Channels Of Hate With Walter Cronkite Gone, Is The Modern Icon Of Television News Maury Povich?
On the April 9 Perspective page, former KREM-2 reporter Steve Becker explained why he left TV news. He said he could no longer remain detached while covering tragic events nor did he feel comfortable with news reports growing shorter and shallower. Becker is now working in marketing communications for People to People, an international exchange program based in Spokane.
We asked readers to respond to Becker’s piece. More than two dozen did. They praised Becker’s decision to leave and they trashed television news. For balance, we asked the managers of Spokane’s three news stations to respond as well.
Wendy McElroy of Veradale: TV journalism has gone down the sewer for lack of retaining any integrity. TV is no longer an avenue for reporting informative, interesting stories. Instead, it has become an invasion of everyone’s privacy and a tool to shout the findings. I avoid the news whenever possible. Well, Steve, I won’t shed any tears on your departure from television and sincerely hope you stay away from the newspaper business as well.
Connie Scarpelli of Spokane: I am disgusted with the way most dysfunctional behaviors and reprehensible people get the focus of lead stories night after night. No wonder people feel hopeless and cynical about our society! When station news managers push sensational stories, they become part of the violence in our society. I am quite cynical about TV reporters. To me the public service events that stations put on, such as clothing and food drives, are like gingerbread on the witch’s house — an attempt to make them look benign.
Frieda Roloff of Ritzville: I’ve missed Steve on TV and now know why he’s not there. In regard to the Fairchild tragedy, I appreciate his openness and honesty revealing his gut feelings! I appreciate a man who freely speaks of his tears and wants to reach out and hold a hand. Remembering the horrors of that day, I too had tears, but I’m a woman, a grandma to 18 grandchildren, and women can cry!
Paul Rechnitzer of Sagle, Idaho: I rarely miss morning and evening newscasts. We also subscribe to three daily papers. As a general rule there seems to be a preoccupation with items that are shocking or dramatic. The story about the mistaken amputation in Florida is a good example. We heard a surgeon made a mistake. But no one ever mentioned that both legs of the amputee were in bad shape. That doesn’t change the consequences, but the fact is the whole story is somewhat different than the headlines about it.
Lynn Koskela of Milton-Freewater, Ore.: It’s very hard to be a person and a journalist at the same time. I am a recent graduate of journalism school. I worked in the field only a month when I realized it didn’t feel right. I didn’t want to exploit people who are hurting. I didn’t want to focus on the negative aspects of life. Not everyone is meant to be a journalist as journalism is.
Jack Lantry of Pasco: Steve Becker has left a news world that is disintegrating into Maury Povich-style reporting — salacious, steamy, irreverent of all mores and decency. He has seen the light and it is an empty hole from which all present-day TV news spews forth a sad replication of the worst, the most profane, the least thoughtful, the most shallow content.
Thomas J. Lee of Spokane: Growing up here watching legendary TV news anchors Ron Bair, Dick Hoover and others, I, like Becker, wondered if I could do the job. In 1983, after several years in radio, I moved to television. I worked hard. We all did. We thought we were making the world a better place by keeping Spokane informed. Then came along a new news director. This man knew what Spokane wanted and we were doing everything wrong. To make this point, he fired the station’s senior reporter.
The subtle message was if the rest of us didn’t change, we’d be gone too. I left in 1988 and started a career in law enforcement. A few years ago, while working crowd control at an event, Steve Becker asked me how I was doing and wished me well. I found it ironic, because I’d worked at a competing news station and now gone over to “the other side.” But that was Steve, a reporter with compassion, one that Spokane will miss.
Joan Keeley of Pullman: I admire Steve’s honesty and courage in rediscovering his own values in life. I only wish the media will hear what he is saying.
Louise Ayers of Spokane: I have become increasingly dissilusioned with all types of media coverage, especially TV. I am totally appalled at the tabloid approach. I believe we infringe on privacy rights when we show close-ups of dead bodies, injured victims and grieving relatives.
I am critical of news people who are under such pressure to scoop a competitor that they broadcast news which is incomplete or innacurate. It turns the news into gossip. I would be ashamed to work in television on its present course.
Sam and Ruth Hammack of Cheney: We admire very much Mr. Becker’s decision to leave a very lucrative and powerful position on TV. We are sure this was not an easy decision for him to make at his age, but at least he is being truthful to himself. We wish him good luck in his future endeavors.
Alyce M. Taylor of Spokane: I think TV coverage of life events is usually good. But I have often wondered how reporters could hold their cool in some situations. I am a nurse and I guess they have to do what I did in emergencies: Stay cool, calm and collected and cry inside. Finally, as the years go by you decide you just have to retire from it all.
David L. Andrews of Inchelium: The article by Steve Becker is timely and right on track. It’s time for a cultural change in the news media. I challenge the Spokesman-Review to publish a “good news” item for every “bad news” item. You know - equal opportunity for good stuff. Perhaps it will help motivate more good events.
xxxx Though they agree with many of Becker’s assessments, local TV executives caution viewers not to tar their news reports with the same brush as ‘tabloid journalism’ Barry Barth, KREM president and general manager All of us at KREM-TV miss Steve Becker. Journalists and viewers will miss his dedication, collegiality, insights and objectivity. Steve and I had a number of conversations about our business and in particular about his personal struggle with the balance between compassion and objectivity. Steve was always an objective journalist, but after a number of years covering a wide range of stories, including those involving human tragedy. Steve was really affected. Steve covered a number of stories that made him proud of his accomplishments. The reports that keep you up at night, however, took the passion for reporting from Steve. A dedicated newsroom here at KREM will continue to cover all the stories that make up the news of the day, and Steve’s professionalism will be a model for what’s right. There are still many journalists who share Steve’s compassion but believe what they are doing is important and are able to continue to cover all the stories they are faced with. We are very proud that (Steve) took the time to evaluate his life, his role in journalism and ultimately made the decision that was best for him and his family. Lon Lee, KHQ president and general manager Steve Becker’s article is an insight into a caring individual caught in a profession that comes in contact with raw-nerve-ending situations. Like law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency room employees, reporters see the less appealing side of life and death. Empathy is one of several key ingredients in the makeup of a successful reporter. At KHQ, we do not discourage reporters from having emotions and sharing them with viewers. Much of the criticism directed at television news is actually criticism of talk shows and news magazine shows. Those programs do concentrate on dysfunctional individuals. Local news reports the news of the day. No matter what the news content on any particular day, viewers must not confuse “reporting” an event with “endorsing” an event. Don’t shoot the messenger. Steve Herling, KXLY vice president and general manager There are many, many concerns about the current state of news wrapped up in Steve Becker’s article. Some that we share with him include the blurred lines between traditional journalism, “feature/tabloid journalism,” TV talk shows and radio talks shows. Having sat through research sessions with focus groups of Spokane viewers, I’m convinced that most people either can or will see the dramatic, sensational and exploitive for what it is and seek media that combine interesting presentation with solid factual information. At KXLY, we’re fortunate to have a cable channel and interactive newstalk radio station to provide additional depth. Since Steve is now “off the sidelines” we invite him to share his personal views through talk radio (ours!).