Grade the News
Using the "Grade The News" report card, I am briefly going to access the 2 local news sources I use most often: The San Francisco Chronicle and ABC 7 News
San Francisco Chronicle
Like any good newspaper, I find "The Chronicle" devotes a lot of attention to a whole scope of types of stories. Looking at the Grape Report Card, I can usually pick up a daily issue of the newspaper and find either entire sections or a page devoted to Politics, Crime, Education, Economics, Major Accidents, Weather, Social Trends, Consumer Reports, Military, Science/Tech, Health and Environment. They cover their bases.
Now whether or not something is newsworthy is somewhat subjective. Because of the nature of most of their readership, there are sometimes some "liberal" editorial choices of what should be headline news. I've noticed, however, even if there is an article that is sure to inspire a certain emotion, there tends to be 2 stories coupled together... one covering the facts and then one somewhat leading. It is then the reader's choice to what they want to give into.
I also find there isn't a terrible amount of fluff or celebrity news (unlike "USA Today") which I find respectable. Something I like about the "Chronicle" is their consistency of staying on-top of things. Some of their articles are "check-ups" on the progress of something or covering a news issue that NO other news source is covering... like gay adoption.
Additionally, because of their cultural location, it is almost unquestioned that they will cover all diverse types of news reporting. I'm not saing "The Chronicle" is perfect by any means, they definitely have their sensationalism and leading stories. There is also a fair amount of editing errors (I have a critical eye) but they do have good coverage. I'd give them an A- overall.
ABC 7 News
I grew up watching ABC with Cheryl Jennings and Dan Ashley, so I have a small bias only because of how much they've been part of my daily 5pm routine. I've noticed 9since becoming a BECA student) that ABC doesn't cover half the things it SHOULD be. Their broadcasts seem to spend a little bit too much time on pointless local crime or goofy stories. I realize that they are trying to make their readers feel connected to their communities, but that doesn't mean they have to sacrifice covering the Immigration issue to report about a mountain lion (false example, but you see the point).
ABC could really cover some deep issues if they put the effort into it and could bring it home to the SF viewers if they tried. I just sometimes don't see them trying... lacking some innovation. I have since learned to watch the 10PM FOX news report to get world news instead of ABC's 11PM broadcast. I'd rate ABC a B- overall.
San Francisco Chronicle
Like any good newspaper, I find "The Chronicle" devotes a lot of attention to a whole scope of types of stories. Looking at the Grape Report Card, I can usually pick up a daily issue of the newspaper and find either entire sections or a page devoted to Politics, Crime, Education, Economics, Major Accidents, Weather, Social Trends, Consumer Reports, Military, Science/Tech, Health and Environment. They cover their bases.
Now whether or not something is newsworthy is somewhat subjective. Because of the nature of most of their readership, there are sometimes some "liberal" editorial choices of what should be headline news. I've noticed, however, even if there is an article that is sure to inspire a certain emotion, there tends to be 2 stories coupled together... one covering the facts and then one somewhat leading. It is then the reader's choice to what they want to give into.
I also find there isn't a terrible amount of fluff or celebrity news (unlike "USA Today") which I find respectable. Something I like about the "Chronicle" is their consistency of staying on-top of things. Some of their articles are "check-ups" on the progress of something or covering a news issue that NO other news source is covering... like gay adoption.
Additionally, because of their cultural location, it is almost unquestioned that they will cover all diverse types of news reporting. I'm not saing "The Chronicle" is perfect by any means, they definitely have their sensationalism and leading stories. There is also a fair amount of editing errors (I have a critical eye) but they do have good coverage. I'd give them an A- overall.
ABC 7 News
I grew up watching ABC with Cheryl Jennings and Dan Ashley, so I have a small bias only because of how much they've been part of my daily 5pm routine. I've noticed 9since becoming a BECA student) that ABC doesn't cover half the things it SHOULD be. Their broadcasts seem to spend a little bit too much time on pointless local crime or goofy stories. I realize that they are trying to make their readers feel connected to their communities, but that doesn't mean they have to sacrifice covering the Immigration issue to report about a mountain lion (false example, but you see the point).
ABC could really cover some deep issues if they put the effort into it and could bring it home to the SF viewers if they tried. I just sometimes don't see them trying... lacking some innovation. I have since learned to watch the 10PM FOX news report to get world news instead of ABC's 11PM broadcast. I'd rate ABC a B- overall.
posted by EugLoven at 3/30/2006 03:40:00 PM
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