Occasionally, I like to share my correspondence with viewers (or in this case, a former viewer) regarding their questions or complaints about our newscasts, but first, I have some questions for you, the reader of this blog. Please take a moment to answer them.
You go to a restaurant you've never been to before. There are several entrees that catch your interest and you have questions. Which waiter would you prefer? The waiter who hasn't sampled a wide variety of the menu and can really talk about only a few dishes ... or the one who has tried much of the menu and can give you feedback on several possible choices, even those he personally may not like so much?
You are looking to buy a car and have several models in mind so you do some research online. Which web page is going to be more helpful to you? A webpage that has only tested minivans because they think everyone should drive minivans ... or one that has reviews on pretty much every car you might consider buying?
You need some information for your fantasy football team and are having a particularly difficult time picking a defense. Which expert analyst would be better to help you make the best choice? The one who has analyzed only a few defenses and rated those ... or the one that has surveyed a wide variety of NFL defenses including some you might not have considered?
Now let's move onto political news. Which of the following is going to allow you to make a truly informed opinion? The TV station that attempts to pander to your current political beliefs by presenting certain viewpoints over others ... or the TV station presents you with various viewpoints including some that might challenge your beliefs so you yourself can judge each on their merits?
As you are considering that question, let me share with you a letter I recently received and my response.
The author of the letter writes, "... we will no longer continue to watch Channel 6 News because of your continued bias to the left, and against the Right (capitalized by author). I guess you forget that you're in Boise, Idaho not Portland, Oregon."
To which I replied.
"Thank you for your note. I will tell you that it inspired me to write a blog about news and news bias and you can read my 'News Director's Blog' on our webpage, kivitv.com. Let me begin my response with this concept for you.
The covering of political issues by a TV news station and the weight given various viewpoints should be virtually the same whether it be broadcast in more conservative Boise or more liberal Portland.
Our goal should not be to pander to either the left or the right but present news and various viewpoints as equally and objectively as we can. I confess that is going to have the effect of making our news station appear a bit more liberal than the Boise populace as a whole ... Idaho is a very conservative state ... but our hope is that in hearing these various liberal and conservative and moderate viewpoints and Democrat, Republican and Independent viewpoints ... that our viewers can make truly "informed" decisions by considering a spectrum of ideas, not just those ideas that reinforce opinions they already have.
Yes, there are news outlets that choose a different path, the most notable being 'Fox News Channel.' They have a more conservative, more Republican agenda and I respect that, but we have chosen not to adopt an editorial slant locally. My feeling is Idahoans can make up their own minds without being pandered to by us. At the end of the day, I don't care if viewers agree or disagree with the various viewpoints presented in our newscasts. I do care if they walk away feeling the opinion they have is not an informed one."
As Today's 6/KIVI-TV's "political analyst" and a political conservative, I can tell you that KIVI's News Director and I do not always see "eye to eye" when it comes to our respective viewpoints on political issues and perspectives of the day. To that end, the viewer has a valid point in that KIVI's viewpoints certainly do not represent those of the "typical" Treasure Valley news viewer.
However, consider the following. In my admittedly non-news expert opinion, KIVI-TV is very good at presenting both sides of a particular political issue. And, I have never sensed bias (either way) in terms of expressed and unexpressed reporter sentiment, story presentation, or anything else. For these reasons alone (even if there were no others), I consider Today's 6 one of my favorite clients.
If the reader would like to discuss these thoughts with me in more detail, please feel free to contact me at gregsm@quickidaho.com. I look forward to your comments!
Greg
Gregory P. Smith
Greg Smith & Associates
208.921.9458
gregsm@quickidaho.com
Posted by: Greg Smith | September 21, 2008 at 04:54 PM