Go ahead, touch that dial: What TV news doesn't want you to know

Let’s cut to the chase. If you are a regular viewer of a local television newscast, you’re being “played”, on a regular basis. That is to say, the decision makers and image consultants responsible for America’s daily dose of TV news tripe are experts in orchestrating what you see and why you watch it.

Like few other industries, television journalism is strongly influenced by the psychological and sub-conscious manipulation of its customers – in this case, TV news viewers. Hardly anything that you see on the six o’clock news happens by accident. To the contrary, most everything coming down the cable has at some point been sampled by focus groups, analyzed by highly paid consultants and parsed by news and sales managers in the never-ending quest to find a competitive advantage, which leads to higher ratings, that results in increases in advertising revenues. In short, watching your local TV newscast is a bit like being a guinea pig, without the exercise wheel and sawdust. And, you’re sure as heck not getting any of that extra revenue!

So, how is that these audience advisors carry out their covert manipulation? Here are several examples – things you should be aware of the next time you flip on the tube for “the very latest” news.

The news anchors really don’t like each other all that much.

While it is true that genuine friendships sometimes exist outside the newsroom, more often than not on-air personalities simply tolerate one another. Take a close look at those bright shiny people knowing that, given the opportunity, most would shove another out a window if it guaranteed a move up to a larger market.

When writing or videotaping news coverage, emotion is more important than information.

Television, by its very nature, is an emotion medium. The combination of sight and sound is a powerful force in manipulating how we respond to things. This has not been lost on those responsible for TV news. Given the choice between airing a spectacular fire or an in-depth analysis of taxation policy, the flames will win every time.

Decisions about what to report are driven by artificial factors.

Here are a few examples:

• Story X gets coverage instead of story Y because the reporter knows she can easily get provocative interviews related to story X, even though story Y affects far more people.
• Story X gets coverage instead of story Y because the news crew can drive to the scene and back in time for the six o’clock news, even though story Y’s long-term implications are more compelling.
• Story X gets coverage instead of story Y because in the pursuit of political correctness, story X ensures that people of color or other minorities will appear in the newscast.

Reporters tell you what they think you want to hear, not what you need to know.

This is especially true of weather-related coverage. Far too often sweat-soaked reporters stand in the sweltering sun to tell us how hot it is, when what we really need to know is why global warming is affecting climate change.

Adding live coverage to stories creates the false impression of importance, or even crisis.

Since the first use of microwave transmission trucks, TV news departments have a pathological predilection for “live, on-the-scene” coverage. Sadly, what once was a truly useful, illuminating technology that put viewers in the middle of the action has morphed into the predictable reliance on a “live shot” to dress up otherwise boring stories of marginal interest to viewers.

Reporters walk as they talk to avoid even a few seconds with no movement on-screen.

They do this because consultants tell them to, despite how unnatural or even inappropriate it might be. These consultants maintain that viewers not only need to be told something, but whenever possible, the reporter needs to perform for viewers too. Don’t think for a moment reporters do this because they want to. They do it because their jobs depend on such artifice.

When the desk anchor asks a field reporter a question, it almost always has been pre-written.

This technique is employed for two primary reasons: so as to ensure that the anchor has something intelligent to say about the story and, to ensure that the reporter isn’t asked a question he or she can’t answer. And you thought they were all so very smart and interested!

Despite its constant use, very few events are worthy of being called “breaking news”.

This is a tried and true technique adopted by virtually every local television news operation. There’s nothing that gets the attention of jaded viewers better than the alarming words “breaking news”. Sometimes, this is legitimate: a terror plot has been foiled, or the mayor has announced his resignation. Usually, however, run-of-the-mill building fires or traffic accidents get the “breaking news” treatment, sometimes including interruptions of regular programming for a live report.

Image consultants often select the haircuts, clothing and make-up worn by TV personalities.

This is especially true of male anchors in larger TV markets where a personal shopper selects their clothes and then coordinates the suits, shirts, ties, etc. Female anchors enjoy the same privilege, with the added benefit of personalized tips on hair styling and color and the proper way to apply makeup. Oh, and the cost for this sort of thing typically is paid by big market TV stations, which provide anchors with clothing allowances and cosmetics.

Most of the story ideas and useful information appearing in local newscasts has been “borrowed” from newspapers or news magazines.

This is true at both the national and local level. Take a look at any edition of The New York Times and then watch one of the national news broadcasts or cable talk shows. If every story that you see didn’t come from the Times then it probably can be found in Time or Newsweek. And, the same can be said of your local TV news, which often parrots news and information from the local newspaper, almost always without proper attribution.

So, what’s a news viewer to do? Before picking up the TV remote and flipping on the six o’clock news, first swallow a healthy dose of skepticism. And remember, it’s almost impossible to over-medicate yourself.