By now, most have seen the bizarre video of L.A. CBS-affiliate reporter Serene Branson's Grammy report outside of the Staples Center over the weekend (fun remix here).
Apparently, "health-related problems" caused the gibberish. So it's very possible that a minor stroke was to blame. I laughed the first couple of times watching this, but then I realized that this was probably a serious problem for the reporter. I think this is a very similar situation to most that see the video: laugh at first, then feel bad for laughing. But the Today Show took it to a whole other level with their report on the subject.
Matt Lauer & Co. took five whole minutes out of their programming block to craft a report on Branson's report. Folks, we've gone meta.
Personally, I find it really odd that a national news show would take this much time, put in that much effort, and exude such a serious tone over a viral web video. They had a couple of neurologists give their two cents on the matter, along with a fancy CGI-animation of how the brain is affected by what they think affected Branson.
My favorite part? The new broadcast news staple of showing YouTube comments on-air, with a shot of the computer screen and someone tapping away on the keyboard. Seriously, can't we think of a new way to show a YouTube comment on television?
No one should spend this much time on something of such little importance. And it's also bad reporting-- until Branson goes to the doctor to have anything confirmed, the Today Show is just spouting hearsay and possibilities of what it could be.
But most broadcast news is like this. Call me an idealist, but I would love to see better journalism when I turn on my television.
No one can just "mess up" and that be it. There has to be an excuse or a condition.
ReplyDeleteJustin-- RE: the broadcast news convention of showing a YouTube screenshot followed by a shot of someone typing on a keyboard,it sure beats what they used to do: showing the computer screen for a whole minute as someone read aloud the text being shown on the flickering screen. When Ken Starr released his report on the Clinton-Lewinsky affair online, we were treated to hour upon hour of reporters reading the thing off the screen while a camera peered over their shoulders. It was a real low point and made for incredibly dull TV.
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