Why not just give them the station’s license too?
A small television station in Santa Rosa, Calif., has shut down its news department after laying off most of the staff in a financial belt-tightening.
Instead, according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle, KFTY will rely on “independent filmmakers, college students and professors and civic leaders,” along with stories from local newspapers and TV online sites, to provide the station’s programming. “Local content harvesting,” Steve Spendlove of KFTY calls it.
Is it a trend, mimicking the interactive nature of the Internet? Are “citizen journalists” journalists at all?
“I think it’s a trend from the standpoint of viewer involvement,” says Carl Bilek, news director for KWGN- Channel 2. “It makes sense in this day of interactivity. Viewers can contribute.”
But Bilek and other news directors aren’t entirely comfortable. “To replace reporters and photographers, people who’ve gone to school and learned about balance and ethics … we don’t take that for granted. It’s not just a matter of showing up.”
Even the big guys are doing it. CNN has its “I-Report” and Yahoo-
Reuters has “You Witness News,” using cellphone videos from viewers.
KTVD-Channel 20, whose news is an extension of KUSA-Channel 9, recently launched “Your Show,” hosted by reporter Adam Schrager (6 p.m. Sundays). Viewers send in questions that Schrager poses to guest experts. Another connection with viewers.
Still unanswered is where the line between “news” and viewers’ personal agendas lies. It’s becoming more blurred every day.
“Everyone is looking to maximize content,” says Bilek. “It’s very important to involve the viewer. It’s great to say, ‘Send us video of things going on in your community’ (but) I don’t see cutting staff. That’s not realistic.”
Around the dial
More Don Imus: Iconic Philadelphia talk-show host Michael Smerconish getting a three-day tryout to replace the fired Imus on MSNBC. He’s filled in for Glenn Beck and Bill O’Reilly so his political tilt is obvious. … Even more Imus: CBS is suing California radio station KCAA for airing repeats of Imus’ shows. There’s a hearing today on CBS’s demands for $150,000 for each violation. … Singer Lyle Lovett featured on “Austin City Limits” (8 tonight, KBDI-Channel 12). … Spread the news: The first season of the CBS comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati” is out on DVD today. … Susan Lucci guests on “The Morning Show With Mike and Juliet (9 a.m. today, KDVR-Channel 31). … Quotable: “Citizen journalists, while they also strive to be factual and fair, are not usually neutral on the subjects they write about, and they don’t try to be.” The Largemouth Citizen Journalism Manual
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-954-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
