COMMENTARY: A Sad State of Affairs in TV News

WACH news anchors Darryl Hood

and Bree Boyce.

Photo: Free-Times.com

Just because "The Camera Loves Her” doesn’t mean Bree Boyce is qualified to anchor a newscast.  This article in the Free Times (Columbia, SC) written by Otis Taylor, whose work I have enjoyed and respected for many years— seems to take the glossy approach to a ludicrous hire that makes me wonder if television news has come full circle when it comes to hiring some people, particularly women, for frontline anchor positions.  It seems to feed the notion that it's okay for a main co-anchor of a newscast to have no other credentials but a pretty face, a pageant title and the fact that she lost a life changing 100 pounds.  I was astounded when I first heard of this move by WACH-TV, my former employer, and I remain astounded to this day.

My frustration is not rooted in anything personal against Ms. Boyce.  I have never met her. My frustration is rooted in the poor messages this hire sends to the community and to all of the aspiring young broadcast journalists spending tens of thousands of dollars of their money, their parents' money, scholarship dollars and grants to get formal training for a career that apparently requires only a certain level of celebrity and beauty to obtain.  Students, forget about all that crap your college professors and other professionals who visited your classes told you about "paying your dues" or "having to cut your teeth in Podunkville, USA" before you get the chance to anchor a newscast in a place like Columbia, or better.  Don’t worry about learning the craft or gaining experience.  Just go out and do something that garners you major attention because those are the people television station general managers favor for anchor slots— one of the most high profile and significantly important jobs in the newsroom-- over formally trained and experienced journalists.

NABJ Seeks Entries for 2012 'Salute to Excellence' Awards

College Park, MD -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is now accepting entries for the 2012 Salute to Excellence Awards competition.  The NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards recognize exemplary coverage of people or issues in the African/African American Diaspora.

The competition is open to all professional journalists in print, broadcast, new media or photojournalism nationwide.

Only work originally published or broadcast during the judging period of January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 is eligible for consideration. The deadline to submit entries is January 9, 2012.

Entries will be disqualified if they fail to follow the rules and eligibility requirements of their designated category.

Award winners will be announced at the 2012 NABJ Convention and Career Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana.

NABJ to Honor News Director and Diversity Champion Michael Fields with Ida B. Wells Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 23, 2011) -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced today that Michael Fields, news director of WABE 90.1 FM in Atlanta, will receive the prestigious Ida B. Wells Award. The annual honor is given to a media executive or manager who has made outstanding efforts to make newsrooms and news coverage more accurately reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

Michael Fields

Fields will be honored on January 26, 2012, at NABJ's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Newseum in Washington, D. C.

Fields is being recognized for his efforts which have resulted in excellent WABE news coverage and a more accurate reflection of the diverse communities that public broadcasting station in Atlanta serves. The award is a joint offering from NABJ with the National Conference of Editorial Writers. Previous recipients include: Steve Capus of NBC News; Reggie Stuart of Knight Ridder; Paula Madison of NBC Universal; and Walterene Swanston of NPR.

THE SCOOP: WOLO to welcome new co-anchor next week

When ABC Columbia viewers tune in for Monday night's newscasts, they will be greeted by a new face.  Chime In has learned that Eric Weisfeld is the new co-anchor at WOLO-TV replacing Daniel Seamans.  Weisfeld will join Alicia Barnes on the 6pm and 11pm newscasts.

Anchor/Reporter
Eric Weisfeld

According to a resume, posted on the Collective Talent website, Weisfeld is an award-winning anchor and reporter with 16 years of experience.  He last worked at WBBH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida, where he was the morning anchor from 2007-2009.  Weisfeld has also worked at television stations in Indianapolis, IN; Raleigh, NC; Evansville, IN; and Hopkinsville, KY.

Here is a sample of what viewers can expect.

Constant changes cause some Columbia viewers to question stability of local news operations

When I posted Otis Taylor's breaking news message about the latest front-line talent change at a Columbia television station, one of my Facebook "friends" commented, "ouch, not very stable lately…"  That's not a good commentary coming from a viewer and television stations should take note.

While those of us who have made our livings in television news would like to think we are irreplaceable, it just isn't true.  Change is often difficult, scary and sometimes unnecessary.  Despite those things, change is almost always inevitable.  Change can be tough to accept, for everyone involved, but eventually things stabilize again.