B problem

I know this is Southeast Texas, and news is not expected to be as exciting as it is in Houston or New York, but I’m left with a few questions in my mind about this area’s news agencies and reporters.

Don't take this as an insult.

One big question is: Are the majority of “reporters” in this area green or just lazy.

This past week there were so many good "B" stories buried in public documents just waiting for the picking… and they were ignored or not noticed.

I’m not talking about top stories.

I’m talking about the too often ignored “B” level story, the fill material.

Face it; this is the bulk of a news cast.

There can only be one lead story.

Someone has to do the grunt work and cover the meetings, changes in public figures and parades.

I would understand all of the missed opportunities if the majority of reporters around here were tied up with really big stories, but this is not what I saw in the “fill” stories this week.

What was the majority of the “B” or “fill” stories?

Fires at abandoned buildings, re-caps of stories we’ve already known about for days, etc, etc.

One story seemed kind of odd because of its timing.

Tuesday, we carried a story about a doctor running against councilwoman Lulu Smith.

The paper and at least one of the other TV stations carried the story on Friday.

I would understand carrying the story on Friday it if there was something to advance the story days after it was "out there" in the public records…. But really, they had the same story we carried on Monday.

I keep going back to the thought that the “fill” stories should be more than just "fill."

The attitude seems to be, even if they are old news stories, run them and “fill” the time.

All three stations do this, although I don’t think everyone will admit that’s what’s going on.

Stories that come from public documents (indictments, public notices, etc) are easy easy easy!

So why do they pop up in the news days after the document release date?

Why do these stories NOT get advanced?

I guess it’s good old fashioned laziness or immaturity.

This is not a “slam” on folks in the media…it’s a legitimate question.

Is the problem that journalists in this area are not trained properly… or ….is it stereotypical lazy ego-driven media people....or is it that everyone is bogged down in non-productive "busy" work at the office?

When I pose the question to people I trust, the answers usually follow a typical theme.

The reporters in this area are just starting out, do not make big pay checks, and are not expected to have block buster stories.

Here’s a huge hint to any reporter.

Get to be friends with photogs who have been in the market for years.

They usually know the players, and the stories, far better than the highest educated reporter who just graduated from xyz university.

I don’t care how well you know the top player in a news maker’s office; make friends with the secretary…

You know, the one who can either throw your message onto a pile or grab the boss for you?

I have been given more news leads from cleaning staff, security guards and other support staff than I have ever received from the top players.

Think about this.

The top players in a news maker’s office have an agenda.

The guy who makes minimum wage quite often doesn’t give a damn.

In my opinion, right or wrong, too many folks are either worried about going out without the suit and tie OR they are too lazy to do some fishing after office hours.

I see Jerry from the Examiner at all sorts of places after hours, and he breaks new stories.

How many anchors in this market will do like Rusty over at 4 or Dave at 12, and grab a camera once in a while?

Not many, if any at all.

News is a 24 hour business!

The folks I only see between 9 and 5 are the ones who rarely break new ground.