What was touted as “complete GOP convention coverage” turned out to be mostly talkathons on TV news outlets, observed Grumpy Editor.
Some of the most interesting speakers in the Cleveland gathering were snubbed while TV hosts --- on both cable and over-the-air outlets --- chatted with each other as podium action was relegated to a split screen.
Networks’ convention booths saw up to nine people around a table offering comments as on-stage speakers were muted.
At times, only one of the three main TV cable channels aired speakers live. CNN had an edge, presenting more live speakers than its talkative competitors.
NBC, ABC and CBS also did much yakking among themselves.
For example, a stirring presentation by Laura Ingraham, radio talk show host, and often seen on Fox News where she also has filled in for Bill O’Reilly, was snubbed by all commercial TV outlets. And that, strangely, also included Fox.
A surprise headline later on CNN’s web site: Laura Ingraham rocks the GOP convention.
With live action on stage, some outlets ran film clips, did interviews on the floor and elsewhere, ran talkers comments from other channels --- while overlooking speakers that viewers sought.
Another interesting speaker, seen only on CNN, was Kimberlin Brown, an actress and owner of several small operations ranging from a design business to avocado farming. As she cited overregulation “is killing small businesses,” other channels’ personalities were busy chatting, agreeing or disagreeing on political matters and GOP developments.
Brown declared Donald Trump is “the only man to get businesses and the country back on track.”
It’ll be interesting to see if the same treatment is carried out today when the Democrats start their convention in Philadelphia.
IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE...
Happy hours temporarily extended in Philadelphia. Philadelphia bars and eateries hosting the Democratic National Convention this week will be allowed to serve alcohol beyond the usual 2 a.m. cutoff.
Earlier food safety woes were still affecting Chipotle Mexican Grill as same-store sales missed expectations in the second quarter.
A female Middle East correspondent for The Wall Street Journal said she was detained for over an hour at Los Angeles International Airport as authorities also sought her two cellphones. Gerald Baker, Journal editor-in-chief, said he was “disturbed” by the action.
Citing lagging demand for some products, General Mills will be cutting 1,400 jobs, part of a year-long effort to slice expenses.
Who was on lookout? Britain’s HMS Ambush, the Royal Navy’s most advanced nuclear submarine, smacked into a commercial ship off Gibraltar.
Another example of deteriorating U.S. military equipment --- on a larger scale. The USS Gerald R. Ford, a $12.9 billion aircraft carrier, has some reliability issues with onboard systems, delaying delivery that was originally set for September, 2014.
So how are airlines doing? There’s some confusion. A story on Friday cited terrorism fears, plunging airfares and currency swings affecting results. Another story the next day reported planes are full, jet fuel remains much cheaper than a year ago and the U.S.’s four biggest carriers collectively reported a $3.9 billion second quarter profit.
An estimated 32.2 million people watched Donald Trump deliver his GOP nomination acceptance speech Thursday night, topping the 30.3 million who viewed Mitt Romney’s 2012 address, tallied the Nielsen Co.
Associated Press reported the Pentagon revised its Law of War guidelines to remove wording that could permit U.S. military commanders to treat war correspondents as “unprivileged belligerents” if they think the journalists are sympathizing or cooperating with enemy forces.
Dallas-headquartered Comerica Inc., a financial services company, said it will lay off about 800 Michigan workers as it closes 40 branches in that state, following a 23 percent profit decline in its last quarter.
Taylor Terrell, morning news anchor at 41NBC News in Macon, Ga., died Thursday after she fell from the peak of a waterfall in North Carolina.
It happened in the evening before her 25th birthday.
