Friday, July 6, 2012

Local TV News; The lost feature of the One-on-One Interview; Friday Post



The split-screen interview has essentially been embargoed in local TV news.

That's unfortunate.

Consider the on-going story involving Ross Mirkarimi and his fight to remain as SF sheriff.

This is a story, one could reasonably argue, that has been over-played and that only people who live in the immediate city care about, but that's not the case. The story involves domestic abuse, an attractive wife, the semi-bizarre public rantings of Mirkarimi and his lawyers, et al. That said, a good, brief one-on-one with an anchor would be welcome in this case.

Dana King, from KPIX, is an excellent interviewer. I'd love to see her go back and forth with the sheriff. First, it would make for compelling and effective TV. Second, it would undoubtedly draw huge ratings. And given Mirkarimi's very public want and desire to state his case, I'm sure he'd love the chance. King too. (Hey, PIX, you gotta great story idea).

There was a time when stations used the anchor to do a split-screen for the top story of the day. Now, it's almost a relic. Only do the networks perform the function and most of the give and take is between anchor and reporter live from the scene.

Of course some anchors can't interview. Here in the Bay Area, we're fortunate that most of our TV readers are good enough to handle the chore. I mentioned King. I'd love to see Frank Somerville do a one-on-one with Mayor Ed Lee. As much as I have ripped Radnich on radio, seeing him do a split-screen with Lew Wolff, (co-owner of the A's) would be worth watching. Both Cheryl Jennings and Dan Ashley are fantastic interviewers--ditto, the no-nonsense, Carolyn Johnson.

Of course the news directors control the flavor of local TV news. One would hope this lost feature might be a welcome addition to the Bay Area TV airwaves.

What do you think?

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11 comments:

  1. ABC 7's Dan Noyes has done lots of interviews with Ross Mirkarimi and even flew to Venezuela to do interviews with Eliana Lopez. Ross has stated his case repeatedly on KQED with Michael Krasny and with me on KGO.
    I'd especially recommend Dan Noyes' latest i-team piece on the curious emailing and consulting behavior of Ivory Madison in the four days before she got that call from Phil Bronstein that it was now time to call the police. The problem with live t.v interviews, at least on a newscast, is that there isn't and understandably can't be a long block of time set aside to really get into the substance. Considering the allegations of perjury against the mayor and how there is even more verifying information on that point as raised by sup. Peskin, it's quite noticeable that the Chronicle hasn't yet mentioned this bombshell.I'll have some more guests on the subject this Sunday night on KGO at 7pm All callers, as usual, are welcomed. Talk radio has much fewer time constraints than t.v. news.
    I don't know what "semi-bizarre rantings of Mirkarimi and his lawyers" are. Could you elucidate that?I think everyone really interested in the substance of this matter should read ALL the docs at www.sfethics.org. My bias from early on has been stated openly. I never knew Mirkarimi until the Chronicle banned me from commenting after years of commenting on the sfgate site. I raised significant questions about the credibility of Ms Madison, as did others, nothing profane, but certainly probing.That piqued my curiosity and so I researched "stuff" extensively and deliberately, including the applicable city charter sections and the bios and connections of the prominent players in this drama.
    I'm so amused by those,unfamiliar with San Francisco politics, who can't see at least some of what's happening here. As for what Mayor lee calls a "beating", one arm grab does not necessarily an abuser make. Wait til Eliana arrives, they've never wanted to hear her, you know. Well, they're going to, very soon.

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    1. Ms. Craft (aka The Crafty One), Why are you not "representing" Eliana?

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    2. Because I do worker's comp, disability and employment law? She has a very bright and able advocate..just google Paula Canny's law firm..utterly top flight

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    3. When are they planning to let you back on the air again?

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  2. The last one on one Radnich did that meant anything was with Tony LaRussa..and Raddy was so traumatized,he's never tried that again. He's back to talking to old dudes like Brad Duggin and Warrior cheerleaders. Time killers.

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    1. Radnich interviewed Warrior first-round draft pick Harrison Barnes today and it was great. He's a good interviewer who has a knack for getting his subjects to open up

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  3. What happened to KKSF last night, commercials with KNEW in them and Coast to Coast wasn't there. There was an interesting person on though, but never found out who he was. Does anyone know what was going on?

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  4. San Francisco politics is of interest to San Franciscans, I guess. But do you really think the rest of the Bay Area gives a merry s--- about this beaten to death story? And speaking of beaten to death, does KGO have to pimp it's I-phone app after every single weather forecast? Enough already!

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  5. Rich, every newscast on KGO7 always starts with " Breaking News " remember when we were kids, breaking news meant something. KGO7 you've over played it.

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  6. I'm happily in for Karel this upcoming sunday night at 7pm.

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