Would You like News with that?
Published 1 year, 10 months ago in Making News.Do you remember when a news-readers job was simply to read the news? When they were mere vessels through which the daily local and world events were brought to our tables?
How did it happen that the old fashioned news-reader became more important than the news they read?
Our news-readers are now served up as the main course with the news itself relegated to “side dish”.
Networks, greedy for ratings, hustle and bustle us like restauranteurs on a friday night, enticing us to their tables.
Channel Ten is a rowdy Diner. Channel Nine, a Sportsmans club. Channel Seven a trendy cafe, while SBS is a cosmopolitan eatery with the connoisseur in mind.
And what delectable dishes are on offer? How will my news-reader be served tonight?
Brains, Saute`d and Sully’d with a side serving of Saucy Celebrity .
or maybe
Dim Sim Kim Watkins. Deep Fried with Battered Babies.
Perhaps
Filet Mignon Henny, cooked to your liking.
Or TODAY’S special
A Boneless Breast of Jessica Rowe, lightly fired.
For dessert
Robson Crumble with Creme Faux Pas, followed by Coffee and Weather Girl Wafers.
Yet no matter how many restaurants I wander into, no matter how many different ways my presenters are presented, I can’t help wishing for some good old fashioned, home-cooked news, just the way Grandma used to make it!
12 Responses to “Would You like News with that?”
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I classify news readers as someone for example, Jennifer Keyte or Peter Hitchener, the others, that you have mentioned are not news readers, they are hosts of a programme, such as a current affairs programme or a morning show. Jessica Rowe (currently on maternity leave) was/is not a news reader, she was/is one of the hosts, they have Georgie Gardner to read the news. Kochie and Mel host the Sunrise programme, they are not news readers.
Networks have taken news readers and turned them into something else. Quiz show hosts, reality shows, variety show comperes, dance show contestants.
All the above mentioned people have spent significant time behind the news desk, some of them still do.
My point is that with the celebrification of news readers, the news is pushed to one side and it’s importance diminished.
Oh Reddwarf, you could take things less literally. The restaurant theme was just a metaphor!
I haven’t really eaten a news reader!
Some good old fashioned home-cooked news would be nice, as opposed to the left overs that come down from Sydney. No touting of other dishes on their station (isn’t news just program advertising). I’ll stick to Channel 2, least I find it palatable.
Indi,
I certainly understand that your ‘restaurant theme’ was a metaphor!!!! I would hardly think that you would have eaten a news reader, unless of course we had no food on RED DWARF and that was all that was available, (an idea for the next series)
How can I take things less literally, I am on the spaceship RED DWARF after all!
Not only are news readers turned into something else, such as quiz show hosts, etc. but they are also turned into politicians. Musicians turn into politicians etc. etc.
P.S. I think you were really hoping for some compliments on your restaurant theme.
Reddwarf, if you will indulge me with a few minutes, I’ll tell you exactly why I contribute to nook in the way that I do.
I am very well educated. I have spent 6 years at university, as well as gaining other qualifications at various institutions. However, at the moment I am a full time mother of a one year old and a two year old and I am sure you can appreciate, that by the end of the day, my brain feels somewhat stagnant.
Nook provides the opportunity to speak to adults and engage in lively debate about many topics. Something which I deeply miss.
Having said that, I do find that many of the general questions and posts, such as “what’s your favourite colour?” or the ever popular “are we all just in this for the iPod?” a little unfulfilling.
I use my nook as a way of taking my brain for a jog at the end of the day. I try to look at the world in a different way and present it in the most articulate way I can. That is my motivation. If others find it amusing, or thought provoking that is fantastic and being human, sure, I love it if my intelligence is complimented, as, I am 100% certain, do you.
If I have offended you in some way in another post I sincerely regret it and hope that you are able to let it go. I would love any positive input from you in the future, however if you are reading my posts to correct my work or find flaws in my character, I would prefer you keep it to yourself.
golden1,
I don’t remember you offending me in any way during Nook’s life so far. I don’t know you, so wouldn’t be able to find any flaws in your character.
As far as everything else you have indulged me with in your post, I agree.
Perhaps one of my ways in motivating myself and others, is to get them to spell correctly, although I understand that these types of forums don’t lend themselves to this. As you have stated, others find questions such as ‘what is your favourite colour’ or post closed questions that do not warrant any further discussion, which is their contribution - to what, I don’t know. This is my sense of humour and sorry if I offended you at some time when correcting your spelling - it happens.
I also appreciate that you are well educated and are currently at home looking after two young children. My life is somewhat opposite to yours, I have had the children and have gone back to Univeristy to study - a career change. The fact that much of my study and writing needs to be of high standard both with spelling and grammar (as I am sure you can appreciate), this most likely reflects itself on what I write here on Nook.
I am not here to tell people what to post and how they contribute.
Great! Then I think we understand each other. I look forward to lots of judgement free
(from both sides) interaction with you.
PS
I hope you are having a blast at Uni - I was a mature aged student too and I think we get a lot more out of it than some of the school leavers.
golden1,
I agree with you about UNI, it is fantastic and I love it! I think it takes time for some to really know what they wish to do in life, and for me I did leave it a little later than most, although I am not that old really.
news well brian told me
Most of the news “presenters” are leftovers fit to be thrown in the garbage dispenser. With their drama, fake news and shameless advertising of other programs on their respective channels they’re presenting gossip and infomercials not news. What is news nowadays? Whether or not Britney Spears’ shaved head looks good? Is Schapelle Corby really the love child of Elvis and Marilyn Monroe?
Tune in tomorrow for more gossip.
My favorite thing is when one news reader interviews another news reader!
When all is said and done, there is still the issue of an unhealthy preoccupation with free to air TV News readers to deal with. But yeah, from what I have seen of the different news programs they do have a theme and perhaps the ABC news does have its fans too.