille. C News with its newest technology went live to Curtis Williams and by live, Media Watch doesn't mean via the telephone.
Anyway, there Curtis was on the scene...the crowd or lack of...
gathering, as the backdrop.
But it all fell apart when Golda tossed to Curtis to say what was happening. He struggled, struggled and struggled. Media Watch would never have guessed he is one of T&T's best, and here Media Watch is paraphrasing that new government programme.
Curtis you sounded and looked amateurish, you fumbled through the report.
Next time don't try to wing it. Just write your notes...the best of them do it... keep them nearby so when your brain freezes... there's something to refer to. Good God!
Your 9 pm piece was an improvement...still not good enough though.
Anyway, there Curtis was on the scene...the crowd or lack of...
gathering, as the backdrop.
But it all fell apart when Golda tossed to Curtis to say what was happening. He struggled, struggled and struggled. Media Watch would never have guessed he is one of T&T's best, and here Media Watch is paraphrasing that new government programme.
Curtis you sounded and looked amateurish, you fumbled through the report.
Next time don't try to wing it. Just write your notes...the best of them do it... keep them nearby so when your brain freezes... there's something to refer to. Good God!
Your 9 pm piece was an improvement...still not good enough though.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
STANDING OUT
So last night's lead was obvious...the Minister of Health, John Rahael telling his boss thanks but no thanks. Everyone got that right, but did any of the producers think outside of the box and attempt to distinguish from the pack what might have appeared to be a straight forward political story?
Not really! But Sampson Nanton must be complimented for trying. He was the only one who had the sense to compile a biography of the Minister, reminding us, or even informing some, of Mr. Rahael's beginnings and his achievements. His piece might have been more solid if he had said something about the Minister's most controversial moment as a public figure, his "trademark", some if any insight into the man.
How come no one tried to go live to a political analyst who might have been able to put Mr. Rahael's announcement in the context of what's currently happening in the PNM? Lost opportunity.
Additionally, Media Watch wondered why Mr. Nanton did not try for a stand-up. His story depended heavily on file footage, as a result the piece could have been lifted if he had captured a telling shot of the Minister, froze it and used it as his background and the basis for an in studio stand up.
Of course Media Watch is assuming no one had the time to go down to the Ministry of Health or for that matter visit Mr. Rahael's constituency, a man in the streets perhaps?
Remember you TV people, always think of how you can make your pieces more interesting for the viewer. To you Mr. Nanton, Media Watch knows you can pull off a darn good stand up. So the time has come for you to forget that unfortunate incident
and start doing pieces to camera once again.
Not really! But Sampson Nanton must be complimented for trying. He was the only one who had the sense to compile a biography of the Minister, reminding us, or even informing some, of Mr. Rahael's beginnings and his achievements. His piece might have been more solid if he had said something about the Minister's most controversial moment as a public figure, his "trademark", some if any insight into the man.
How come no one tried to go live to a political analyst who might have been able to put Mr. Rahael's announcement in the context of what's currently happening in the PNM? Lost opportunity.
Additionally, Media Watch wondered why Mr. Nanton did not try for a stand-up. His story depended heavily on file footage, as a result the piece could have been lifted if he had captured a telling shot of the Minister, froze it and used it as his background and the basis for an in studio stand up.
Of course Media Watch is assuming no one had the time to go down to the Ministry of Health or for that matter visit Mr. Rahael's constituency, a man in the streets perhaps?
Remember you TV people, always think of how you can make your pieces more interesting for the viewer. To you Mr. Nanton, Media Watch knows you can pull off a darn good stand up. So the time has come for you to forget that unfortunate incident
and start doing pieces to camera once again.
PRIYA'S DAY OUT
Real people read Newsday!
Well Newsday, your editorial judgement on Saturday allowed you to surge way ahead of the competition with your photo of six year old Priya Seeram holding up her Humming Bird Medal. You understand your audience and know what they want. While Express and Guardian went with shots of Priya with the President and the Prime Minister, you stuck to the main attraction, describing her bouncing gait as she went to greet the President.
Priya was no doubt the star attraction when she began classes at her new school on Monday, but there was not a single word or shot of this from the various television stations. That would have been a natural follow up story, to see Priya surrounded by her
new-found friends admiring her medal and rubbing shoulders with the country's youngest ever national awardee. Lost opportunity. But it's left to be seen if the Newsday will stay ahead of the competition and follow the story on Tuesday, or if it will be beaten this time around.
Well Newsday, your editorial judgement on Saturday allowed you to surge way ahead of the competition with your photo of six year old Priya Seeram holding up her Humming Bird Medal. You understand your audience and know what they want. While Express and Guardian went with shots of Priya with the President and the Prime Minister, you stuck to the main attraction, describing her bouncing gait as she went to greet the President.
Priya was no doubt the star attraction when she began classes at her new school on Monday, but there was not a single word or shot of this from the various television stations. That would have been a natural follow up story, to see Priya surrounded by her
new-found friends admiring her medal and rubbing shoulders with the country's youngest ever national awardee. Lost opportunity. But it's left to be seen if the Newsday will stay ahead of the competition and follow the story on Tuesday, or if it will be beaten this time around.
INTERNAL COMPETITION
Now, now TV6 and Express, someone across there has totally lost their sensibilities and or marketing savvy. Media Watch checked and checked and found nothing to suggest that OCM no longer owns both TV6 and the Express newspaper, so pray tell, could someone in management say whose great idea it was to come up with Express TV on your website?
Let's try to work this out. So we type in your web address and then what? It's not enough for us to just scroll to the story we want to read, but we now have a bevy of beauties reading it to us? Well if the idea is get the vision impaired to go to your website then kudos, and the time has come to revisit us having to pay to watch TV6's News on the internet.
If you are doing tv, get it right. We need to see more than just Rowan Gould and her colleagues talking about the headlines with a couple of still photos. Where is the natural sound? Where is the live video?
We will give you that it's different, but how is this enhancing and complementing the OCM product? Steuuuups!
Let's try to work this out. So we type in your web address and then what? It's not enough for us to just scroll to the story we want to read, but we now have a bevy of beauties reading it to us? Well if the idea is get the vision impaired to go to your website then kudos, and the time has come to revisit us having to pay to watch TV6's News on the internet.
If you are doing tv, get it right. We need to see more than just Rowan Gould and her colleagues talking about the headlines with a couple of still photos. Where is the natural sound? Where is the live video?
We will give you that it's different, but how is this enhancing and complementing the OCM product? Steuuuups!
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