The changing face of consumer reporting
Specialty beat reporting in this market is largely non-existant. There used to be reporters dedicately solely to specific beats, like crime, education, or health. They've all since been switched to general assignment or VNR patrol. But one beat has stuck around in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton market, and it's growing in popularity: the consumer beat.
Both WBRE and WNEP have their own consumer reporters, who handle their beats differently. On WNEP's "Action 16" segments, you have Sherman Burdette. If you've ever wondered whether a certain product lives up to its claims, Burdette is the one you go to. 
He also gives out general consumer news, like recalls and scams. Over at WBRE, Elliot Weiler's "On Your Side" segments show him going after local crooked businesses. So, when Joe's Fly-by-Nite rips you off, Weiler might grab a photographer and knock on their door.
Which station has the better consumer segments? That's your call. Burdette's trademark is his "Does it work?" product tryouts, which can save you from plunking down money on a crappy product. Weiler, on the other hand, sticks to resolving consumer complaints and shoving cameras in a scammer's face, which can save you from plunking down money on a crappy company.
Whatever you watch, it's clear that consumer reporting will not be going anywhere in this market, even as Weiler prepares to jump to a higher market. If the GMs at WBRE and WNEP are smart, they'll do what they can to keep the segments alive, and keep the accompanying eyeballs from the Nielsen families.
Both WBRE and WNEP have their own consumer reporters, who handle their beats differently. On WNEP's "Action 16" segments, you have Sherman Burdette. If you've ever wondered whether a certain product lives up to its claims, Burdette is the one you go to. He also gives out general consumer news, like recalls and scams. Over at WBRE, Elliot Weiler's "On Your Side" segments show him going after local crooked businesses. So, when Joe's Fly-by-Nite rips you off, Weiler might grab a photographer and knock on their door.Which station has the better consumer segments? That's your call. Burdette's trademark is his "Does it work?" product tryouts, which can save you from plunking down money on a crappy product. Weiler, on the other hand, sticks to resolving consumer complaints and shoving cameras in a scammer's face, which can save you from plunking down money on a crappy company.
Whatever you watch, it's clear that consumer reporting will not be going anywhere in this market, even as Weiler prepares to jump to a higher market. If the GMs at WBRE and WNEP are smart, they'll do what they can to keep the segments alive, and keep the accompanying eyeballs from the Nielsen families.
posted by Howard Beale at 9:15 PM
13 Comments:
BURDETTE IS A JOKE. HE APPARENTLY IS NOT ONLY A CONSUMER REPORTER (OR SO HE CALLS HIMSELF) AT WNEP...BUT HE AND A TEAM OF OTHERS ARE ALSO PONTIFICATORS AS WELL. I LOVE THAT PROMO 'NEP DOES WITH A GROUP OF REPORTERS (MOSTLY NON-NATIVES TO MARKET) TELLING ALL OF US HICKS IN NEPA THAT WE HAVE TO BE MORE DIVERSE..AND ACCEPTING. YOU GUYS MEAN THIS AREA?, THIS AREA THAT PROVIDED YOU ALL WITH JOBS? STICK TO BEING REPORTERS, WHATEVER BEAT YOU HAVE. AND KEEP COMING UP WITH THOSE CHEESEBALL STORIES...YOU IMPRESS US ALL.
It's-s-s...OUTA HERE! THAT'S A HOMERUN!!!
You hit that nail right on the head.
It's not bad when WNEP promotes diversity. It's bad when WNEP uses reporters and anchors to promote issues and causes. Reporters and anchors should be neutral. Guess it's too much to ask of a station with a news director who has no problem running VNR information and video.
To the 10:17 am poster...
please don't be so defensive I don't think you are interpreting that promo correctly. No one is calling anyone hicks- that's your words. But truth be told there is little diversity in the area and people here seem unaccepting to outsiders. And, as far as your point that this area offers outsiders with jobs has nothing to do with diversity. Economy verses diversity. Your response is exactly the kind of mindset that people here need to rid themselves of -no offense meant. And, saying Burdette is a joke is just plain mean-spirited. If you could do better why don't you try it? It's easy to judge, hard to do.
Hey 12:25 poster:
Who the hell are WNEP reporters (most non-natives to market) or any reporters to tell the general public it needs to be more accepting and diverse?!?!?! (Isn't that the job of community leaders, priests or ministers?) Non-acceptance happens everywhere..it is not just unique to northeast PA. I have a problem with "journalists" using their medium to tell folks how they should act and live their lives morally. Those reporters should ask themselves how "accepting" they are of people in this area? And yeah, they should give NEPA a little more credence...because they found an on-air job here..maybe this was their "big break". This is just another example of the "high and mighty" WNEP attitude..
12:25 poster...
"It's easy to judge, hard to do." So is brain surgery but if it's my brain that's getting operated on I think I'm entitled to judge. I don't care how hard it is to be a doofus on TV, if you are one and I'm the viewer/consumer, all I AM is a judge. I happen to agree, Burdette is like a clown. He looks odd, he behaves oddly, and I never get much from his segment. Chewing gum test? Soda test? I think I can manage both those on my own, who needs Bozo the Clown to do it for me?
Not that it matters much, but what's stuck in mind over the years is that a consumer unit probably alienates more people than it converts. For every story you do about "Eddie from Olyphant who got screwed on that muffler deal..." you've got "Helen from Dupont with the leaky pool..." who was ignored in her plea for help.
I can name three people(acquaintances)right off the top of my head who were offended(by both WBRE and WNEP)on seperate occasions because they got nowhere when they came knocking with a gripe.
The best candidate for this kind of position is Bob Reynolds, who tried to get the assignment several years ago. 16's shift in philosophy (let's put people on air who can generate talkback material) has their two best reporters, Bob and Andy, doing lesser roles.
And why do some people get nowhere when they come knocking? Because the "help" is of a pick-and-choose nature based on how easy and cheap it will be to fix the problem. It's kind of like writing to Dear Abby. I always wondered why people would write in for advice that an IQ of 75 or better could take care of on it's own. Same deal with "Eddie from Olyphant with the muffler". Lots of times it seems like the Eddie involved didn't have the commonsense to make the correct phone call or state the argument in any meaningful way.
As someone who works in this market there are TONS of stories that can be done by a "real" consumer reporter. ie: reports that might take more than a day to set up and shoot.
The truth be known, Sherman did not want the consumer job---but had little choice.
As far as what he does---that was managements choice--not Sherman's
Somewhere by the mid to late '90s, consumer reporting came to be considered passe in this business. Hate to be uninformed, but when in hell did it make a comeback? Consumer units were largely considered almost '80s(if not '70s) TV and not part of the "new vision" of local news. I'm really guessing here, but I think WNEP brought Burdette into the consumer thing in response to Weiler's high-viz at WBRE.
Keep in mind that Weiler, who is really a great guy and does a fine job, was a Zobel creation. And Zobel was the man who destroyed WBRE. So, improbable as it sounds, WNEP took a no longer viable idea from a no longer viable station, and made it their own. The insanity in local television defies logic time and time again.
If Sherman Burdette didn't want the consumer assignment, what did he want? Does he think he's another Joe Snedeker? No doubt Sherman has a great personality and I suspect is very popular out in public. It's pretty clear what Sherman does best is entertain, not report. I've heard a manager tried to help his reporting shortly after he got the job and Sherman wasn't interested. Apparently that was okay with the news director.
To the 6:55pm poster...WNEP wasn't countering anything Al Zobel did over at WBRE. WNEP has had many consumer reporters under the
"Action 16" name since the 1970's. Bill O'Reilly and Bob Absher were early Action 16 reporters. Lisa Champeau and Stephanie Thornton had the title just before Sherman Burdette.
Post a Comment
<< Home