Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Cranking up the winter fear factor
Well, we thought we’d be hanging onto this post for a few more weeks, but it seems that the time is now for WLOS to start sounding the school/snow siren.
For years, WLOSers have been stoking the worst winter fears of Western North Carolinians by alarmist reporting on winter storms. Today, we got the first taste of what’s to come.
Mitchell County schools delayed the start of the educational day today because, well, because it was cold. And windy. So Susan Mundy wrapped her head in a scarf for extra-chilly effect and interviewed clueless kids and toothless moms. The kids said they liked the late start, and the toothless mom said it was a good idea ’cause she didn’t want anything bad happening to her babies.
WLOSers jump all over the winter weather for two very simple reasons: first, it’s the easiest story to do – stick a video camera out the window and you’ve got instant video; and second, it’s a ratings winner – hapless residents sit glued to their televisions for any crumb about where the latest snowflake fell or where there might be some black ice they’ve got to watch out for.
There will be much, much more on this subject, my pretties. Much, much more.
One-word forecast
Jay Seltzer enjoyed having Victoria Dunkelhead back on set today so that he could get back in the groove with his weather soothsaying. You could tell he was damn happy not to have to share any more awkward silences with Bob Cobweb. And boy, was Jay feeling it.
“I’ve got just one word for the forecast this afternoon,” Jay spouted dramatically, pointing an index finger high in the air. “Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.”
WHAT? WHAT. THE. EFF?!&!@?
Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Help me. Help me help Jay. Help me help him understand that “Brrrrrrrr” is not an effing word. Help me help him understand that his melodramatic, stiff, robotic armed presentation is the worst ever TV weatherman’s soothsaying acting job the civilized world has ever seen. Help me. Help me.
Halloween comes to the Wickersham household
Here’s what Scottie2Hottie and Candy plan to wear out this year…
Just wondering
Faithful reader Dagdog offers this from this morning’s newscast:
I hope you caught (or maybe not) the “lead” story on this morning’s news … in the dark … with Susan Mundy. Why is she always standing outside some building in the dark? why not go inside and talk to a person and give them some recognition as well as a decent picture of their building?
Anyway, the story covered an award that some branch of the educational hierarchy in N.C. bestowed on Buncome County Schools – for something like “wise and healthy use of institutional pesticides.” They were lauded for not spraying pesticides on food or drinking fountains(sic), and for asking teachers to “log” sightings of “pests.” (Ash wonders – does this mean little Johnny in the fourth-grade class?) The representative from the local school district was ready to get on the road to Raleigh to accept the award after his interview.
Why such a stupid award and a stupid trip, when teachers in this county are underpaid and do not have the tools they need to teach their students?
Just wondering….
PS: I’m not a teacher, and I do not have a student in the public schools…
By the way, in case the definition of “dog lick liveshot” is not immediately clear:
http://scrippsjschool.org/producermore.php?story_id=339
Dagdog asked: “Why is she always standing outside some building in the dark? why not go inside and talk to a person and give them some recognition as well as a decent picture of their building?”
Because the news director wants her outside, where you can tell she’s “live” (or “LIVE,” as Sheraldo would put it). If she was inside, all those viewers tuned in breathlessly waiting to see where Susan will be “live” this morning might think she had recorded her inside interview the afternoon before. And we all know how much the general viewing public cares about whether it’s a dog lick liveshot or just on tape (not a danged bit, is how much — but it -does- matter to Sloebig, which is what matters, as far as newsies who want to keep their jobs).
Got it, babe. Cute.
I’m not seeing the Wickersham photo, Ash.
Patience, EM. Patience.
I’m not seeing the Wickersham photo, Ash.