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Sunday, May 21, 2017

What's Local Media Not Telling You?



For a spiffy, shiny news anchor set, they certainly don't produce a whole lot of substance, do they?

By Thornton Crowe

This week alone, our local media has failed to deliver timely news on a couple of serious situations happening on the Shore. While they tout they are "Delmarva's News Leader" their actions fall grossly short on their moniker's promise.

First, the Hartley Hall incident which was reported to them around the incident date (May 9th) was completely ignored. Instead, even when posted here, they didn't cover it in their newscasts on the 15th or the 16th. While I personally can't stomach local news and avoid it at all costs, I did watch the first five stories of WBOC and WMDT to see if they would pick up the story and I wasn't disappointed. They once again failed to report it even though it was the (and still is) number one news item here on Salisbury News.

Second, on Monday there was a tragic accident at a well known intersection on Route 50 and Sixty Foot Road. This, too, wasn't even covered on Monday night's broadcasts but it was here within an hour of the event.

Why do local businesses continue to advertise on these stations is a mystery. Local people are better off just watching Dog the Bounty Hunter or Dance Moms than watching the local news broadcasts because they're not reporting on anything but human interest stories. Stories about the manager of the now-debunked Christian Bookstore are of interest, but certainly don't warrant being the first news story of the night. What are these news directors on when they make such idiotic decisions is another mystery because clearly, even the bleed, leads doesn't apply to any of our local news outlets except Salisbury News.

Their negligence isn't just local news, they've also been a part of the Trump-bashing witch hunt that frankly, most viewers are getting sick of hearing about. They fail to understand that the vast majority of voters on the Eastern Shore voted for Donald Trump; therefore, they're kind of biting the hand that feeds them. It doesn't make any sense to alienate their viewership by bashing the very person said viewers voted for unless they have a political agenda to push!

Journalism is not about pushing agendas, it's about reporting facts in a fair and balanced manner.

If they missed these two big stories on Monday, just imagine all the other news worthy things you aren't getting from their broadcasts. Maybe if the community demanded better from them, they'd up their game. Until then, I guess locals who aren't fortunate to have cable or satellite and no internet connection will just have to live in a fantasy-driven bubble propagated by a severely negligent local media [sic]!

The choice is really up to viewers and sponsors: just how much BS they will continue to be fed before they take a stand and demand better coverage of the Shore's news items. Honestly, the best thing going for Draper and WMDT's owners is their re-run stations (MeTV and AntennaTV). Other than that, they're a huge fail.

36 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mr. Albero
You know by now that none of the media besides yours does any investigative reporting . It's a shame , but the truth. I truly believe they depend on your site to report any important news. A day late and a dollar short.

Anonymous said...

What do they get out of not reporting these things is what I want to know? On top of not reporting crime issues they are horrible at predicting any type of weather. Steve Hammond is the biggest a-hole on the shore. Very arrogant if you have ever seen him out in public. He is so hung up on himself I am shocked he doesnt have an entourage by his side constantly.

Anonymous said...

Oh and dont forget their knock off version of 104.7 - thanks for the horrible music too

Anonymous said...

I would think as a reporter, maybe you could shed light on this that it would be so interesting, fun, and exciting to get out into the field and investigate important happenings in our area.. Scams, Crimes, Undercover things!! Kinda makes you wonder why no-one tends to stick around at WBOC.. Scott, Lacee, Maxine, Sean to name a few have all left! Probably bc they got tired of being told what to do and what not to report on.

Anonymous said...

Bill Mitch is no peach either. I waited on him and his wife one night and I could of screamed! They are so rude and actually asked for a discount.

Anonymous said...

I would like to thank you all for going out there and discovering this stuff to help keep people you dont even know aware! I pray you all stay safe and out of harms way.

Anonymous said...

I fail to understand. What is it that they get out of NOT reporting news? Are they frightened of reporting news for some reason?

Anonymous said...

Hammond is comfortable having married into a wealthy local food service family. I agree he lacks charisma and frankly I haven't watched "local news" ever. He is soooo out of touch. I too go to Salisbury News for the facts and anything I need to know on what is happening locally.

Anonymous said...

Yes i refuse to watch CBS News & Abc News for the slanted news coverage towards liberalism. WBOC & WMDT are totally worthless except for as you mentioned reruns of tv shows. I spend more time watching Antenna TV then any of the others combined.

Anonymous said...

Here's a thought for you, don't like it don't watch it.

Anonymous said...

"Journalism is not about pushing agendas, it's about reporting facts in a fair and balanced manner."
Sbynews pushes an agenda

Thornton Crowe said...

Absolutely negative 11:22am. I'm an equal opportunity basher and bash anyone who is negligent or derelict in their duty. Have you read my prior pieces on James Comey (R), John McCain or Lindsey Graham (R)?

If being for America FIRST and the US Constitution comes first and foremost is an agenda then I guess I'm guilty as charged! Frankly, the fact you're not says to me you're un-American.

Anonymous said...

I don't watch it unless I feel like having bamboo shoots shoved up my nails.

Anonymous said...

More Salisbury news on WRDE than WBOC or WMDT. Strange how the furniture King, Preston Group & Hertrich keep advertising on Delmarva's News loser.

Anonymous said...

The local media is what it is. Woe to them who think it's the only news.

Anonymous said...

Steve Hammond's kid went to WDS with mine. He was always rude at school functions so we got that snob 411 years back. Just really an unlikeable guy. After meeting him in person I started watching WMDT which is no better but nicer people.

Anonymous said...

I'm fed up with the total lack of coverage in Maryland. There is a lot of things going on in Annapolis that WBOC isn't covering that affects most of us here in Maryland. We need to know about this, and they do a really poor job of reporting this to us. I have to go to wbal in Baltimore to find out what is going on here. I see more coverage of eastern Maryland from WBAL than WBOC. I am grateful to have Sbynews report the things the local media refuses to report or are too lazy to report. The station is in Salisbury, but you would never know it by their reporting. They should just get the hell out of Maryland because their advertising and news are all Delaware all the time!

Anonymous said...

All either of the 3 do is just read what comes off the wire....NO REPORTERS at all....where is all these damn drones they all invested in flying coverage???? Where is the worthless Helicopter....flying over Johnny Janosik "super store"....cover some damn news and stop reading just what the Associated Press or Reuters puts out!!!!

Anonymous said...

We are traveling down a bumpy road with the media in charge of the propaganda that comes from the extreme left . I cannot understand why anyone believes any of the BS , maybe because they repeat themselves . However , I do see civil war on the near horizon.
Is Soros funding all of the media now? If he is , he has to go , let it begin soon.

Anonymous said...

WBOC is obsessed with the Delaware prisons. There is a story about them every night. They report a lot of fires, but that is property damage, unlike personal crimes that actually affect the general public. They also have the newsperson "preview" CBS shows like 48 Hours. Why in the heck are they taking time to do that?

Anonymous said...

Soros needs to be HUNG.

Anonymous said...

You don't think with all their fancy gadgets, drones and helicopters they'd do a hell of a lot more to cover real news stories. It's really a sham outfit. Even their charity drives are a farce.

Anonymous said...

On WMDT they didn't start doing fugitive Friday until they saw popular it was here on SbyNews. They don't even have an original thought. Their news director is like 20-something. Hardly a professional. Probably a gal that worked her way up from being a secretary or receptionist.

Anonymous said...

Most of the "news" on WBOC has been covered elsewhere several days before. Old and repeated news is what they specialize in. Most of their political stories have a slant against President Trump.

Anonymous said...

Come on, there hasn't been real "news" on TV since OJ in 1994. THATS when all hell broke loose. i.e., if it bleeeeds it leeeeeads! News today is TV show with fluff and entertainment. Hell, most now have "personal appearance" requirements just to get on the air!

The directors at WBOC/WMDT remind me of class A baseball - entertaining the locals with fluff - never aspiring to get to the majors! Oh and the Majors', they suck today anyway!!!!

SO we're stuck with DANNO and - "Today will be Partly Sunny highs in the low 80's FOREVER. ON a positive note - he'll actually get it right occasionally!

HAHAHAHAHA!

I'm forever thankful for Joe/Staff with SBYNEWS!

Anonymous said...

They should be charged with plagerism because they copy your news and run it a week or more later. They are so scared of being original or really covering any story, they should not even be considered news.

Anonymous said...

2:28 p.m. - If the news director is a "20-something" who is "hardly a professional," I doubt she was a promoted secretary or receptionist. Secretaries and receptionists can be some of the smartest people in an office. More likely, it's a recent college grad without any experience.

Anonymous said...

No stories on the decay of our schools, that's for sure. And I don't mean buildings or faculties.

Anonymous said...

20-somethings are only good for a couple of things, none involving news reporting.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Anonymous said...
Here's a thought for you, don't like it don't watch it.

May 17, 2017 at 11:22 AM

Um, I think everyone IS saying they don't like OR watch it. Some people, you, will always settle for less while others expect better and try to make things better.

Even IF local news does get better, they will wait for word of mouth to reach people and return to watching it. Advertisers are sure getting a lot of bang for their bucks aren't they? lol

Anonymous said...

11;19 amen to that!

Anonymous said...

For those of us who can't afford cable/satellite how bout getting WRDE to broadcast to the whole peninsula. My income limits my options, so I watch antenna TV and the 5 newer channels that 47 brought in.

Anonymous said...

The issue with the local media, aside from political alliances, is a lack of guidance/management in the newsroom. There have been a number of reporters that have moved on to much larger markets with larger and more skilled news departments. Jason Newton and Lacee Griffin have moved on to the Baltimore-Washington markets. Gary Tuckman & Greg Jarrett have worked their way to national news networks. And don't forget with over 20 years at the Weather Channel Mike Seidel can probably nail the forecast better than most of our local meteorologist. The new reporters need someone to point them in the direction of news tips and tell them to go dig out the story. Want a change in local TV news? Maybe Joe should apply for News Director!

Anonymous said...

Did Leslie Lewis do an interview for WBOC or WMDT? Isn't that the next step in termination grief?

Anonymous said...

Am I the only one who noticed that the color scheme of the new set is the same as colors of the Salisbury flag (the stripey one that Mayor Day invented, using his family crest's colors)?

Anonymous said...

Do we have a local media? I thought they were just something to fill in the time slot between Judge Judy and Entertainment Tonight.