The decline of local news

[rockfan4]

Another round of cuts at the local ABC station. Allen Media Group - Byron Allen, owns 4 ABC stations in Wisconsin. In La Crosse, 8 of the 14 people at the La Crosse station either were laid off or walked out earlier this week. I imagine Eau Claire and Wausau were similar. The local news takes the first 15 minutes of a news show, then they cut to the Madison station for some stories, then back for local weather and sports, although any Packers, Brewers Bucks or Badger stories are handled by the Madison crew. It's pretty unwatchable at this point. They must need payroll for all those stupid TV court shows they produce.

One of the anchors in La Crosse has been at the station for 30 years. No send off, no highlight reel, nothing.

https://kaukaunacommunitynews.com/2024/12/04/reports-allen-media-has-significant-layoffs-at-northern-wisconsin-tv-stations/

[Arizona_928]

Not to be political, but the demographic of Wisconsin has changed dramatically over the last 4 years.

Wisconsin is slowly dying.

[wdfifteen]

The local news is where I go for the immediate weather and local news. We have a great NPR station that reports state-wide news on a daily basis. I don't care about inside the beltway national news. I haven't watched any cable news since Nov. 6. That told me all I need to know about our country as a whole.

[Brian 162]

I like watching local news. Recently the only network carrying nightly local news in smaller markets around here cancelled weekend newscasts last year. The only local weekend news is from Toronto. I still read a newspaper on my tablet.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

This is the only reason to watch local news:

If that's your draw, then you switch to watching old weather reports from Yanet Garcia.

[masraum]

I've never been much of a news watcher. I get all of the news that I need from PPOT. If it's important (or not) it ends up here.

For several years, I would read various articles here https://www.bbc.com/news. I felt like it was better presented and a better website than any of the American sites. I changed jobs and got busier at work and stopped.

[A930Rocket]

I haven’t watched local news in decades. It was always low class and reported on stupid things.

I get all my news online.

[Pazuzu]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Not to be political, but the demographic of Wisconsin has changed dramatically over the last 4 years.

Wisconsin is slowly dying.

What, is the state being taken over by aliens? Zombies? Fungi? Because, other than that, the demographic of Wisconsin has, and will be, Wisconsinites. Human being. People.

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

I haven’t watched local news in decades. It was always low class and reported on stupid things.

I get all my news online.

So, for "decades" you ignored the news, WAITING for the moment when news went online, and was easy enough and common enough to be worth watching? What did you do for the other 10-30 years, when news was not online, but you were "decades" away from watching local news?

[KFC911]

It's always on as "background noise" as I drink coffee ....

It causes me start stoopid threads and make stoopid posts ....

I need it .... or mebbe not

edited: One local station has a Dopler radar close to me .... better than any others and anything online.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by Pazuzu

What, is the state being taken over by aliens? Zombies? Fungi? Because, other than that, the demographic of Wisconsin has, and will be, Wisconsinites. Human being. People.

Little more to it than that…. But you’re correct, it’s illegal aliens. Do you not remember them being housed at McCoy?

[Tim Hancock]

After watching the same local evening news for over 30 years, I now rarely watch it other than the weather report as most of the old reporters have been replaced with DEI hires and the reporting has gone hard left.

[Reg]

In the early mid 90s around here to run a single 30 sec ad on the 6 o’clock news was $500. Around 500,000 people in the viewing area (estimate).

Same thing with the newspapers. I told them time and again half the cost of ads and get 2-3x as many. Then you have a large customer base - not a shrinking one. Still costs $$ to produce a paper or newscast regardless.

Now look where they are or are headed.

[rfuerst911sc]

The news business is like any other business , balance incoming $$$ vs outgoing $$$ . So if a small market on air personality max salary is 100k ( made up example ) and they hit that max now what ? If you want to potentially make more $$$ you get a job in a larger market . Really no different than any other job .

I am 1 hour north of Atlanta so we are fortunate to have a variety of news channels . All are pretty good in my opinion but we do have a favorite . Obviously all are competing for the same audience . If you become stale or too controversial or too much on air talent turn over that will affect the end product . Not an easy game to play .

Then add the internet with endless streaming capabilities, that certainly eats into viewership . And everyone has the same issues to determine ........... what is real vs fake . Everyone has a different opinion on that . And that landscape can change in a heartbeat. Glad I'm not in the business

[Cairo94507]

I really (mostly) stopped watching the news; it is more personal opinion/commentary by the "news" staff than actual news. I long for the days of Walter Cronkite when it appeared to me they reported actual facts and not their personal opinions. Now it is just talking heads.