Tuned In Journal: Viewers voice their feelings about local TV news

Friday, March 21, 2008

By Rob Owen, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Two weeks ago in the Tuned In column, I asked viewers what they expect from a local newscast. I expected to get some response, but I wasn't prepared for the outpouring, more than 100 e-mails and letters. A sample of the response I received can be found below.

I grew up in rural central Pennsylvania where, at the time, there were only two choices for local 6 o'clock news. Each program was one-half hour in length and provided a summary of all the days events, the weather, and a quick sports report (national news ran from 6:30-7:00 if you were interested). Typically my family would eat dinner, watch the news, and then be off doing other things. But, in that short half hour we were able get a complete rundown of the day's stories. Perfect! Now, stations, such as KDKA, drag out the local evening news for three hours. They either go over the same story over and over again or they 'tease' you to stay tuned for another hour for a report that you may be interested in. I am not naive. I understand that the stations are a business and all of this is dollars to them. However, for myself, a half an hour summary with no fluff is all that I am looking for. If I want more there are any number of ways to get it. If I want entertainment, I'll watch a sitcom.

• Chris McCracken, 29, Monroeville

I would like to say I never watch the local news, but that wouldn't be totally true. I watch it on occasion, usually to get the weather forecast, before and after which I may continue to watch.

It is not my habit, however, to switch the local news on. Entertaining? I find it dribble. The delivery of the news is a bit like getting it from my neighbor.

I'd rather receive the news from my neighbor because although the newscasters act as though they were intertwined with my life, I've never met any of them.

Local news is personality coverage.

It's local celebrity worship.

Furthermore, I find it absolutely ludicrous to see news reporters sent to Butler or wherever to show the road conditions during a storm. If the roads are bad, why are they sent out on them?

And, please, Big Ben's contract! I've enjoyed the Steelers for years, but his enormous (and as far as I am concerned outlandish)multimillion dollar contract is not earth shattering. Why was it a teaser during other programs?

No, I'll watch the weather if I can't get enough information from the internet or Verizon's telephone line, but I won't tune in as a habit.

• Rita Donnelly, 67, Regent Square

I for one hate the silly banter on KDKA and especailly WTAE news. I like to hear the news and not have to hear about the personal lives of the anchors. I really enjoy WPXI. They seem to have a nice balance. You know that the anchors are nice people and they do have the occasional banter, but it is kept to a minimal and is only when appropriate.

• Susan Lewis, Mars

I can not stand all the fluff and banter on local news. There is plenty of news out there, they just do not report it because they are trying too hard to be entertaining. Between over reporting the weather and trying to do cute pieces on web sites I may find useful there is no time for more than one or two real news stories.

I miss the serious news of Bill Burns with 4 minutes of sports and 3 minutes of weather.

• Shea McKinney

Thanks for addressing a topic that made me stop watching local news over twenty years ago. News is not a story about someone's poodle that found its' way home or a front porch collapsing in Milvale. Equally annoying is the not so witty repartee of the badly coiffed TV " journalists".

Granted, an occasional human interest piece is expected but they should not dominate a news show. With the economy, debt, and any number of civic issues to choose from, the talking heads opt to take the easy way out and offer us fluff. This is why I am a fan of PBS and have abandoned local news.

• R. Romagni

I cannot stand banter and feeble attempts to be funny during the news. It's usually based on inside jokes and drivel between co-workers, which I have no interest in, and often sounds strained. It takes time away that could be used for other news stories. I watch the news to hear NEWS, not idle chatter.

• Kathy Brandt, 55, Pennsbury Village

Oh, you have opened a Pandora's box with this request, my friend!

How many times have I sat in front of my television, complaining and disgusted at the local news reports, telling my family how "these people can do so much better"?

Too often, I'm afraid, and now you are going to get SUCH a long email about it...(sorry, but bear with me, and you have my permission to use any part of it you wish, should you find any of it intelligent and useful).

Reporting the news on local television. Wow. Well, most of my viewing is done between the hours of 5-6:30 p.m., when we are getting ready for the dinner hour at our home. Since it is usually something in the oven, I can get a good bit of viewing in between making the extra sides. Here's what I find about local news (and I used to be a head of news department for a radio station, plus a local announcer myself, so I have a little bit of knowledge and experience, myself...)

Most stations seem to go over the same stories over and over, ad nauseam, without really telling us anything new, even in the story they are talking about at the time. I really dislike it when a reporter doesn't have a lot to say, but tries to fill the time with the same sentence five or six different ways. How many times can you say that a police officer shot a 12 year old, or that the snow is turning to slush on the highways without sounding like a total idiot? Not more than two, believe me. And if this is your "breaking" or major story of the half-hour, PLEASE, know the basic WWWWWH (who, what, when, where, why and how) that all good reporters are supposed to know PRIOR to going on air! Just because you are the first one there doesn't mean you have the knowledge of what's happening, or why, etc. Find out details, THEN report. It's common sense, people! Being first doesn't mean being best.

If you are on the scene, try and interview people who are involved with what is happening. If you can't get an interview, let your station know that you will have more for them later in the broadcast and do NOT go back on the air until you have an interview with someone who really knows. And I don't mean a passer-by who happened to be on the block and saw something and is grinning like they just won a lottery while you talk to them about some tragic happening, either. I mean someone who KNOWS what is going on, like a police officer in charge, or a fire chief or inspector. Don't try and interview the victim's family...they're broken up already and being on the air is so hard for them (or they say something they don't mean that can come back and haunt them later). Get the information, get it right, double check it, then give it on the air with the grace and dignity it deserves.

Please, newscasters (local AND national this time), don't tell us part of a story and then say we can get the rest of it on your web site. For many of us, that is a moot point. We don't all have complete access to get to a computer at the time we are interested in the story you just told us about, and sometimes days will go by (due to a weekend or a holiday) and by then the story is either forgotten, we have heard about it from a rival station or newspaper, or we just don't care any more. If you have a juicy story, give it to us IN FULL. We'll love you all the more for it.

I have only lived around the Pittsburgh area for 10 years, but do you know that I know nothing about it except that Homestead is a very dangerous place to live, the Steelers are the number one story constantly, and that you have a couple museums that get mentioned if the dinosaurs have something happening to them. Local news should be just that...LOCAL.

You have a city with so much culture and so many places that could be talked about on nearly a daily basis and I doubt anyone would get bored.

I have yet to see a story on Broadway plays (oh, pardon, I did see a glimpse of one when Lion King came to town again for the what, third time?), but you have so MANY plays listed in your papers, the least someone could do is have a 5 to 10 minute theater slot in their news. "Here's what's playing," "Let's go behind the scenes of (whatever play they decide to do a story on),," So much could be done here! And visiting movie directors, stars and such. The only story I got was when they were doing the movie about the Mothman with Richard Gere, which I did end up watching because I wanted to know more about the area, and I heard all about Sienna Miller and her put downs (yeah, I know, she trashed your town. Boohoo. You should hear how people talk about my home state. Sheesh.) But come ON. Kevin Smith was in town filming for a new movie recently. He was here for his first major movie, "Dogma." Why wasn't someone out there talking to him and Seth Rogan (a big hit this past summer with "Knocked Up") when they were filming? Why wasn't someone out there asking about production? Asking about making another movie here? This town complains that it's movie genre is floundering and needs more promotion and people to come in and make movies here. Well, if you aren't interested enough to come out and interview them on television, why should they bother? Come ON, newspeople! Hollywood is vain...interview them and put them on air. They'll remember and come back for more.

The publicity of what's happening in Pittsburgh doesn't even reach the suburbs of West Virginia unless we work and play in Pittsburgh and know someone who knows what is going on. Do you realize that I didn't know Pittsburgh was celebrating it's 250th anniversary? Not until I read an article in the newspaper last week. Wow. 250 years! It would seem to me that the news people would have a daily story (or at least a weekly feature) about something that happened "This Week in Pittsburgh, 250 Years Ago!" It would be so interesting. Historical, educational, informative, entertaining AND the whole family can get in on the act if you do it between 6-6:30 p.m. Have a set time each week for this feature (heck, for ANY feature) and see if the numbers go up for your viewers.

I know that a lot of people can't believe it, including new reporters, but not everyone is Steeler, Pirate, Penguin or Pennsylvania crazy. Hey, there are a few of us transplants here, you know, and even if we come to like your place, we still have loyalties to home. So we don't want this shoved down our throats for an entire broadcast. For heaven's sake, when Big Ben got a girlfriend, you'd have thought the world ended (oh, sorry, that was when he was riding without a helmet...no, it was when he hurt his arm and was out all season...no, it was when he got the pay raise...no, it was...you get the idea.

You have a big, beautiful city. The one thing that awes me every time I come here is that I go through a tunnel that has not so pretty hillsides and highway for a long stretch, and when I come out of that tunnel, my god it's beautiful. Every time I come to the city it takes my breath away to come over that bridge and see the skyline with the three rivers merging.

You have culture, beauty, suburbs! Tell stories about your restaurants (I like to eat), places to go that are family friendly (I have kids), pet friendly (I have a dog), tell me about your smaller sections, something special about Mt. Lebanon, Greentree, Indiana (for heaven's sake they just celebrated Jimmy Stewart's 100th birthday with a big three-day celebration and I saw NOTHING about it, just a newspaper blurb that they were going to have one).

You have past history, stars who have come from here and gone on to lives where they win awards, they are in hit movies, and sometimes they come back home for a visit. See if you can talk to them. I loved the news program when Frank Gorshin returned after being gone for so many years and he took the reporter, cameraman and his wife along on a ride through the city pointing out places he grew up, played, went to school and such. This is the kind of stuff you need in your 90 minutes of news. Heart! Human interest! We don't need to keep hearing about gunplay and shootings and dying children from drive-bys. We are so sad already.

Please, newscasters, give us some hope. Give your viewers some joy in your 90 minute broadcasts. Tell stories that please us, enlighten us, educate us, give us hope. Heart and soul is where the news lies. Let's put it back there.

• Marge Peckham, Weirton, W.Va.

Local news should be held to the same journalistic standards as any other news media/outlet. It should be a serious, straightforward presentation of the facts; facts that have been carefully verified. There should be no hype, hysteria, fluff, puff, clowns, balloons, contests, innuendo or coy remarks.

Since our local stations are guilty of all of the above, I watch their so-called "news" programs only when some personal connection to an event may exist - perhaps three or four times a year. And each time I do so, I suffer from mental distress and a feeling like I've just viewed something disgusting.

This, unfortunately, applies too much to national network news as well. The only newscasts I find worth my time are those of BBC America and Deutsche Welle. Even CNN no longer has my respect.

• Robert Gundersen, 66, Aspinwall

I grew up when Bill Burns did his 15 min. news segment while I was home for lunch from school. So this 3 hrs. of the same stuff bores me to death. What I find horrible is when there is an accident and the station is the "first" to report it. Their helicopter is on the scene, they're saying it happened on the parkway etc. Those of us waiting for loved ones to come home find this a very anxious time until we do know the details. Also I remember one station interviewing a 10 year old child when his Dad just died!! How horrible, this type of "news" is more Philadelphia Inquirer than "local news." So my thought GET RID OF THE SENSATIONALISM and report the news.

After reading the news for 2-3 hrs. some become tongue tied and scramble for words.

In my opinion 1 hour of news should be enough for local, national and international news and of course the weather. You don't want me started on the weather!!

• Carol Primm, 66, Lincoln Place

Boy have you opened a can or worms when you asked for our comments on the local news.

Obviously there isn't enought "local news" to fill a half hour much less KDKA's three hour marathon of repetitive news. The pieces on "Why chocolate is bad for us" or "The best dog to buy" etc may be interesting but not the news, in my view.

The weather is all hype. They predict an inch of snow like it never happened in Pittsburgh before. In the summer we are warned about the heat. Give me a break. You know, most Pittsburghers have been here forever and know what the weather is like. Just give me the facts and move on.

The traffic reports act like there is nothing south of the Monongahela River. Whatever happened to Rt 51, RT 19, Rt 88? If you live south of the city there is no traffic report.

Finally, the phrase that sends me through the roof is -- "If you want to know more about this subject logon to our website....". Does that mean "you poor slobs who don't have a computer don't deserve to find out anything more"? The reason I turn on the news is to hear the full story not to be sent to another source. And is this a good thing for the TV news industry? Perhaps we will just logon to the website and not turn on the TV news anymore.

Thanks for the opportunity to "vent my spleen."

• Carole Berry, 71, Bethel Park

I have been debating a friend of mine (who works for a local television station) for some time about the value of the local news, and the fact that it has become too entertainment driven (he tends to disagree with me). If you were to remove from the local newscast, the press release journalism, Britney Spears, the continuous weather scares, story teasing and sweeps week attacks on Port Authority or the like, what would you be left with? I beleive very little. I personally prefer the facts, not the hype.

• Kevin Huff, 44, Penn Hills

Being an avid reader and watcher of news, it has always amused me observing the antics, if you will, of small market news groups.. The most obvious trait is making the most mundane, insignificant happening into a possible global disaster.. i.e. One hour program interruption to frighten everyone in anticipation of 3" of snow in February!! It's Picksburgh, what do you expect this time of year! Another breath taking report: "Train derailment in McKees Rocks; no signs of terrorist related activity." Interruption of major programs for some dumb minor happening seems to be the norm anymore. Being candid, the Anchors and Reporters are simply reading a script and at times have to ad-lib which usually results in much repeated terms that turn boring. The all time major gripe I have with local TV is the repetetive referrel to the channel number. i.e. regardless of how many times the Anchor goes to a Reporter in the same time period, the Reporter will say this is Jane Doe, Channel # News.. It is so stupid, I know what channel I'm watching.. Give me a break, please!

The huge success of "Fox and Friends" in the morning has everyone trying to mimic their presentation but usually seriously lacking the same chemistry. Sorry to say, but local media really gives this area a hick town image.

• A. Atkinson, Lower Burrell

You are right WTAE (Channel 4) news is with a lot of fluff and entertaining. When I want to really get the news, I turn to WPXI (Channel 11). Channel 11 gives you a better news cast, with no fluff, but I like the people on Channel 4 (WTAE) better. WPXI is right to the point and right to the meat of the news, while WTAE is more entertaining and they talk among themselves about the issue.

Summary: WPXI has a better news cast, you get better news with no fluff, but I like the people on WTAE better, they are more entertaining with less news and more fluff. So I switch back and forth.

• Ruth M. Brake, 71, Moon

I saw your article while traveling. In fact, I travel a lot, and see lots of local newscasts. They are mostly all the same. The short answer to your question, "what do I want from my local news" is this: Good, thoughtful, real journalism. Not the scare tactics or hype we're getting. There can be fun content alongside that, such as sports or entertainment reports, but the hard news should be considered (this will sound corny) a sacred public trust. Now for the longer answer...

When I was living in Chicago in the 1990s, one of the local affiliates there tried to zig where others were zagging by offering "hard news." The anchor was Carol Marin. It flopped. If I recall correctly, they stuck with the format for less than a year. The ratings tanked.

Station managers won't run considered, thoughtful news programs because the ratings will be poor. And these managers have to keep their numbers up, because local news is THE main profit center of local TV stations. And the stations are often owned by big station groups and parent companies with shareholders, who, of course, want to see healthy profits.

So everyone is acting rationally, here (except, perhaps, the viewers who won't support more substantive news programs by choice).

BUT, that is exactly why the FCC should do their damn job.

There was a time, prior to deregulation and out-of-control consolidation, when news operations were NOT profit centers. In exchange for using airwaves that the public owns, broadcasters were required to include a certain amount of public service programming -- basically news and educational programs. It wasn't so they could make money, it was their way of paying the citizens who made their business possible what amounted to rent for the airwaves. And lo, that was the "golden age" of broadcast journalism.

Unless we insist that the FCC be reconstituted to its former regulatory power, and break up some of the monopolistic media conglomerates, the chase for ratings-cum-ad dollars will inevitably be a race to the bottom in terms of quality news content.

I enjoyed your article. Thanks for asking such a thought-provoking question.

• Jimmy Rhoades, Detroit, Mich.

I agree I think the banter between the anchors is totally unprofessional. I find the local news has gone way down, since Bill & Patti Burns, Ray Tannehill, Paul Long, and lot of the others who have since passed. They need to remember what Bill told Patti, we are here to do the news not put ourselves in the news. Channel 4 is the absolute worst. There is no professionalism there @ all. Go back look @ Bill & Patti, then try & fill their shoes

• Joyce Young, 57, Butler

I go way back to the days when the local news programs were held to 15 minutes, and that included the weather and sports reporting. There was no time for the fun and frivolity that goes on today.

It seems every newscaster thinks they are stand-up-comics, especially with the banter with the weather person. The weather reporting situation could be given a comment column on its own. All we really need to know is if we need to wear boots or carry an umbrella to work in the morning.

• Dick Kraft, Bethel Park

Enough of fluff news already. If I want fluff news, I can watch Jon Stewart or the Colbert Report or if Im really desperate I can watch Bill O'Reilly. Why should local tv news be less serious because it's local news. News is news and I don't count Britney Speers or Paris Hilton as news. I have yet to talk to one person who cares about such so called entertainers, people famous for being famous. As soon as they start with the fluff news, I go to another channel. The best thing ever invented was the remote control. Fluff news is part of the "dumbing down" of America. We deserve better.

• Carol Young, 65, Bellevue

I respond from an "academic" view. My students are heading for broadcast news careers but about 30 percent want to "be an entertainment reporter" when asked what part of the TV news business they are aiming for. Does this give an indication of what viewers want (that's what these students have been until they get into our program)?

I realize the thrust of your column was on "happy talk" but "what the viewers want" could be the subject of conflicting research for years. What those of us who have been in the TV news business strive to do (I was in local TV news in Atlanta for 33 years before coming to UGA to teach) is present an accurate and interesting story. The standards of accuracy and balance are the same as for print journalists. TV just doesn't have the column inches to spend on a story and must compress it to fit the program.

This, apparently, can be boring to some who watch so the consultants (who rule the business) introduce the warm and fuzzy stuff for the anchors to do to keep the interest and the feeling that the viewer is sitting and discussing the day's happenings with friends (as we used to do on the front porches of the neighborhood).

With more and more print and electronic journalism outlets presenting their stories on the Internet, maybe we'll re-invent the front porch.

• Dan Keever, 67, Athens, Ga., Academic Professional/Facilities Manager, Telecommunications Dept., Grady College, Univ. of Ga.

Thanks for the opportunity to opine on local TV "news" - it's awful!

Weather: Just the basics, please. It doesn't matter that it is 2 degrees cooler in Holsopple than it is in Cokeburg.

Daily animal story: Lose it.

"Live from...": Nothing is added to the story by having a reporter stand in the rain, in the dark in front of a police station twelve hours after an arrest.

Inter-anchor chatter: A little is OK.

Content: There are important things happening in Pittsburgh. Maybe the reporters should read the P-G before going on the air.

• Ron McCollum, 65, Pittsburgh

Here are my top 3 desires for local news. (I liked the original 11 minutes at 11 on 11.)

1. Give me the top 3 stories in 5 minutes (not teasers); just plain good reporting (not drama, either); repeat at the top of each hour and expand later in the broadcast

2. Tell me what's going on in the world, it will help me to decide if I want to watch the expanded world news (Hollywood is not the world)

3. Tell me about expected weather for the next 3 days only (that's all they can really predict); I need to know what to expect in the morning and plan ahead; If I want to know what's going on right now, I'll go outside for myself (they can use a ticker for area weather reporting -- 32 in Fox Chapel, 33 and rain in New Kensington, etc.)

• Michael Hellman, 51, Morningside

What do I expect from local news?

1st, that it be news not entertainment.

2nd, that it be local news--forget the "10 dead in 3 car pile-up" promos when the wreck happened in Kansas.

3rd, that it be grammatically correct. Please stop saying, "the salt pile, it is on route 10" or "the bridge, it is closed." The salt pile is on route 10. The bridge is closed. And unless meteors are in the forecast could we go back to being affected by the weather rather than impacted by it?

I would like the stories to appear to have been written and delivered by a college graduate rather than someone who appears to be reporting for the local high school paper. Please stop dumbing down both the news and the delivery.

I don't think that the reporters have any idea of the ways in which they contribute to the dumbing down of language. When a phrase or word is repeated over and over it can begin to sound normal and the mistakes enter regular use. Thus, for example, the use of impact rather than affect, which is usually what is meant, is now in common use.

I think that Americans in general and Pittsburghers in particular have an inferiority complex--we are afraid of sounding as though we are "getting above our raising" if we speak correctly. I would like our local reporters to stop contributing to this phenomenon. Give our children role models to look up to and imitate.

A welcome side effect of cutting banter might be more time available for news coverage leading to a better informed population (and perhaps, even, the loss of our inferiority complex).

• Cheri Cunningham, 50+, Brookline

I think the television news should emphasize the serious news. Some banter between the anchors is acceptable to add some local color. What I object to is too much coverage of animal abuse stories, usually accompanied by photos. I also think the weather coverage borders on panic when snow is forecast. By now we who live in this area should be able to drive sensibly in snowy conditions and the national morning shows should not be pre-empted to give minute by minute coverage of the weather.

Definitely no goof fest and not too much fluff. I would be happy to hear a few more "good" news items.

• Louise Jencik, Squirrel Hill

The wife and I were just discussing with a friend why we won't watch that "new" unholy WPXI/Fox News hybrid.

Number one: I consider it to be an example of what is happening in this country because of FCC chairman Kevin Martin's big business friendly, politically motivated decision to allow --over massive public outrage-- already over-glutted media conglomerates to basically commandeer all media outlets in a single market. Broadcasts are becoming whitewashed single-opinion pushers, bordering on smiley-faced propaganda.

My wife has a more specific reason for not watching: when she's watching the news, she wants the news: when she's watching the commercials, she's watching the commercials. Not so on WPXI since Fox News glommed onto it. Now, if you watch, you must endure the latest non-news about Fox's hit show American Idol, being foisted in your face right in the middle of the ten o'clock "news". (On the last broadcast we watched, the nightly American Idol "Update" came right at 10:15.) My wife screamed: "That's not news!"

And we are committed to what we believe. We don't shop at Wal-Mart, we haven't been to a McDonalds in many years, and rest assured we will never watch WPXI News, WPXI/Fox or Fox News 53, as long as they are doing marketing and sales when they should be doing journalism.

We are also one of the remnant few American households still living without cable. Yes, I still occasionally get up to adjust the rabbit-ears to get a better picture when I'm trying to watch WQED. Far from being a mere annoyance, it has always given me a feeling of involvement, to see how the electricity in the human body helps clear the picture. But now that we are in the waning days of "free TV", with the advent of the giant digital monster squashing the not-profitable-enough analog way of life, I will have to, one way or another, ante-up if I want to watch TV in 2009.

But, since I expect nothing but a continued increase in the funneling of business-driven non-stories and narrow political ideologies to fill the "new" but in no meaningful way improved, pay-to-play airwaves, I am still weighing the option of finding other things to do with my life than pay to get fat and stupid sitting watching shiny network shills and soap-box moralists insult my intelligence, even if it is all happening in hi-def!

• Mark Balobeck, McKees Rocks

You ask, "What should local news be?" It should be something other than sports. I've stopped watching local news because there is no news. An inordinate amount of time is spent on sports. At 11:50 a.m., a station will tout as "Breaking News" some sports tidbit that could have waited until its regular slot at 12:20 p.m.

If it's not sports, it's weather. Geez, a predicted two inches of snow is like the end of the world for local news. When confronted with this, they say that's what the viewers want. No one asked me.

They can banter all they want cause I'm not watching.

• Carolyn Czapor, 70, Oakmont

Since you asked, this is what I would like to see on the local news:

Reports on a) Mayors office, b) City Council, c) County Council, if something newsworthy is going on, with interviews when there is a controvery.

Reports on visitors in town, such as the weapons inspector Ritter, or Kofi Anan.

Reports on new exhibits, concerts of any kind, and lectures.

The weather report should focus on the forecast, since I already know what the wheather is like at present, and not exceed 1 minute.

And, lastly. the local crime report, if necessary at all, would benefit from context, such as "why did this happen for the umpteenth time in this neighborhood and what can and will be done", a question that would be also useful for fires, water main breaks, flooding, and collapsing.bridges.

I do not consider news entertainment, just information. What we have now is neither.

• Gisela Kress, age 64, Squirrel Hill

I, for one, think TV news should follow the lead of the Post-Gazette and work to be aggressively boring. Maybe throw in the horoscope and "Wingo."

• Paul Stueber, 61, Scranton, Pa. (40 years in TV news)

"News commentaters" need to be news commentaters, not entertainers.

The two female dimwits on Ch. 4 are trying to be "funny" too hard, and should resort to what the news is all about. They don't have to entertain me-just give me the news that I've been waiting to hear on the 5 PM newscasts. And how about new news, not a repeat of what we heard on the 12 noon news.

But they are not alone in that respect. Ch. 2 gives us the same stories at 5 and 6 PM that we heard and saw on the 12PM noon newscasts. Although the Ch. 2 news people don't try to entertain you, as much as Ch. 4.

And as for Ch 11, I wish that Peggy Finnegan would not make every story the most gravest thing that she has seen or heard. Please inform her that I will make up my own mind as to what is tragic and what is not!

• Francis Alessi, 80, Monaca

Thanks for conducting this survey among your readers as to the ideal makeup of local TV news broadcasts. Not only would the results just be interesting but, who knows, they might even have a little impact upon station management for the future. To me, an ideal local TV broadcast would break down something like this:

50% -- Significant local news items, including half as much time for weather as at present. (Also, please spare us at least 90% of "abused animal" stories.)

30% -- Significant national and international news items, with of course less time for detailed information and analysis which are available from all-news networks.

15% -- Special features, medical news, investigative reports, etc.

5% -- Fluff, anchor chatter, etc.-- to keep the broadcast "human".

• Tom Frankart, Pittsburgh

You ask some good questions; in fact, you describe one of my pet-peeves.

I expect local network news to be serious and thoughtful. I despise the happy talk. Whom do they think they are impressing with that nonsense?

Also, I don't want to hear about and don't care about which celebrity is having a baby or getting married. That is not newsworthy to me.

We get very little national news on our local channels. I watch Fox News quite a bit lately.

Finally, you don't mention the ridiculous weather forecasts we are subjected to. All the arm-waving and prancing before the camera is insane. Today, Channel 2, KDKA, led off at noon with the weather. That's crazy! Why can't the weather forecasts be done in 15 or 30 seconds and then get on with the news? Boring.....I mean, and it's been said by many, this is Pittsburgh, it's winter, it snows sometime and we deal with it. Why do they have to have a camera with all the talking heads all over the place?

• James Shearer, 60, Brighton Heights

Personally, I think that our local news is a JOKE! First, if you denied them access to the local newspaper, their "reporters" would have nothing of substance to report other than their fluff pieces. My wife and I laugh nightly when the majority of their new stories, even their "breaking" or exclusive" stories came directly from that morning's paper. Second, their banter is so "forced" and so inane that it becomes embarrassing to watch. Most of the anchors (especially Sally Wiggin) feel compelled to adlib prior to making their segue to a specific story, the weather or to sports. In most of these cases, they just reveal their ignorance rather than provide any insight into the situation. Third, fear mongering, whether it is in reporting the weather or in an investigative report, is beneath true, objective, insightful journalism. It is merely sensationalism and is an obvious attempt to gain ratings. So, why do I watch local news? For comic relief at the end of a long day! If nothing else, our local news is better than most sitcoms that are currently on television.

-- Matthew Stokan

Your column certainly touched a nerve with me. I don't expect to be entertained by the local newscasts. I expect the newscasts to be thoughtful and serious. I despise the ridiculous happy talk. Whom do the think they are impressing with this nonsense?

And, I don't want to hear about and don't care about which celebrity is having a baby or getting married. That belongs in another venue.

Let's talk sometime about the insane way the weather is hyped by our local news channels. Why can't the weather be delivered in 20 or 30 seconds and then get on with the news. This is Pittsburgh, it's winter and it snows some times. Channel 2 led of with the weather at noon today. That's crazy! All the arm-waving and prancing around by the meteorologists is absolutely boring.

By the way, I get most of my news now by watching Fox News.

• James T. Shearer, 60, Brighton Heights

I think the blather between anchors could be left out. Sometimes it just seems so awkward and contrived. Just give me the facts, thanks.

• Kevin C Baird, 44, Center Twp., Beaver County

The hours long local news broadcasts become boring after 30 minutes--weather reports are too frequent and not accurate.

I don't consider "can this product do that" or banter between the "news readers" entertaining.

The length of the broadcasts contribute to the need for entertainment--- Bill Burns said it all--and it only took 15 minutes !

• Marlene Moses, 66, Export

Here is what I am looking for:

1. Someone reading the news who I think understands the issues at least as well as I do. This does not always happen.

2. Endless teasers are abusive.

3. Local news often appears to be provincial. Sending your weather guy to the school is cute but not news. Leading the newscast with an update on an upcoming Steeler game is the very definition of provincial.

4. I love sports but HS football is overdone.

5. To summarize, letting ratings and the "entertainment division" run the news is a contradiction and is unacceptable.

Hope this helps, keep up the good work!

• David Lipkin

There are two types of chatter that drive me crazy. The first is John Burnett. He is a reader of the weather to me. He is not a meteorologist, so he fill in his time trying to be the old storyteller. It is most evident when weather conditions are worse in other parts of the country. He keeps telling us to "look out" for a system in Florida (Hurricane) or Kansas (Blizzard) that may be "heading our way." He also gives personal weather to the other news people rather than the viewers, especially Stephanie Watson.

The other chatter is when one anchor starts a story, and the other anchor is to chime in. There are times the camera is on the second anchor and the first anchor keeps reporting the news, or the second anchor forgets he or she is reporting the news. It looks awkward rather than "homey."

• James K. Orr, 65, North Huntingdon

I am very happy you have addressed this matter as I cannot understand the mindset of local tvnews personalities, etc. Please don't give me news items from Salt Lake City, Utah concerning a fire in a warehouse that caused excessive damage,etc.

Also,don't make the weather as though it is the end-of-the-world, i.e. last week when all you could get on any of the local stations was the snow of the season. It's winter, it's Pittsburgh, we have endured this type of weather for many, many years, long before there was a thought of tv broadcasts.

As you stated," Just give me the facts.. no fluff...

• Harry Davidson

What I expect from a news show is news. What is so difficult? They all give us tearful interviews by the dozens, flip anchors who feel that there insider banter should please the crowd, and the same (exactly the same) story repeatedly for several days. There are attractive young ladies whose journalistic skills are highly suspect and who send me for the remote to put on the subtitle to comprehend there inept diction. The teasers are over the top. The story could be told several times over while we here the teasers. If what they are reporting is as important as they claim, they must have an obligation to report it now - not next Wednesday. ... In short Pittsburgh news is provincial. It needs a good dose of professionalism and a loss of the meaningless "home town" boast.

• James Houston, Lower Burrell

Well since you are asking about one of my pet peeves, here goes, you did ask! First and foremost for me, local news should be about news. I am conflicted because I like the news personalities on WTAE, but I much prefer the way WPXI delivers local news. Channel 11 local news is essentially local news, with less fluff pieces, less national news, and more news and less promos. The on air personalities however are as interesting as watching paint dry. David Johnson and company need to loosen up a bit and start acting like they have have real live hearts beating in them. Then maybe I could sit through their newscasts. Channel 4 on the other hand could pick up some production value pointers from channel 11. Sit sometime and count the minutes they waste on promos for news stories that they string you along with for 30 minutes sometimes. You want to see the story but you have to wait for ages. And all the time they are using for the promos could be spent on real news. They also spend way too much time on national stories. I get national news from CNN and the internet all day long. When I sit down to watch local news that is what I expect to see. Channel 4's personality have well, PERSONALITY. Nearly all of them seem like people you would want to sit down and have a beer with. As for channel 2, are they still on the air?

• Richard A. Mazure, 63, Ross

With the proliferation of TV channels available through cable and satellite, I don't understand why there isn't at least one local news program that doesn't attempt to emulate PBS' "News Hour". The format would be a summary of straight, hard local news, followed by in-depth local reports.

• Anthony DeFrank, Regent Square

I think it can be a mix - if done the right way. I will say that the current local news format and content is a joke. No it's embarrassing. It troubles me to think who actually watches this stuff and feels that it's real news. I watch it sometimes and I feel like a moron.

I think the focus should be heavy on the real journalism aspect. Give the facts and insight on local stories. Add in some of the national and international news. Pittsburghers need to know what's going on outside of their "hometown". Yes believe it or not there is a whole other world out there.

Get rid of all the sensationalism - shootings, fires, car accidents, etc. At least don't make them the lead stories as they are most of the time now. I think it gives people the wrong perception of the world and feeds people's fears. Same thing goes for the weather reports. They're played up so much and made to sound like every little snowflake is the start of the next blizzard.

Trust me I like the Steelers and want them to do well but seriously this town has more to it than the Steelers. Seems like the local news stations have become a marketing arm of the Rooneys.

• Chris Jones, 36, McCandless

I don't even watch any of the local news shows anymore for the following reasons:

Just tell me the news and stop giving those idiotic "teasers"...annoying

Announcers should never use their hands when giving the news...very distracting

Finnigan and Wright are too dramatic giving the news...annoying

Too many advertisements

And the number one complaint is the god awful music in between stories...VERY ANNOYING!

I read the Post Gazzette to find out the local news

• Alice J. Anthony, 65, Scott

Just the facts please. I do not need all the laughing and inside jokes between the anchors, weatherman, and sports person. To the female anchors I do not care what you did with your children over the weekend.. the male news people do not talk about their children. Finally I do not need to be told by the weather person to bundle up and dress in layers every time it gets cold. I have lived thru 70 winters.

• Ed Kerestes, 71, Kennedy

All I can say is thank goodness for my Tivo! I just can't sit through the local news while waiting for a look at the weather report.

It's no place for pushing the network's shows either. I tend to watch ABC and tonight they "covered" a piece on bringing the ABC show "Supernanny" to Pittsburgh.

I watch and like the show but isn't it a conflict of interest to push these shows and call it news? Did this make it on NBC or CBS local broadcasts?

It might be fine to lighten things up a bit if people like Wendy Bell were either funny or entertaining, instead I cringe at some of the stuff she comes out with.

When I moved to Pittsburgh 8 years ago, the quality of local news was much better than it is now and I found I learned a lot about the area and it's people. A return to some more serious reporting would be advisable or they might lose their audience. Thanks for letting us vent a bit.

• Gail O'Neil, 54, Glenshaw

The comment made by the "local tv employee" is the exact reason our local news is as bad as it is. With that comment, he (I assume he's a he) justifies the garbage that is on the local news. Everything is hyped, pumped up, and over sold.

Local news should be what it used to be. Report the facts in an orderly, common sense method. No hype. No hyperbole.

• David Johns, 63, South Hills

I think even local TV news should be professional and avoid the all-too often bantering that occurs. Worst is the outright flirting of Jon Burnett when he is paired with Stephanie Watson - e.g. directing the weather forecast to her personally ( reminiscent of Ted Baxter's "and now the weather, my darling" on one of the classic MTMoore sit-coms) and nudging up to her to touch her arm on occasion. All they have to do is READ reasonably well and assiduosly avoid being comedians, tease merchants or flirts.

• Robert Jedrzejewski, Tarentum

The bantering before and between serious news I find annoying. I would appreciate easing up on so much weather reporting also.

• Katherine Zollars, 80, Burgetttown

I wasn't going to write you because we've been through much of this before. But then I thought, what the heck, I'll throw my cranky one cent in.

I don't mind a little of what you term "fluff" in the newscasts, and I'd like to broaden the comments out to include sports and weather. Also, my comments sometimes apply to the national scene as well.

So here goes:

If the talent is going to fluff around, it would help if they have their facts straight and pronounce things correctly. For instance, and we've been here before, it's Conneaut, not Con - Not and Conneautville, not Con - Not - Ville. It's Bethel Park, not Beth-el Park. Seems as if they've never been out of the studio and around town. A simple fact check wouldn't hurt. Oh, and that getting out of the studio thing, it makes no sense to me to report on something that happened in New Castle, Meadville or New Kensington from Mount Washington while standing in the rain holding an umbrella. I know, you think the City backdrop adds character to the story. I think it's goofy.

And, speaking of goofy, how about the cliches that pervade the news, sports and particularly the weather? We have, the obviously overused obviously, if you will, and that said the use of albeit and having said that make the aforementioned observation even more pertinent. The alliterative headlines are at first creative and then seem forced. Fierce Fire, Treacherous Traffic, Huge Hole (pothole), Excellent Escape (from fire), School Scare, Sex Scandal Weather Worries, and on and on.

The weather folks keep trying to spice up the report by naming events differently, clouds become decks, shields, banks and fronts become pieces of energy. Weather works in, instead of moves. Furthermore, the meaningless Medical News is boring, unless you're having a heart attack or have been bitten by a snake. I will say that the Consumer News is mostly helpful. B plus.

One thing and I'll bail out, when reporting on something the viewer really wants to know about, they say, "Get the full story on our web site." Yeah, try to find it. Most stations' web sites are dreadful and messy and not everybody has a computer,

As you said, just the facts, ma'am. Or sir. Keep up the excellent reporting; my wife and I enjoy your column. Seriously. Even when you're not serious.

• James Malcolm Mason Stauff, Jr., 69, Forest Hills

Not promos for 'Supernanny'.

Not a reading of the morning paper.

Not the details of every accident.

Not the opinion of six 'men on the street.'

Not the latest Fuel Perks deal at Giant Eagle.

Yes, News, Sports and Weather. Delivered in a friendly manner. Yes, I want to know that an accident on the parkway made last night's trip into town a nightmare. I don't need all the details. I don't mind if they smile or add those transition lines for the next story.....as long as the next story is not 'breaking news' that I read almost word for word in the morning paper.

Interesting Medical features are good. Sports interviews are nice. We all need to see the weather. (But this is Pittsburgh, and two inches of snow is not cause for panic.)

Entertainment features are nice. However, these are not the feature news stories.

When people in the street are asked if they think Ben's new contract is reasonable, it's time to turn it off. That is crazy. These people have no facts, are not experts and will never make a million a year. I really don't want opinions from anyone who isn't an expert. If Greenie were breaking it down during the Sports, then that would be good.

You get my drift. (I could go on and on.) It is nice to know Wendy is having another. Perhaps all of us get somewhat attached to the local anchors. I don't need too much information.

I would like more to the point local news.

And, could they please use proper grammar and pronunciation? I'm not perfect, but they should be. It is their field of expertise. They set the standard for the public.

• Carol Gezon, 61, Murrysville

Our local TV stations aren't the only ones trying to dummy us down with poor newscasts, this is a nationwide trend. I myself would like to see and hear "just the facts." Take the weather forecasts for instance. Instead of just showing and telling us what the weather is going to be for the next day or so, they go into a 10 minute spiel with high tech graphics, long winded explainations and some nut standing outside in a snow or rainstorm telling us what the weather is doing outside. Don't these idiots know that we actually have windows in our homes that we can look outside and see what the weather is? And yet with all of these fancy gizmos and gadgets they have their predictions are no more acurate than they were 45 years ago! As a kid growing up in the '50s and early '60s, the 6p.m. news program lasted 15 minutes. That included the sports and weather too. From 6:15 to 6:30 the station ran a few cartoons. Then the news went to an 1/2 hour. Then to 1 hour. Now KDKA runs the news from 4p.m. to 7p.m. The other local stations runs theirs from 5p.m. to 6:30p.m. And all the news is just rehashing the same dribble over and over for 1 1/2 to 3 hours. If I wanted to watch a comedy or variety show I would turn on TV Land, not the local news stations. Thank God for cable TV.

• Jim Hirsh, 59, Bethel Park

Spontaneity and local newscaster chatter are mutually exclusive. Is there anyone in our channel 2 or 4 or 11 areas who thinks there is anything spontaneous when they talk to each other? I don't think so. It looks and sounds to be all planned out ahead of time. ...

Surely there ought to be sufficient news to make three weathercasts in a half hour unnecessary just to take up time. It has gotten to a point where you can hardly read the word Mute on my remote, I activate it so often.

And then there's the sharing of time between a guy and a gal, one coming out with sentence A and then the other with sentence B. Geez, just let one of them give the whole unimportant piece, then the other take over.

• Edwin J. Borrebach, Bradford Woods

My model for local TV news is the 10PM WPCW presentation. ... I like it because it is crisp, with a single anchor and little banter (unlike others that seem to have cross conversations with everyone in the studio, including the cleaning crew).

I really dislike the 4PM and 5PM newscasts which seem to use about 85% of the time with "teasers" about upcoming newscasts, self-promotion and chit-chat. These newscasts come across as parocial and unprofessional.

Just give me the news with some relevant background and leave the "entertainment" to non-news shows.

• Ron Rose

TV news anchors should report the news without personal comment or trying to entertain. We watch KDKA the majority of the time so I can't really comment on the other channels. Ken Rice tries to sensationalize the news with voice inflections. Patrice King Brown "trips" all over her words, as does Stacy Smith. Patrice also makes comments which are supposed to be "cutesie" Kristine Sorensen gets silly with her "little girl" voice. Brenda Watters does a very professional job, as do most of the reporters, most of the time.

• Bettie McMillin, 78, New Castle

Local news in Pgh is a combination entertainment/shock TV. Very little is acturally news. While I think some non news spots have some value, much contains very little that is meaningful. News that actually affects our lives and really is news involves the economy, world wide events, and stories with depth.

While Kelly Frye may be a lovely lady, when I turn on channel 4 news by accident and see her wild gestures, head tossing, and facial expression and hear her voice drama, I can't turn the channel fast enough. Many newscasters share these traits. There is far too much drama and meaningless, silly banter.

I vote for actual news and serious newscasters.

• Janice Carbonara

In response to your column, "Should local news be trying so hard to be entertaining?," I have some comments to make. First, it would be wonderful if only one spot was allocated for the weather report. On all local stations weather is vastly overdone! I'd like to see the newscasters save their chit-chat and social interaction for AFTER the newscast. Also, why waste time telling the audience what's coming up after the commercial or some other news story? I'd like to see more professionalism. A lot of what goes on in the newscast is just plain tacky.

• Frances L. Borrebach, 82, Bradford Woods

Back in the '70s I was Vice President of the Radio-Television News Association of Southern California. We took local news seriously.

When I visited my parents in Southern Wisconsin I was appalled to see a puppet was doing the weather on a Milwaukee TV station. When I went to switch to another channel my mother explained it was the puppet that attracted her to that particular channel. It gave her comfort.

Ron Powers earned Pulitzer Prize for covering the business of tv news in the Chicago Sun Times. Much of what he talked about in his 1979 book, Newscasters still applies today. I loved his chapter about tv weathermen..."Bring On The Clowns."

• Jerry Hughes

Thanks for the opportunity to vent !

We do expect the locals to be more laid-back and entertaining, but they've gone WAY over the edge. Too much phony banter.

PLUS - lousy grammar, too many "kind-of's" and "sort-of's," too much competition between certain female announcers. Splitting the stories line-by-line is silly.

We miss Scott Baker! He seemed to walk the line very well, indeed.

We know they have lots of time to fill, but... I personally think that, of all the stations I watch, CNBC gives the most information, of all types, in the most efficient,

professional, and entertaining way.

• John McNally

Comments of local TV news:

1.The weather reporting is over the top and about to push me over the edge... all stations....nothing new, same ole cautions.

2. I'm tired of hearing about every animal that gets hurt in this city.... move on with real news.

3. The Steeler coverage is " ad nauseaum".

4. Breaking news........ heaven forbid something really important would happen.

I will spare you all my thoughts, but I hope you get the picture..... the news in this town needs a new life.. something creative...... some new anchors........It's the "same o, same o"........

• C. Klinger

I, for one, don't mind some banter and fluff that goes on during the local news. If I want to watch some stoic news anchor, I can turn on the national news. Ken Rice is one of my favorites; he has a way of making a somewhat sarcastic comment every now and again, while still trying to remain serious. And I think it is refreshing to watch non-Pittsburgh native Stephanie Watson lament the winter weather she is probably not yet used to (or at least is not fond of). The news anchors/reporters I watch on TV often seem like everyday people, which makes me want to tune in.

That said, we probably hear a few too many Steelers stories (I don't think a Pittsburgh Steeler getting arrested for assaulting his girlfriend should be elevated to breaking news), and I would NOT want the news to turn into the constant joking that goes on during some of the morning radio shows. But overall, I think Pittsburgh news (minus the over-hyped snow storms) is just fine.

• Faith Milazzo Graham, 36, Penn Hills

The news should be just that - news. It should be presented in a professional, objective manner using correct English and proper pronunciation of all words. It shouldn't be used to promote network programming, and the silly banter and giggling should be kept to an absolute minimum. It isn't supposed to be entertainment, and should be honest and informative. As for the weather segment, please don't make an inch or two of snow sound like a blizzard, or 20 degrees be referred to as frigid. Keep it rational. I would also hope that the fumble-tongued deliveries could be eliminated. We seem to have a lot of that on some stations.

• Janet Stone, 65, Whitehall Boro

I've been waiting to see a column about this for a while now. Sitting at home watching the news I've often thought I can't be the only one thinking like this.

I have been a faithful viewer of Channel 4 news for decades now. One of the reasons I chose to watch that station was that they reported the news in a no-nonsense fashion.

However, in the past year or two professionalism has gone out the door . Sometimes I watch and cringe.

To answer your question, yes,local news anchors should be professional. Are we not professionals here in Pittsburgh??? What's next......anchors in sweatshirts and jeans while they dumb down the news at us?

It's bad enough when Wendy Bell introduces a segment referring to a reporter as "dude" and Sally Wiggin - who used to be the model of women anchor - cackles like a hyena.

Wendy Bell has got to be the most offensive. Can she not deliver the news without eye rolling, smirking and her "I'm just so cute attitude"? Yes, Wendy we know you're hip but "street language" belongs on the street. I'm a teacher and I'm sure she would not appreciate me talking to her children in the classroom like she often does to us at night. I think the producer needs to tell her to tone it done a bit.

Anchors do not have to make jokes everytime they introduce each other. Often it's forced and just not funny. What's wrong with " here's so and so with the weather"???

And what's become of Sally Wiggin? Once the model of professionalism ... the things she laughs at or hits Mike Clark about are not that funny. She has become the queen of overreaction.

What would Paul Long say?

• Lynn Tennant-Heffley, Bellevue

I am particularly annoyed by what is supposed to pass as witty banter by WTAE's newscasters, who use their "down home" approach as one of their advertising selling points. They may be amusing to each other, but certainly not to me as a viewer. It is possible to be personable and professional. Newscasters should be held to the same standards whether they are local or national. I have nothing against an occasional, well written fluff piece, but, to me, news is news, not entertainment. I may be in the minority here, but it's one man's opinion.

• Marc Bodell, 55, Highland Park

This past weekend is a perfect example of how far the TV news has fallen. We were inundated by the fear mongers who because they had seen a four letter word starting with "s" told us all to stay home and sit by the fire and not move unless we absolutely had too. I bet that didn't stop the ladies from hitting Giant Eagle for toilet paper, milk and bread as they are want to do when great calamities are about to sweep down on the "Burgh".And what did we get? Maybe a dusting. Here, south of the city, it was all gone by Sunday afternoon.

Perhaps I am a little jaded, having spent a few years in upstate New York east of Buffalo. Now they get some major snow. The ground is covered by Thanksgiving and is not seen until the spring thaw. Six or more inches of snow might cause a school delay up there but down here, life as we know it, comes to a standstill.

What's with this business of reading off every neighborhood for differences in temperature. Wow, that sure is newsworthy to mention that there is a one degree difference between Bethel Park and Brighton Heights. The weather has become the end all, be all of the news. We don't really need to know how much salt is going to be used and how many drivers and trucks it will take. That's their job. It's news if it doesn't get done or there is some other problem. I could care less to see some news anchor making footprints in the snow next to the road way. If I want the weather, there is a Weather Channel, 24 hours a day or I can look out the window.

There is so much more going on in the City and the surrounding area that is newsworthy. Yes, there are terrible accidents and there are calamities. We recognize that these sell TV and newspapers. But there are also some really great things going on as well. Art, entertainment, athletics, civic events, and many more. I don't read the paper from from front to back but rather piecemeal, taking those things I want and ignoring those that have no interest. Unfortunately, you can't do that with the TV News. There is no way for the audience to cut out the uninteresting and have a seamless production. We are at the mercy of the people who edit the material for the show.

• Ed Hanke, 65, Bethel Park

They do go over the top sometimes. A bit of banter is OK. Keep it professional. Also they do overkill on stories, especially the weather. Need to touch on national and international news. Keeps me from going to CNN.

• William Apel, 77, Baldwin Borough

Local TV news should not have every Steeler story at the top of the broadcast. A lot of us have Black N Gold burnout!

• Matt Hogue

News should be "just the facts, ma'am."

We watch the news to be informed.

With a newspaper, we choose the articles that we want to read and skip the rest.

On the Internet, we can visit the sites that we find interesting and sort through the rest.

The TV news/magazine/tabloid shows that we call TV news cause us to waste a lot of our time to obtain just a small amount of questionable information.

If we need to be entertained, we would just wait for "The Insider" or "Entertainment Tonight" or "Wheel of Fortune and skip the so-called TV news.

Location, Location

It does not matter if the so-called reporter/performer is standing in the rain on Mt. Washington, at the Police Station or at the County Jail. The story is the reason that we are watching. They could just as well be sitting in the studio.

We know what ice and snow looks like. We don???t need a reporter/performer to show us a hand full of snow.

Who decides that we need to know about a pet pig in San Diego that needs a home?

Teasers

The teasers are ridiculous. We watch the news to be informed and not to be asked questions about a story that is coming up. The reader/performer sometimes has difficulty reading the teaser without telling us the who, what when or where of the story.

They don't need to tell us that they are going to tell us something. Just tell us.

The repeated self-promotion of the staff of readers/reporters/performers serves no purpose other than to waste our time while we wait for them to read/report something.

Old News

Many stories never end. How many days can the same story be repeated.

Some stories never get old. The so-called writers get to reuse their old stories over and over again when some minor related event occurs that enables them to rehash an entire story and then include any related old stories. (The pizza delivery guy in Erie with the bomb fastened around his neck.)

A good solid thirty-minute local news show would attract a lot of viewers that want to be informed without being insulted by all of the fluff and wasted time.

• Bob Kress, 59, Wexford

I am glad that you're seriously addressing the fluff issue with Pittsburgh TV news. It has been atrocious since about 2003 to me. I hate every single fluff story that they throw at me. It's a poor attempt at entertainment, and if I want entertainment, I'll watch shows that are DESIGNED for entertainment purposes - say, oh, I don't know - prime time network TV? Yeah, that. There's actually some well-produced, high-quality entertainment there. When I watch the news, I want the news. I guess I should be clear: serious news. Fluff is a huge waste of my time. At least consumer stories can be useful, but I am sorry ... as much as I love the Steelers, Penguins, etc., the stories about the fans and players are ridiculous, silly, and flat out a HUGE waste of my time. People might argue that crime stories don't affect them, but they can. It's certainly important to get the information about the suspect(s) out there so that people can watch out. If people are complaining that they are bored by these stories, don't care, etc., well then that's fine...but in my opinion, they are being selfish and childish.

I am lucky enough to live in the Johnstown/Altoona TV market for most of the year, so I get to see what real newscasts are like. I'm sure the folks at the Pittsburgh stations would laugh if they heard that comment, but it is the honest to God truth. While the Pittsburgh stations are busy obsessing over the Steelers and "Dancing with the Stars" (during a NEWSCAST), the Johnstown/Altoona stations are covering crime, government, education, science, and so forth. These stations do not go overboard on silly fan stories. If Penn State just played a football game, they might lead with it on a Saturday night, but the story lasts maybe 1-2 minutes at the most and then it's back to real news.

I am getting so tired of the sensationalism and immaterial. I still watch in hopes of seeing some change, but it is becoming more and more clear that things will only get worse from here on out. Print media/Internet are going to be my primary sources for news.

Thank you for taking up the issue and allowing me to vent. It is such a disgrace to see these low-quality newscasts being so common. Flashback 6 years or so and boy, you'd see a WORLD of difference. Go back even further, and I think you'll get even more of a difference. Too bad those days are long gone.

• Bob Setzenfand, 19, Allison Park

I don't usually e-mail my opinions, but I feel strongly about this subject. I watch WTAE and love the anchors. They look like they really like what they do and they do it well. I see no problem when they banter back and forth. They are serious when needed. I love a smile. Don't you?

• Kathy Laudano, 65, Upper St. Clair

What would I like of local TV news?

Please quit telling me over and over what you are going to tell me at six oclock or whenever. Just tell me.

A product is tested for the comsumers benefit. For days we are told to tune in a week from now at a certain time to hear the results. I'm sure some people do but I don't. By that time I don't care.

Just give us the news. No frills. No teasing.

• H. Lessman, 80, O'Hara

I expect news from local TV news. I tune to broadcast news for video footage of news events, including interviews, color motion graphics, and location shots. I do not care about the deliverer. Local broadcast news could be narrated or "dubbed" for all the attention I pay to the reporter or anchor. If I want entertainment, I'll watch Kelsey Grammer in "Back to You".

Most of the "fluff" annoys me; particularly features like "First Birthdays" on KDKA's morning news. This is not news. And I am downright offended when I hear some of the local news' absurd self-promotional ads. WTAE's (?) recent blurb about hip replacement surgery is simply ridiculous: "Biking, walking, swimming are different when you need hip replacement surgery...". Really?

• Bernie McGartland, 54, Penn Hills

My comments are based only on the 6 p.m. news broadcasts. Most of the daily news coverage beyond that half-hour is repetitive.

Don't repeat the national news. Between the cable news and network news, I've got the big picture. If the national story affects Pittsburgh (tri-state or PA, too), tell me how or why.

Pittsburgh stations should concentrate on three spheres: the state, the tri-state area, and the city and its surrounding counties. What's going on in state government -- and not just what, but the other four "w's" and "how", too. Do the stations have full-time reporters in Harrisburg? For example, the "drink tax" coverage is mainly dueling quotes or bartending stunts. I've not seen in-depth interviews with state lawmakers or investigative reporting on how this legal morass came about. Coverage of mismanagement of scholarship funds or liquor sales or abuse of the environment is superficial, to name a few areas.

The trouble with "hard news" for Pittsburgh stations is that it's not very "hard" -- by that, I mean it's incomplete or it doesn't cover substantive issues. Reporters rush from one fire/accident/landslide/murder scene to another. Granted, coverage is warranted, but let's step back and put things into perspective for the viewers. How many murders/shootings have occurred in a particular neighborhood? What's being done by neighborhood leaders or police? And then, follow up later with results. Local citizens want a grocery store as part of the new Penguins home project. I can't remember one story about how many, if any grocery stores are in or near the downtown area?

An example of incomplete coverage: Carnegie was going to close its volunteer fire department. Both sides were interviewed. A fire department member said it would put the community at risk; a borough spokesman said they couldn't cover the $100,000 in debts and the council didn't really want to assess $50 per property in more taxes. The story said there were four other fire companies within the four-square-mile area. What was missing: How many house fires, car fires, accidents, and medical emergencies had this fire company responded to in the last six months or year? Could four other companies realistically take up the slack? Or, how much was the company's annual operating cost? If I'm a local resident and tax payer, I'd like to have that information in order to better understand which "side" to support in the debate.

We depend upon local broadcast and print media to cover events and people in order to give us a complete a picture and a full a sense of what's going in our area. In 20-some minutes each night, there is room for both "hard" news (i.e. facts about government, events, issues that help us make decisions as citizens and consumers) and "soft" news (i.e. stories about people who inspire, instruct, or entertain us). Why do the newscasters waste that precious time on inane banter about the weather, sports personalities or (tonight) the St Patrick's Day parade? And, then there are those promos for what's coming at 11 p.m. and lead-ins after each commercial break telling us who's giving us the news, weather and sports.

To summarize:

1. Coverage of individual stories is often incomplete, weak or sketchy. They wouldn't have gotten very good grades from my college journalism instructors!

2. Too much time spent on weather -- often two or three weather reports during a single news program.

3. Too much time wasted with promos and inane banter among the news team. Not counting weather and sports, why use two news readers when the national networks use only one?

4. Not enough substantive, thorough coverage of important stories -- i.e. state and local government operations, environment concerns, health and social services.

Even the hard news is filled with fluff.

• Thomas J. Boyd, 58, Cranberry

First published on March 21, 2008 at 12:00 am