No news is no news

[sinklair]

At a time when Sinclair continues to cut back on newscasts, you’d think the brain trust at Mid-Michigan News Not NOW would use the limited local air time to focus on local news. Instead of reporting on actual news, they instead choose to have their anchors do features like the Golden Apple Awards and Exploring Michigan features on Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland. While WNEM is doing investigations into dropped sexual assault cases in Genesee County. ABC 12 is doing town halls on the epidemic of gun violence. WEYI-WSMH is doing a Christmas Special with Bill Harris… even though the station doesn’t have enough people to cover local news these days. I thought bringing in a former news guy into the GM role would have allowed the news department to focus on — I don’t know, news perhaps. But it just shows that Kevin Doesntknownewsaway and the never seen Kalamazoo News Director are in over their heads and don’t bring any vision on how to make NBC 25, Fox 66, and CW 46 relevant. It also shows how sponsored segments running as “news” are more important than actually covering what’s happening in mid-Michigan communities. I feel sorry for Stella and Mike Woolfolk and my other colleagues on Pierson Road who have to put on smiles even though they are better journalists than this. Sinclair should be ashamed. Kevin and Karin should be ashamed. This station continues to be a joke.

[MasterB]

Those town halls on gun violence isn't going to end the problem. 25-66 are dog station in Flint has been the case before Sinclair bought the TV station.

[sinklair]

At least Barrington and other previous owners attempted to put on newscasts… unlike Sinclair which is showing a poorly produced national “newscast” with no local news.

[Willie108]

25 has been the #4 horse in a 3 horse race for over 50 years.

[sinklair]

Willie, what does that have to do with the topic at hand?

If WEYI had only one newscast, are you saying that it’s acceptable to use its limited time for these poorly produced non-news sponsored segments? That’s maybe way 25-66 remains entrenched in last place.

Or instead, maybe the GM and News Director should support an alternative News model — akin to how Bridge Michigan constantly breaks news before the Free Press and Detroit News does.

[Willie108]

What I meant was 25 has always been an also-ran behind 12 & 25 for 50 years.

[HD74]

Bridge Michigan? Interesting...do tell..

[sinklair]

Willie, you’re absolutely correct that it’s been the dog in the market. It’s also been strapped with bad managers and even worse ownership. 25-66 actually had some decent anchors and reporters over the years. But with the lack of support, most either moved on to other markets or out of broadcasting altogether.

[m60]

No such thing as gun violence. People violence.