Grumpy Editor

GOP convention TV coverage stressed gab, not speakers

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.

Irksome, 'official' GOP pitch contains 41 questions

Just what busy people need these days as tax deadline time approaches:  a mailed four-page, single-spaced pitch accompanied by an oversized sheet with 41 questions --- from the Republican National Committee, finds Grumpy Editor.

Some folks are getting the “You have been selected” wordy missive a second time in two months followed by an e-mail with like material.

The four-page personalized pitch in an envelope marked "DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT" is over the signature of Reince Priebus, chairman, Republican National Committee, who reminds recipients with a “this just-in” thought: “Winning the 2016 presidential election is going to take a massive grassroots effort all across America.”

Received 11 days after the date on the Priebus message indicates the speed of things coming out of Washington.

Made to appear official, the sheet with the two-score questions is topped by a “document tracking code,” composed of a series of letters and numbers.

What question is No. 4 on the lengthy list?  Do you plan on voting for Hillary Clinton or the Republican nominee?

An amusing --- actually laughable --- line is in the donation section where the busy, perhaps exhausted responder, after spending considerable time providing “meaty” answers, is asked to check off a box to signify,  “I do hereby certify that the answers to the enclosed 2016 Congressional Census document are my own,” and to provide a signature.

No indication, however, if a notary is required. 

Responders are asked to send back the detailed information --- with a donation.

And put a stamp on the return envelope.

 

IN CASE YOUR FAVORITE NEWS OUTLETS MISSED THESE…

Both Fox News on radio and Fox News Channel aired a report over the weekend on a small plane crashing onto a freeway “in Southern California” but not pinpointing exactly where. But CBS News gave the location: Fallbrook, adding a woman in the car was killed. Three others in the vehicle were injured along with the pilot and his passenger…When Digital First Media completed its purchase of Freedom Communications, parent company of the Orange County Register and the Riverside Press-Enterprise, the Register’s editor along with more than 70 staffers from editorial, circulation, advertising and marketing departments were given pink slips…Politico CEO Jim VandeHei said, "Any reporter who's dealt with this White house will say it's as frustrating, if not more frustrating, than dealing with past presidents”…Observed Howard Kurtz, who hosts Media Buzz on Fox News Channel:   “We are now at the point in this political season where everyone is hating on everyone else. Think about it: What was the last time you saw a piece or watched a segment in which a candidate was portrayed positively?”…The Library of Congress, switched the terms “illegal alien” or “illegal immigrant” to “non-citizens” and “unauthorized immigrants”…No April Fool’s joke, because CNN ran with this on April 2: It reported Nature, the scientific journal, said melting ice in Antarctica has the potential to contribute to a rise in sea levels of more than three feet by the end of this century and with ice also melting in other parts of the world, seas could rise five or six feet in the same period…The U.S. Navy now allows bigger tattoos and in a wider range of locations on the body, an acknowledgement of a changing culture and youthful population, said officials. Meanwhile, three Sikhs who recently enlisted in the U.S. Army, filed a lawsuit demanding the military allow them to wear beards and turbans in uniform as their faith requires…How many times have you heard this almost on monthly basis? Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen says the Fed will move forward very slowly as it looks to hike interest rates…Chipotle Mexican Grill filed an application to trademark the term "Better Burger,” a forerunner in a potential move into the hamburger business…Slumping demand for diet sodas sold by PepsiCo and Coca Cola triggered a decline for the broader industry, as overall sales of carbonated soft drinks in the U.S. drop for the 11th consecutive year.

 

In the stop-the-presses department:

A headline over an Associated Press story read, LEONARDO DICAPRIO MIGHT BE BANNED FROM INDONESIA.

Why?

His criticisms that palm oil plantations are destroying the country’s rain forests.

GOP convention PR problem: $150 for media work space

 

Local and national print/broadcast outlets, always seeking to reduce expenses at a time of growing cutbacks, will face unexpected expenditures on scene at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland:  charges for work space, warns Grumpy Editor.

That comes close to being like a “resort fee” added to lodging bills and springing up at hotels in Hawaii, Florida, Reno, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Phoenix and elsewhere.

News folks will be nicked $150 for one of 350 spaces that includes a writing surface and an electrical outlet to charge electronic devices, including laptops at Quicken Loans Arena next July 18 to 21.

Such work spaces have been supplied at no cost at past conventions.

Could this be an early sign that inflation no longer is “tame” (a favorite word with media in describing lack of rising prices) --- or is it just greed?

But, hey, look at this deal:  credentialed media can get into the arena and watch convention action from one of 200 seats (without writing surface or electrical outlet) set aside for them --- at no charge.

Some reporters already are warning that sight lines to speakers on stage from those “free” seats typically are inferior.

Will press charges next extend to desk space at baseball/football games and racetracks?

Stay tuned.

 

In case your favorite news outlets missed these…

 

PRESIDENT FLIES WEST TO MEET FAMILIES IN SORROW, THEN GOES TO FUNDRAISERS

Not widely reported: within hours after meeting with families of college shooting victims in Roseburg, Ore. on Friday, President Barack Obama participates to two fundraisers in Seattle and another in San Francisco --- then on Saturday goes to another fundraiser in the Los Angeles area.

 

NO MORE PORK CHOPS IN FEDERAL PRISONS

U.S. pork producers --- from bacon to ham --- are grumbling because the federal Bureau of Prisons has banished pork products from all federal prison menus, affecting 206,000 inmates.  The Council on American-Islamic relations says it welcomes the move.

 

OLD RELIABLE REASONS TO HIKE SALES TAX

California Gov. Jerry Brown signs a bill that will allow Los Angeles County transportation officials to seek a sales tax increase next year to raise funds for roads, freeways and mass transit. 

 

GANNETT ADDS MAJOR NEWSPAPERS TO ITS FAMILY

Gannett Co. Inc, largest U.S. newspaper publisher by revenue, inks a deal to purchase Journal Media Group for $280 million.  Among newspapers in the group:  Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Memphis (Tenn.) Commercial-Appeal and Knoxville (Tenn.) News Sentinel.

 

COVERING CITY COMMISSIONER BECOMES RISKY

Police book Dothan, Ala. city commissioner Amos Newsome after he smacked WTVY (News 4) reporter Ken Curtis in the head.  Curtis was asking Newsome if he had plans to resign following a voter fraud scandal.

 

TAXPAYERS FUND PLAY ON OPENLY GAY PRESIDENT

Online newspaper Washington Free Beacon reveals the National Endowment for the Arts gives $60,000 for the production of a play about the first openly gay U.S. president who faces “an imminent civil war, the threat of an African invasion, an adulterous First Gentleman and zombies in the basement of the White House.” NEA is an independent agency of the federal government that offers support and funding for artistic projects.

 

WHAT A GREAT IDEA FOR NEWSROOM

The New York Times says it is shifting responsibility for the paper’s print edition away from various desks and moving the action to “a centralized group of editors,” part of a news hub.

 

A FACTOR IN WHY ENGLISH PRINT READERSHIP IS FALLING

A record 63.2 million U.S. residents, including native-born, legal and illegal immigrants, speak a language other than English at home, according to an analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies, a non-profit research organization. That’s a jump of 16.2 million since 2000 and 1.4 million since 2013.

 

MICKEY MOUSE GETS BAD RAP IN TEXAS

Editors at Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas are blushing after publishing a story, stemming from a police training exercise, that Mickey Mouse had been arrested on a burglary charge by the local police department.