WLOS: On soapboxes and sky operas

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Let’s throw a few roses (maybe one a bit wilted) to WLOSers. It’s been an engaging blog week.

Larry’s soapbox
New anchor Larry Blunt earns a fresh blossom for his intriguing, if meandering, “soapbox” piece during one of Thursday’s broadcasts.

Blunt, or one of his minions, grabbed some plywood, nails and a hammer and slapped together a nice little soapbox that he promptly toted into downtown Ashvegas and tossed down. Like a gauntlet. Daring passersby to take him up on the invitation to take the platform and profess.

Blunt had plenty of takers. He aired mostly interviews with the downtown freakniks, ones never shy to speak out. They talked about everything from hating George Bush to loving Ashvegas.

The news folks gave this quite un-newsy story time to breathe, which was unusual. But nice. It rambled. The people rambled. It was fine. It felt like Larry making a sincere effort to begin to know us – all of us.

Artistically, the report’s look also departed from the norm of one-two-three seconds – cut. It showed the building of the box, up close and personal. Crooked angles. People up close. People framed atop the soapbox from afar, proclaiming. A couple of times, it all came together such that it was close to poetic.

Back at the desk at the end of the report, Larry over-sold the whole idea. We know the right to free speech is what makes our democracy great, Lar. Don’t beat us over the head with it. But he hinted that the soapbox bit would become a regular feature. Sounds good.

We know it’s good because we get up on this little cyber soapbox called Ashvegas just about every day and spout. Sometimes nobody’s around. Sometimes, a few will stop and listen. We’re glad to have an outlet.

Larry, if you’re serious about listening, you ought to stop by here sometime. We’ll tell you what’s on our minds. You can tell us.

So, Larry, a rose – hell, we’re feeling expansive. A big dozen for you.

Big bombers

Also on Thursday, WLOS stepped out of the routine with a photo story about the B-17 bomber that’s been buzzing around West Ashvegas this week. We love that low rumble of such a powerful machine. It takes us back to WWII and we can’t help but wonder, again, at what those times were like.

While the photography and form were great, the actual story-telling was off. Was there a soldier’s story there, too? If so, we didn’t get it. Just looked like an old vet reliving his younger days as a bomber pilot, but we couldn’t tell what the significance was for him. Where did he serve? Who was he? From here? We just didn’t get it.

So, a shabby rose for a good try.