President Bush’s State Of The Union Address; TV Anchors MUST Report From Washington

It happens every year… but why? I’m not talking about the actual State of the Union address, but TV news anchors rushing to the nation’s political center to prove they can report from D.C. I happened to walk in from work just as Brian Williams’ ‘NBC Nightly News’ was finishing a Lee Cowan piece on the Senator Kennedy endorsement of Barack Obama. He turned to a very awkward 3-shot that included Williams and Andrea Mitchell (there for another story). Her introduction was awkward as well. All of this happened just so Williams could have the U.S. Capitol over his shoulder… and to anchor the President’s coverage from the same generic location.

Hasn’t TV news advanced beyond this? Do media managers think they fool the viewers? You can’t really argue that Williams, Katie Couric or Charlie Gibson will do some actual reporting that may warrant an anchor location in D.C. None will be in the Gallery for the speech… but all are “there” at a generic location with a beauty shot over the shoulder. I would think at least NBC 2.0 would have cut this type of wasted live shot. How about keeping anchors in studio unless it’s major breaking news where their presence will actually advance the content provided to viewers? I have no doubt that no such added perspective will be gained from Williams, Couic or Gibson tonight. IF I AM WRONG… I will certainly apologize.

READ MORE: Oh Yeah We Forgot, The State Of The Union
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