Jump to content

Brussels coverage from local stations/breaking into national coverage


nathannah

Recommended Posts

Anyone else bugged by the fact that yesterday, most local morning newscasts broke into the national coverage when their newscasts started as usual for the Brussels attacks (especially as the subway attacks were just breaking)? On top of that I pretty much expected the morning shows to pretty much put up the 'do-not-pre-empt' flag and start early coverage in all time zones, as they did in the East, but in the Central time zone and westward, that first hour was still frustratingly delayed an hour+ as usual, meaning those who wanted to keep up had to go to cable news with their indeterminable panels/spec (oh BBC World News, thanks for being on my system!) or just handle the hour delay.

 

I understand 'keeping things local' and all, but a 25/55 minute update and detailed ticker should keep people well enough informed for local news on an unusual news morning. ABC and CBS were doing great coverage even with their overnight desks (NBC/MSNBC stumbled as usual while waiting for Brian to get to 30 Rock), and unless there's that rare Belgian-American journalist on your staff, there's nothing local stations can add to the coverage at all. It just seemed like all my local anchors and the directors threw their hands up in the air and just rolled tape or live via satellite without comment or elaboration besides 'you'll find out more on (network show) stay tuned'.

Anyone else bugged by the fact that yesterday, most local morning newscasts broke into the national coverage when their newscasts started as usual for the Brussels attacks (especially as the subway attacks were just breaking)? On top of that I pretty much expected the morning shows to pretty much put up the 'do-not-pre-empt' flag and start early coverage in all time zones, as they did in the East, but in the Central time zone and westward, that first hour was still frustratingly delayed an hour+ as usual, meaning those who wanted to keep up had to go cable news with their indeterminable panels/spec (oh BBC World News, thanks for being on my system!) or just handle the hour delay.

 

I understand 'keeping things local' and all, but a 25/55 minute update and detailed ticker should keep people well enough informed for local news on an unusual news morning. ABC and CBS were doing great coverage even with their overnight desks (NBC/MSNBC stumbled as usual while waiting for Brian to get to 30 Rock), and unless there's that rare Belgian-American journalist on your staff, there's nothing local stations can add to the coverage at all. It just seemed like all my local anchors and the directors threw their hands up in the air and just rolled tape or live via satellite without comment or elaboration besides 'you'll find out more on (network show) stay tuned'.

 

KOVR and KMAX had their coverage both at the same time. but KOVR went into Scott pelley's coverage Afterwards with KMAX still on KOVR's at 6:30.

 

KTXL used FOX News and KCRA used NBC Special Report while KQCA was using a Ticker. KXTV used ABC World News Tonight for their coverage.

I'm pretty sure when Today started at 7 local time in CT/MT/PT they were taking what ever was live on the east coast.

 

Not in Wisconsin they didn't. On all three, the stations took it an hour back as usual.

 

 

KOVR and KMAX had their coverage both at the same time. but KOVR went into Scott pelley's coverage Afterwards with KMAX still on KOVR's at 6:30.

 

KTXL used FOX News and KCRA used NBC Special Report while KQCA was using a Ticker. KXTV used ABC World News Tonight for their coverage.

 

This was more about the morning coverage as it happened where the local newscasts kept control. The evening newscasts I know are more of a case where a station usually keeps/dumps the other added half hour depending on what syndicated product they have/a 7pm newscast (if they have WoF/Jeopardy they're less likely usually to keep the switchboard operator sane).

When I woke up around 6:30 or so, WRC, WJLA, and WUSA were all with the network at the time. WTTG stayed local up until 11am pre-empting Good Day DC, WTVR stayed local until 7 when they joined CBS This Morning. WRC stayed with the Today Show until noon when they ran a special noon news instead of Meredith Viera.

Anyone else bugged by the fact that yesterday, most local morning newscasts broke into the national coverage when their newscasts started as usual for the Brussels attacks (especially as the subway attacks were just breaking)? On top of that I pretty much expected the morning shows to pretty much put up the 'do-not-pre-empt' flag and start early coverage in all time zones, as they did in the East, but in the Central time zone and westward, that first hour was still frustratingly delayed an hour+ as usual, meaning those who wanted to keep up had to go to cable news with their indeterminable panels/spec (oh BBC World News, thanks for being on my system!) or just handle the hour delay.

 

I understand 'keeping things local' and all, but a 25/55 minute update and detailed ticker should keep people well enough informed for local news on an unusual news morning. ABC and CBS were doing great coverage even with their overnight desks (NBC/MSNBC stumbled as usual while waiting for Brian to get to 30 Rock), and unless there's that rare Belgian-American journalist on your staff, there's nothing local stations can add to the coverage at all. It just seemed like all my local anchors and the directors threw their hands up in the air and just rolled tape or live via satellite without comment or elaboration besides 'you'll find out more on (network show) stay tuned'.

 

I was thinking the same thing a lot this week. The balance has been particularly off on New York's WABC, which usually does a good job in these situations.

 

Also, to that end, the decision to send AJ Ross to Brussels for WABC wasn't the best. She's a fine beat reporter, but she seems totally out of her depth here. Trying to figure out how she bagged that assignment when NJ Burkett or Jim Dolan would have been far smarter options.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using Local News Talk you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.