Why I Hate Local News

"First, live, local" "News that's to the point"

These are some of the slogans of local news that I can think off the top of my head. And let me tell you why being first or the best at local news is being the best piece of turd.

I don't watch local news very often. I have a DVR and record most of my shows so often the local news being advertised happened yesterday (or last week, depending on how busy I have been). But occasionally I do. Last night for example. So I am watching as I get ready for bed.

So what happened yesterday? Well the riots in France were still going on and they have instituted curfews. Elections all over the country with nation-wide significance. Locally, our Mayor is floating a tri-county tax idea to pay for schools.

So what did the local news that I watched last night show before any of those issues? Apparently a fraternity at OSU has very scary mold in their showers.

Are you kidding me?

The day of the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip I watched a story about the Ferret Olympics about 10 minutes into the broadcast. Clearly much more important.

So here are my suggestions for how to fix local news.

Thoughtful, indepth analysis of local issues. Like longer than 2 minutes.
The "crime" section should be limited and labeled. No interviews with neighbors.
More than 30 seconds on news outside our area. Actually, just as much time on national and international news as on local crime.
The weather for tommorrow should be first in the weather section. Then you can show the graphs and dopplars and pictures.
Sports is fine.
Any cutesy story about puppies and ferrets can be put at the end. Only the end.

Now news in general is losing veiwership and so perhaps other people don't like my suggestions. But I will never come back to watching local news if I continue to be condescended to by the medium.