Fox’s trashy reality show Anchorwoman premieres tonight, and it’s getting some positive reviews. I’ve already expressed my pointed opinion about this — that it demeans local TV news — and perhaps it’s best summed up by this Hollywood Reporter story that explains how many in the KYTX-TV newsroom were outraged at putting a dumb blonde model in the anchor chair: “You can understand where they’re coming from. They want their TV station to have integrity and credibility, and to practice solid journalism. But who are they kidding? At most stations, with their emphasis on crime news, celebrity gossip, fires and accidents, that ship sailed years ago.”
No integrity, credibility or solid journalism in local TV? That’s the opinion from the Hollywood Reporter — a trade magazine — not your local newspaper. And unfortunately, an increasing number of average people believe it as well. Local stations that still cling to the breathless/crime/plastic model are in danger of producing themselves into obscurity (except, you could argue, in a handful of markets.) Remember last week’s study that inferred that many people are switching to online news because they’re annoyed by TV news? As I wrote then, “TV newsrooms that ‘get it’ are focused on meaningful community enterprise coverage with smart, respectful storytelling and a ban on breathlessness.” Yes, I’m on my soapbox again, but Anchorwoman should serve as a stark reminder that many people will take the show as gospel. And it’s not just the show’s fault.
Anynewsroom, USA?
