Isn't it strange what the local News reports?

[SeaCat]

I'm a nosy bastard when it comes to what's going on around me. Because of that I have a scanner with four channels programmed and locked in.

Local Fire Department
County Fire Department
Local police Department
County Sheriffs Department

Because of this I get to hear what's going on not only in my local area but most of the county. In the past several days I have heard about more accidents than I care to think about. I have also heard about three active house fires, about an even dozen shootings with four dead and several knifings and/or fights.

Only one of the fires has been reported and none of the shootings or other assaults.

On the other hand there has been plenty of coverage of the Haitian Earthquake, (understandable) the local County Fair opening, a six year old in Texas being harrassed about his long hair, the remains of a 50 plus year old car being uncovered on a local beach after erosion.

Maybe it's because of the amount of crime and tragedy in this county, or maybe it's some kind of agreement with the local governments not to print too much about it and scare away the tourists. I don't know but I do find it strange.

How are your local news outlets about reporting the news in your area?

Cat

 

[rgraham666]

Beats me. I have enough trouble with my depression without watching the news.

 

[TE999]

We have a newspaper that's printed in, and reports mostly on another county and it's travails...our city maybe gets a page and most of that is adverts. There's a local once a week paper that's nothing but fishing tournaments, church bake sales and two pages of letters complaining about anything and everything.

Short version: We have no newspapers.

 

[oggbashan]

One of my daughters is Chief Reporter for one of our local weekly papers.

Her problem is getting enough news. The local Police and Fire departments will answer questions about incidents but will not volunteer information unless she asks. She has to know something has happened before she can get a comment.

Someone local being cut with a knife during a fight would be front page news. In parts of London the local newspaper either wouldn't print such a story unless significant hospital treatment was needed and even then it would be a small paragraph on an inside page.

A number of stories depend on the activities of our local council and councillors. The front page of the other local newspaper reported Councillors exchanging angry remarks over next year's budget cuts.

What is newsworthy depends on the effectiveness of the reporters and what the readers want to know about.

Og

 

[ThomasCrapper]

I have been thinking about getting one of the scanners because I sit on my front porch a lot during the summer drinking beer.

Uh, if I buy one at Amazon dot com, do they automatically pick up the local channels, or is there something special you need to know to program them.

Tom