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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Not-So Superior News Coverage
John Kerry has conceded in the Presidental Election. George Bush has given his acceptance speech. And all the while, cable news channels like MSNBC are getting lazier and lazier.
LAist remembered when there used to be a time when the graphics and scrolling news at the bottom of the television screen used to be fresh, exciting and new. But lately, cable news channels have apparently hired chimpanzees who are really fast typists as their new Flash News and scrolling news producers.
Take the above shot. Mere seconds after Bush said, "John Kerry was very gracious in his call..." low and behold the above graphic appeared. After expressing that the country was entering a season of hope, the graphic read "We're entering a season of hope." C'mon, now! Just because the election is over is there any reason to start taking a break from real news reporting?
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We here at LAist would have taken the above two instances and really given our readers something to chew on. When Bush informed us in his acceptance speech that Kerry was very gracious in his call, our graphic might have read something like, "Kerry sounded jealous but feigned respect for the President on their highly-photographed call." When Bush expressed that the country was entering a season of hope, LAist may have printed, "Bush makes first mistake in second term -- refers to the current 'Winter Season' as 'Hope Season.' Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. Hope? No Hope."
All kidding aside, after the marathon of news coverage, LAist is starting to see the holes. Sure, people are fatigued, over-worked and need a break -- but if all they've got are lip-reading chimps at the helm, it may be time to switch back over to the Cartoon Network.
At least there, politics is a legitimate joke.
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Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
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