7 posts tagged “news”

Fox News and the right-wing have been hard at work spreading their vile messages of hate about Barack Obama, none of which have anything to do with reality or the real issues America now faces. Remember what is at stake in the General election. Don't get distracted with sophomoric venom.

It is 10:30 AM in Nevada, and the media is already calling Mitt Romney the projected winner of today's Republican caucus. Why is the media in the business of calling elections?

According to MSNBC and the Associated Press, Mitt Romney is the projected winner, even without having any exit polls.

CNN is restraining itself from calling a projected winner, although they are reporting the Associated Press' projection.

The Nevada Democratic caucus is set to begin shortly, today.

South Carolina is only holding the Republican Primary Election today. The polls close, for them, in just another five hours. I wonder how long it will be until the media starts calling that election.

Senator Hillary Clinton won the New Hampshire Primary last night in a major upset victory. As a famous Clinton has done before, Hillary has proven to be the come-back kid. All of the New Hampshire polls showed Hillary losing to Barack Obama, and in some instances by double digit numbers. In the end, she proved them all wrong.

The press is being highly criticized by many of the people I know. The pundits and political analyzers regularly declare winners and losers of a race before polling sites close. The press criticizes candidates and use the poll numbers as fact, and in many instances can influence the outcome of an election. The media is out of control and it must stop.

Chris Mathews and others from MSNBC had all but written Senator Hillary Clinton off, based on political surveys, large crowds at Obama events and exit polls. They love to hate her and if allowed the media can ruin a good candidate's chance at winning an election.

Remember Governor Howard Dean and his yeehaw moment? The media played that clip over and over again until they ruined Howard Dean, suggesting that he was crazy. In a similar fashion, they are trying to do the same to Senator Hillary Clinton; and, this is the so-called "liberal" media.

A few days ago in New Hampshire, Senator Hillary Clinton became slightly emotional when speaking with a voter during a Q & A. While answering the voter's question, Senator Hillary Clinton's voice gently cracked. She continued to answer the question and then pointed out differences between her and her opponents. She handled herself well and showed a human side (which many doubted she had).

Do you think the media would be satisfied with that? No. They analyzed that moment to death and tried to make more out of it than it was. Many suggested that Senator Hillary Clinton was weak for crying. The press is never satisfied. She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't. First they criticized her for being cold and then tried to destroy her for being too weak. Well, as much as they'd like it, they can't have it both ways.

Last night after the MSNBC news team was stunned by Senator Hillary Clinton's upset victory, Tom Brokaw, suggested to his MSNBC colleagues that from here on out they should let the process unfold without interference. During Brokaw's suggestion Chris Mathews was, for once, completely silent. Shortly after that the segment was handed off to Joe Scarborough, who then defiantly suggested that Tom Brokaw's idea was alien. You'd think a veteran news person would be better respected than that.

I have hope that today, in the post-analysis meetings at MSNBC and other networks, the media will take Tom Brokaw's suggestion to heart and change their policies when covering elections. The sad reality is that, not only will their policies stay the same but their practices will only get worse. If Senator Hillary Clinton can survive the media's attacks and blatant bias, she deserves to be the next President of the United States.

I woke up this morning to a pleasant surprise. As I was checking recent activity on my blog, I discovered a comment left from the Executive Producer of CBS News on Logo. He apparently read my review of their first 30 minute newscast and felt the need to respond.

I love the Logo network and their news department; and, as the Executive Producer points out, CBS News on Logo is catering to an under-served audience. I entirely agree with that. We have come a long way in the gay community and are fortunate enough now to have an entire news show dedicated to our interests and needs.

As far as my review, I still stand by my assessment. My point was that CBS News on Logo had some improvements to make. Unfortunately, I'm in Miami at the moment and don't have access to Logo through my satellite provider. So I've been without Logo for a few weeks now. I'm sure they've tweaked their engines, but I haven't been able to check back. Read my original post by clicking here: Review of CBS News on Logo

Please see the response from CBS News on Logo below:

CBS News on Logo
Frank,

I read your review of CBS News on Logo in our new 30 minute format, and I wanted to add a few comments myself.

Many of the points you make are right on target. After each broadcast, our team here at CNOL does a post mortem critique to make sure the next newscast is as comprehensive as possible. Writing, pacing, content can always be improved on. It's something we strive for everyday. I am confident we will grow with each broadcast as we find our voice in our new longer format.

But I do have to admit that some of the comments you made -- missed it -- big-time. CBS News on Logo should never be compared to a 24 hour cable network like CNN or MSNBC. Yes, you can get the latest news on the Iraq War or Wall Street or whatever from the "BIGS", but at CBS News on Logo -- we're covering the LGBT community -- once a week. But you'll see stories here that you won't see on our competitors: expansive coverage of the ENDA controversy, for example.

Also, I also don't think our newscast should be judged by what type of commercials appear in the 30 minute block. Those spots have no bearing on the quality of journalism you will see between the breaks. On this topic: I sleep well at night knowing we have done a superb job.

Here's how I judge the success of CBS News on Logo. We're a groundbreaking television newscast that is covering stories of interest to an underserved audience: the LGBT community. Produced by a news team that lives up to the highest standards of professionalism, credibility and trust. Add all that up: and my grade is an A.

Court Passant
Executive Producer
CBS News on Logo

Miami's very own home-grown girl, Maggie Rodriguez, moved to New York earlier this year to co-anchor The Saturday Early Show on CBS. In just a short amount of time, Maggie is moving up once again. Beginning January 7, 2008 Maggie will co-anchor CBS's The Early Show, broadcast weekdays, with Harry Smith and Julie Chen.

Previously Maggie worked for WFOR-TV, the CBS affiliate in Miami and for a weekend magazine show at KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

She will be replacing Hannah Storm who is, thankfully, moving on to other duties at the network. Maggie has a great personality with that girl-next-door smile. I think she'll add some much needed personality to CBS weekday morning news.

CBS News on Logo

I really hate to say it, but the full-length premier of CBS News on Logo, was plagued with issues last night. The inaugural newscast was slow and boring. News anchor, Jason Bellini, appeared to be in constipated discomfort. And, although the writing was acceptable, it could still have been tweaked for improvement. There was the usual cast of advertising characters, but to maintain ad revenue the network can't afford to put its audience to sleep. My official report-card grade is a: C.

The regular three minute Logo News Breaks seem to hold my interest more than the new thirty minute news program. The pace from story to story was slow and monotonous. And before someone judges me and my attention span, one must first understand that I am a television news junkie. I can't get enough; therefore, it might have more to do with host, Jason Bellini's "deer in headlights" demeanor than my ability to concentrate.

Jason Bellini, formerly of CNN and regular Logo anchor, seemed so uncomfortable he hardly cracked a smile; and, he moved awkwardly between headlines. Maybe Jason was feeling the pressure of hosting Logo's first thirty minute news show or quite possibly he was just worried about making a snafu. Whatever it was, he came across as rigid and uptight.

The news stories could have been more current and less detailed, another factor dragging the score down. With the advent of 24 hour cable news and the Internet, news becomes old after only just a few hours; unfortunately for Logo, their weekly newscasts will be filled with stories that have already run their course because of the nature of its scheduled frequency; original Logo newscasts will be produced only once per week. As important as details are, our society has become a headline news society always looking for the Reader's Digest version, the quick fix. Logo's content is more like a hybrid of The New York Times and CNN. My advice: be more precise and quickly transition to the next story.

There were, of course, a few saving grace moments. Itay Hod reported on Andy Towle, a very popular blogger. Hod's relaxed charismatic personality and good looks are scene stealing. And, then there was the piece on gay-friendly international rugby player Ben Cohen, another fine piece of eye-candy. Overall, the writing and the stories were acceptable.

True success in cable or TV is measured by its ad revenue; and, advertising is completely dependent upon having an audience. The "make it and they will come" strategy is not enough these days. Cable networks must not only pull them [the audience] in but must keep them interested long enough to maintain them. Logo now has the chance to do just that. With only minor revamping the new CBS News on Logo can be another great success story. Tune back in next Monday night at 7:00 PM EST to see if Logo makes a marked improvement.

Not one commercial featured a gay themed ad. Advertisers throughout the broadcast included: Orbitz (travel website), Hydroxycut (weight-loss supplement), Newimage.com (cosmetic surgery company), Virgin Mobile (cell phone provider), Saturn (automobile company), Ameriprise Financial (financial advisers), Stolichnaya (vodka), K-Y Intrigue (personal lubricant), Garnier Fructis (hair conditioner), new Jennifer Lopez album via Rhapsody.com (music website) and Orange Glo (hardwood floor cleaner). Local sponsors in the New York market included: Mercedes-Benz Manhattan (local NY dealer), and Time Warner Cable (cable company).