We like to believe that news is reported. I believe it is sold. While the flooding was going on with Katrina, service personnel and civilians were still being killed in Iraq. That took a back seat to the carnage of the gulf coast states. Today there was a piracy attempt against a cruise liner. The reports documented 3 or 4 other attacks that I don't remember ever even seeing.
Now Geraldo wants to sell the news with passion. What is that? Does he pace the stage like a televangelist yelling "Jaysus told me to tell you that this next story was really important". Or chanting "Hell no we won't go!" while holding up a placard with the words "Bring our troops home!"
What about news with humor? You could have two news anchors bantering back and forth about the major stories of the day, sliding in jokes along with the stories.
Rick: "Mudslides in Mexico claimed the lives of thousands of people. When asked what it was like, one survivor exclaimed, "Dude, what a ride."
Wanda: "Pirate attack on a cruise liner off the coast of Somalia. No one was hurt and the attack was thwarted."
Rick:"That reminds me, Wanda, did you hear about the new sexy pirate movie coming out?"
Wanda: "No Rick, I haven't."
Rick: "It's rated AARRHH!!!"
Rick and Wanda: "Hahahah!"
Wanda: "Another beheading in Iraq. When confronted with his brutal savagery, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi angrily responded "What, do you have something about Arabs getting ahead?
Yea, as I think about it it would be funny... but not in a humorous way. Maybe we just better leave it to Jay Leno and Jon Stewart. At least we know they are telling jokes not reporting.
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