Eyewitness News or Action News

[Guest cfif]

They're probably the two most popular news brandings and styles of coverage [so to speak]....so which do you like better? Personally, it's Eyewitness News, and those who know me know why (or just look at my signature -- lol).

[jestbiteme 13]

From what I've seen of Action News, I find the format somewhat overly hyped and sensationalist. The stories aren't very in depth, because there is a time limit I think. Eyewitness News is somewhat more in depth, and more low key in some instances.

 

What I notice- presently, at least- is that the brand doesn't reflect the product anymore. I could watch Eyewitness News or Action News and get the same type of coverage. I attribute it to the follow the leader mentality-- station X does this and wins every book, let's emulate them. (Last year, KDKA had a gas giveaway. This year, the other two stations do. WTRF introduced a "first forecast" in the A block, and WTOV followed, et al. Remember the 24-hour news stations of the early 90s, and the "Around the World/Around The Nation/Around the Region" beats of the later 90s?) There isn't much originality in your traditional news markets as there once was. There isn't room for it, lest a mistake or "straying from the pack" kill your ratings. WGCL tried inventing and sticking to a format-- Clear News was regarded as a failure.

 

For example, I could turn on any of the three stations in Pittsburgh and it's the same crap. Overhyped Steelers coverage, needless use of Breaking News and sensationalism. The only difference I notice is that KDKA is a little more happy talk where WPXI and WTAE verge on tabloid, but the difference is negligible.

 

The only difference I see between the Tampa stations pretty much echo the above-- news content varies, but it's delivered in pretty much the same style, with the exception of WFLA, which is simply slower.

 

I just don't see 'format' being pertinent anymore; not in an age where every station is "first with breaking news" and "always on." I make my decision based upon the like-ability of the station's personalities rather than the style of coverage because there are so few differences.

[mbhcity 3]

I prefer just "News"

[NewsReporter25 0]

there's also ''newschannel''

[jestbiteme 13]

there's also ''newschannel''

I prefer just "News"

 

What do either have to do with the subject?

 

Sorry if I seem bitchy, but I am.

[Ntropolis 596]

there's also ''newschannel''

 

This is/was a format, sort of... came with the 24-Hour News Sources of the early 90s.

[Mario500 3]

Only one of the two formats/brands existed in my area at one time, but based on WALA's use of "Action News", the format continues to be excellent.

[TexasTVNews 1377]

I grew up on Eyewitness News Texas, KENS/San Antonio and KTRK/Houston. And without Al Primo creating that news title from KYW/Philadelphia; there wouldn't be Eyewitness News around the country.

[alaskanews 113]

What exactly is the Eyewitness or Action News "format?"

[alaskanews 113]

Ahhhhhhhh. I learned something today.

[mbhcity 3]

there's also ''newschannel''

I prefer just "News"

 

What do either have to do with the subject?

 

Sorry if I seem bitchy, but I am.

 

Eyewitness News And Action News are just to embellished.....To me, these names may have worked in the 70's, where news productions spent their days drinking and wearing polyester suits, while trying to attract a huge share of a DMA, but let's face it....it's all a load of crap. I think WLS-TV agreed with this idea, when the dropped Eyewitness from their name....to simply become ABC7 News.

 

IMO....Keep it simple, dumb@$$! Sorry, I like to curse!

[NewsReporter25 0]

there's also ''newschannel''

I prefer just "News"

 

What do either have to do with the subject?

 

Sorry if I seem bitchy, but I am.

 

 

I think you just need to relax...it's a discussion. I gave my two cents, sorry it wasn't what ya'll were looking for. As an anchor, I'm not allowed to give my opinion at work...or else I'll get bitched at and probably lose my job. Right now, I'm NOT at work and I'm get bitched at for giving my opinion. ???

 

''EYEWITNESS'' there's my answer. ;D

[StormTrack8000 0]

I'd prefer NewsChannel

 

But, in this poll, I am going to have to go with Eyewitness News.

[CrankyMan 0]

While we've come a long way from the days when the sponsor's logo used to sit on the anchor desk, I like to think that both Action news and Eyewitness news are more of the products of the entertainment side of television, with a contribution by rock and roll radio as well. Quick cuts and more action have been a staple of TV entertainment since the mid to late '60s. News had to keep pace so it offered the same "look and feel" as what was going on with the rest of the station.

 

Action news is very similar to the Bill Drake 20/20 news format of the late 60's - get a high story count, keep it moving, keep the clips short and make them interesting, write in the present tense, leave out a few unnecessary parts of speech, and include stories about entertainment figures as often as practical.

 

I see the development of these formats was also driven by technology including:

 

* The move to color film,

* the move to ENG,

* local microwave remote capability,

* affordable satellite capability,

 

and somewhere along the line the magic that allowed TV to switch to a remote signal without having to genlock to the remote source.

 

Nearly every station that takes news seriously and is in a million plus market has the ability to produce live local remotes. That gives us such live remote non-news stories as reporting live from the post office about Christmas mailing deadlines or other such stories where the remote is simply a backdrop that could have been keyed in at the studio.

 

Hey - this is my first post. Nice place you have here.