TV News Review

For two weekends this blogger watched the weekend version of ‘Fox & friends’ since Alisyn Camerota re-joined the show. I had found it to be enjoyable and the chemistry between Camerota and the two other hosts, Dave and Clayton, to be good. The show was displaying promise.

But this morning F&FW is a vast disappointment and embarrassing itself. As of this time the show is an hour into the program and they have to yet make one mention of the invasion of Georgia by Russian troops, tanks and air attacks. At 55 minutes in they cut to a statement by President Bush on the murder of a US citizen in Beihging. Preceding the statement Bush made another statement on the Russian attack of Georgia. Even after this, when the anchors came back they only referenced Bush’s comments on the knife attack in China.

The show has made time for reports, interviews and discussion of John Edwards affair. Much coverage of the knife attack in China. Even a report of a fat cat finding a home. But they ignore the invasion of a US ally by a nuclear power and a former Super Power???

The fighting between Russia and Georgia is the lead story on the Fox News and CNN websites! But completely ignored by F&F?

Reportedly one reason for the move of bringing Alisyn Camerota onto the show was the need for a news anchor with the chops to handle serious news. Camerota certainly could handle dealing with news of the military conflict.

Until the shows producers can discern what true news is and what the important news stories of the day are then it doesn’t matter who the hosts are.  If changes aren’t made behind the scenes to give the show credability then they could have Edward R Murrow sitting on the set and the show would still be an embarrassment.

One Eyed Man

update: At 8:09am the show finally mentioned the Russia/Georgia conflict. It was mentioned in the headline segment.  But no in depth coverage. But the good news is after that we are getting an update on medical news that children should not be given cough syrup.  Yeah, that is more important news.

2nd update: After giving the producers the chance to correct their lack of coverage of the Russian attack in their neighboring country of Georgia, and watching the entire show there was no more mention of this story. Out of 3 hours of airtime the story was given 30 seconds during a single headline update and the soundbite from President Bush. During Bush’s comments F&F ran a lower third only about the Chinese knife attack.

The producers did find time during the show to have a 3 minute segment about Brett Farve being on the cover of a video game. They found time for 2 seperate segments with a rep from Bass Pro Shops  for a total of 5 minutes of airtime. Additionally they found time for a 3 minute segment on how to install a floor with a rep from Home Depot.

11 minutes given to these none news stories and all of 30 secounds given to a war where over a 1000 people, many innocent civilians, have been killed in attacks by Russian forces upon a soverign country that is an ally of the United States.

This blogger was exceptionally disappointed that the show had Col. Hunt (ret) on twice to discuss the security at Olympic games but they failed to either time take advantage of his expertise and ask him any questions about the Russian-Georgian war. A terrible waste of an opportunity.

The John Edwards affair story was given excessive coverage. As was the stabbing death of an American tourist in Beijing. Did the producers think that the viewers were unable to follow a 3rd story or did they think the Russian-Georgian war is not important? Either way it shows a lack of competance in the Fox News producers that reaches the level of a need to have them replaced.

For F&F Weekends to be taken seriously it will need more than a change of players on the sofa.

One Eyed Man

Correction: I have realized that the Russian-Georgian war was mentioned once more during a 2nd headline update. During the update the wrong video was run and we saw video of missing child Kaylee, instead of President Bush. This update raised the total time given to the story to a grand total of 1 minute. Twice that given to Prince Chunk getting a new home, but still 1/3 that given to the “Madden Curse” and how it might effect Brett Farve this season. Good to know the F&F producers know what is news and how to spend their precious airtime.