Oregon Media Insiders

Submitted by Your Viewer (not verified) on Sat, 05/24/2008 - 12:27am.

Jared Meyer wrote:

As I read the number of comments regarding KMTR and other Eugene news stations I don't know who to believe. As all of the posts are anonymous, I don't know if people are speaking from first hand experience or hearsay.

How about someone who is speaking as the viewer as it seems that maybe the biggest problem facing not only Eugene but newscasts everywhere is that you folks are forgetting that we are your final judges.

Do we as the viewers not have the right to judge what we feel is good or bad quality?

[quote} As any good journalist knows, rumor and hearsay are worthless and usually wrong. I don't know how much weight my comments carry, I'm probably lumped in with the "really bad field reporters" or the Overpaid (slave driving) anchors, or the glut of weather people. I call that the trifecta. (Take that anonymous!)

Actually as your viewer I lumped you in with the "needs work on bland personality" but here is what you missed. Just because I choose to not sign up for a screen name does not make what I feel insincere.

My glut of weather reporters/sports reporters comment is my own take on seeing what I as the viewer is a waste of assets. Maybe your skin is not thick enough but the original direction of the weather reporter glut is KEZI.

The last "major storm" had them trotting out all 3 of their weather staff on the same broadcast. I viewed it as overkill especially since when it comes to snow storms in Lane County they tend never to be as bad as the experts predict.

I felt (and still do) that one weather person could have the same job.

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I don't mind the criticism of the quality of news product in Eugene. We work in market 122 and our ranks are filled with young journalists trying to make their mark in this business. Some succeed, some do not. We work with small staffs and smaller budgets, but I can speak for those I work with, we still take pride in our work, even on our off days, which at times are many.

I think you do mind but then again it is you who is being held up here to criticism and it is understandable to defend yourself and those you work with.

However some of those "young" reporters you say are at your station are not that young and in all blunt honesty are very bad at their reports. The young ones one can excuse for their inexperience but the older folks do not get that break.

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I'm astonished at the hostility found in these posts and wonder what generates it.

The personal stuff I can understand your anger about as some of the stuff that has been posted here has been off the wall.

However what is not off the wall is that the honest criticism of the quality of the broadcasts. I have watched the Eugene market over the last 20 years and sorry to be blunt the level of talent, the quality of the broadcasts and the depth of the reports have gone downhill.

I for one do not point the finger at you or the other anchors but those above you for cutting back on costs to where the quality has in fact declined.

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I hope that people take this post with more sincerity since it is backed with real knowledge from a first hand witness, and not the brazen bumblings of an anonymous post.

Great then as a first hand witness of what you put out as a product then please take with you that this was not a personal attack but what I the viewer believe is what kind of choices I am offered.

If it means anything I do think that KMTR is working on improving itself while the other stations are screwing up left and right.