Shopping Segments in Newscasts: An Editorial

    

    Journalists have one of the toughest jobs out there. Reporters have to deal with random guys that shout swears in the mic, and Video-bombers. But one thing that's ruining Journalism more than those attention-hungry morons are "Steals & Deals" segments interrupting newscasts. 4 years ago, my local Fox affiliate, WFXT 25, started airing segments called "Local Steals & Deals" which consists of a bored-sounding host who over-exaggerates things about a product, raving about it, etc. These products are NOT local, the only steal is them stealing 5 precious minutes they could've used for news, and you can get the same products at Walmart for cheaper! (which makes sense, considering Cox Media Group, 25's owner, is owned by Apollo Global Management, who also owns Walmart.) It's like your newscast is being interrupted by QVC or HSN. 

    3 years later, the CBS-owned station in my area, WBZ, started airing a similar program for stations owned by CBS, called "CBS Deals". It's exactly the same as "L. S. & D.", with the same 4-note marimba chime playing before the product-hawking begins. and a similarly bored-sounding host. That is because both segments are produced by a New York-based company called Knocking. Local Steals & Deals used to be hosted by Lisa Robertson, former QVC host. In her first few segments, she sounded cheerful, but when 2020 came along, she sounded more bored, and kinda meh. 

    Also, the fact that the owned-and-operated stations of a major network like CBS need to have one of those deals segments is WAY beyond me. They're CBS, they don't need to cheapen their newscasts, they have a buttload of cash! They're owned by Paramount Global, for Pete's sake! The same Paramount that owns Nickelodeon, and therefore, SpongeBob! They could use that SpongeCash wisely, and not use a steals and deals segment and be greedy like Mr. Krabs. But then again, it's Paramount Global we're talking about, who used to be known as Viacom, one of the GREEDIEST companies on Earth.

    Also also, these steals and deals segments are redundant, since a lot of the syndicated talk shows that WBZ and WFXT air already have a steals and deals segment included as part of the time.

    My tip for WBZ and WFXT, Get rid of the steals and deals segments. Also to Cox Media Group, Trade WFXT back to Fox for KTBC in Austin, since the Standard General/Tegna deal died.

That was my editorial for tonight. The views and opinions expressed therein were my opinions only, and may not necessarily reflect the views of my readers, and that's alright. I respect your views and opinions.

Thanks for reading :)