Local News Rant

I knew it wouldn't take me long. The local television news (specifically the NBC affiliate) drives me nuts. I seem to be addicted to television...can't bear to turn it off. So, I suffer mightily with the ineptitude of the local staff. Where DO they get these people?

First of all, there's too damn much "news." I think they should just say, "OK...that's about it for today. Not much going on. Instead of rehashing and rehashing what you've already heard a half-dozen times, we're going to show these pretty pictures of children running through a field of daisies. If something newsworthy actually occurs, we will break in. "

So, the Story du Jour is about the local police having solved a hit-and-run from the previous summer. Now, that's really gotta be a feather in their cap. No question. Here's the deal...this old man was attending his birthday party and left on foot to go buy a disposable camera. At some point during his errand, he was run down by an unknown vehicle. The next morning, his body was found in a ditch by the side of the road. Very sad. But, here in the Hit-and-Run Capitol of the Free World, it happens a lot. In fact, reporters will often say "the driver of the vehicle stayed at the scene of the accident" - because that's a really unusual occurrence. But, I'm straying....

In this particular instance, there were very few clues - except for a number of tiny pieces of the vehicle found at the scene. Some other clues came in from concerned citizens later. Eventually, they figured out who did it and arrested him yesterday. Nifty police work, huh? Definitely newsworthy.

So, never mind that the NBC affiliate reports the same damn story EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES! They can't resist saying something at the end of the story like "Mr. Smith was run down on Father's Day weekend." Or, "The accident occured the Night Before Father's Day." As if the driver was out hunting down fathers or something? Nooooo.... This is a blatant attempt to manipulate us into feeling more sorry for this man and his family than we already do. For what purpose? I just hate being manipulated.

So, I'm in the car coming to work. The radio is on and it's time for the local news. Of COURSE the lead story is the arrest of the driver. But, you know what? All they state are the facts....it was an unsolved case from the summer...the guy's been arrested...the victim's family is relieved. That's it. No embellishment. How freaking refreshing!