Blunt’s here
With no formal welcome or hello, WLOSers tossed new main anchor Larry Blunt into the studio parking lot and told him to read some news about the local gas shortage. Welcome, Larry.
Blunt did a decent job, though he went overboard on pimping the WLOS web site – repeating it slowly over and over – as the place to go to find out what gas stations still have fuel in Buncombe County. Let me save you several clicks by giving you the direct link here.
Gay pride and prejudice
Russ “Beefcake” Bowen showed how to handle a delicate story with a little dignity, and some decent reporting, at 11 Thursday night. Just like the gas price story, Bowen’s report about an upcoming protest (this is always dangerous territory, reporting on a protest that hasn’t happened yet) could have devolved into a sensational mess. Instead, Bowen reported out the story and handled it with care.
The story involves a meeting this weekend in Haywood County of some Methodists who embrace gays. This group is going to be protested by other religious groups, and some reports say the Ku Klux Klan will be in the middle of it, too.
Bowen noted that, then moved on to talk with both a minister, who claims homosexuality is a sin, and a gay woman, who explains that it’s wrong to protest people for just being who they are.
It was a delicate handling of story that could have easily run off the rails. A rose to Russ. And let’s hope the protest never materializes.
Yesterday’s daily
We just had to note this stupidity: on Wednesday’s report, either 5 or 5:30, the local teevee news had a segment on some guy in Canton or Candler who said he had a solution to the broken levee in New Orleans.
He had it all drawn out in crayon on a big piece of paper that he showed the cameraman. That was the report. In all seriousness, WLOS reported that the man had submitted his work to the White House and federal emergency management officials. “No word from the White House.”
Give me a fucking break, people.
3 Comments
I remember when “pretty boy” Mike Bettes came to Asheville, his first on-air role was reporting something that was not weather related. I’m sure there will be a more formal intro for Larry either today, or they may wait till Monday.
he might could help contribute but it won’t happen..this reporting bit is only very temporary..just a few days to welcome him in and show the public he can report..then its off to sit beside darcel and never report again….
wlos isn’t like wyff, who pulls cogdill off the desk for breaking news when necessary….wlos has never had a main anchor to hit the streets no matter what…
Blunt was at the Taj Garage reporting the story, not the parking lot. He is a true reporter at heart and will help the station!