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Good news, bad news
In which we discuss what it takes to make the local news
Regular readers will know that I find it pretty easy to get worked up about local news reporting.* I do realise, though, that they do tend to operate under tight deadlines and very low budgets. It tends to alter the nature of their coverage. We love to sit at home and watch the local news, to see what stories they have come up with; they love stories that are simple to report and aren’t too serious.**
However, we were still slightly gobsmacked by one of tonight’s news items. A local woman has lost a shoe, and is rather upset. And, erm, that’s it. She was enjoying a night out, her shoes were in her handbag, and when she got home one was missing. That was enough to get her a standard-size segment on the news. A missing shoe.
Our reaction, of course, was to say: well, if they were that valuable, that important to you, then why weren’t you looking after them better? If they’re still on your feet, for a start, you’ll know where they are. Even if they’re not, pay attention to where they are, if they’re that important to you.*** Unless, of course, you want to get on the news.
* especially if it involves the Grimsby Telegraph.
** Such as the time they interviewed me because I happened to be in their building. There’s still a picture of me hidden away on the BBC website, caught in mid-sentence in mid-interview, and therefore looking entirely and completely gormless.
*** I should point out that there was no suggestion that it might have been stolen from her bag; the tone of the story implied that it has somehow dropped from her bag.
