When Promos were Laidback and Informative

[ScoopMachine 0]

Back in the day, news promos were not only informative, but also laidback and groovy. Each promo was toned down, soft sell, happy and postive, and full of life. When each promo had its qualities, people would watch a newscast.

 

Today, they don't make those promos no more. It is about hard sell, sensationalistic graphics and stories, in-your-face music, tabloidish vibe, negativity, anger, fast-moving and bullshit gimmicks. It is all about money, not the content and quality.

 

This is a funny and laidback mid 70s from CBS O&O WJZ in Baltimore (Group W-owned ABC affiliate at the time), where it feautres Jerry Turner before pairing with Al Sanders.

 

How about two other groovy and mellow 1971 promos from NBC-owned KNTV Channel 11 in the San Francisco Bay Area (Gill Industries-owned ABC affiliate at the time)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXk2KxylOkU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_fuiQcNNA

 

Here's an informative one from 1981, when CBS News was in the changing-of-the-guard process (from Walter Cronkite to Dan Rather). This showed how they covered certain types of stories from 1940 to 1980, and how they keep on doing solid reporting into the 1980s. No sensationalistic and in-your-face bullshit like today.

 

WCBS and WBBM in the 1970s - where they are hard at work (in the newsroom and in the field) bringing people quality reporting with no fluff or soft shit. They show how they get things done in time for certain newscasts, and what needs to be done before then.

[newsguy22 59]

Back in the day, news promos were not only informative, but also laidback and groovy. Each promo was toned down, soft sell, happy and postive, and full of life. When each promo had its qualities, people would watch a newscast.

 

Today, they don't make those promos no more. It is about hard sell, sensationalistic graphics and stories, in-your-face music, tabloidish vibe, negativity, anger, fast-moving and bullshit gimmicks. It is all about money, not the content and quality.

 

This is a funny and laidback mid 70s from CBS O&O WJZ in Baltimore (Group W-owned ABC affiliate at the time), where it feautres Jerry Turner before pairing with Al Sanders.

 

How about two other groovy and mellow 1971 promos from NBC-owned KNTV Channel 11 in the San Francisco Bay Area (Gill Industries-owned ABC affiliate at the time)?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXk2KxylOkU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_fuiQcNNA

 

Here's an informative one from 1981, when CBS News was in the changing-of-the-guard process (from Walter Cronkite to Dan Rather). This showed how they covered certain types of stories from 1940 to 1980, and how they keep on doing solid reporting into the 1980s. No sensationalistic and in-your-face bullshit like today.

 

WCBS and WBBM in the 1970s - where they are hard at work (in the newsroom and in the field) bringing people quality reporting with no fluff or soft shit. They show how they get things done in time for certain newscasts, and what needs to be done before then.

 

Not all current promos are in your face and flashy. Search youtube for promos from WBZ, WCCO, WWL, KPIX, even the FOX in Western Michigan. Very chill, intelligent and watchable. And those stations do quite well ratings-wise.

 

On the other hand, there were flashy promos in the 70s and 80s too. Just search youtube, there are many examples.

 

You're right, the trend is toward the flash, but all is not lost, my friend.

 

The keys to a good promo are memorability, connecting with your target audience, and promising (and then delivering in your newscast) something that's unique to your station. Flashy or chill, if you can capture all of that in 30 seconds, you have a good promo.

[10Viewer 334]

WBNS does fairly conservative, intelligent promos.