Bringing Back the "Gloden Age" of Network Television News

Peter Jennings: An image of tradition

       I am an atypical teenage consumer of media, I believe, at New Trier and as compared to the nation as a whole, because while I still engage in hours of television and online activity daily, any night that I arrive home during the week at a reasonable hour, I really enjoy watching the national news. This is a somewhat-daily ritual that has been ingrained in my system since I was young, and even though I didn't understand much of it, my parents always had Peter Jennings, or Tom Brokaw, or Dan Rather up on the TV at the perpetual time slot of 5:30pm CST.

       This past Wednesday evening, I was just turning on ABC's "World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer," when my mom sat down in the room with me. I had always, out of habit, flipped to ABC because I had fond remembrances of Peter Jennings' smooth voice. My mom immediately said, "Turn this lady off! I can't stand her!" I had always disliked Diane Sawyer, because of her pleading, almost whiny voice, and squinted look. But I had always assumed that my parents liked the network. I quickly switch to NBC, where the sharply-dressed Brian Williams awaited my audience. It was an immediate flashback to the network news of my young childhood.

       I then came to the realization that the network news is an arena that should be controlled solely by well-dressed, smooth-voiced males. Though this may seem regressive, and perhaps offensive, it is in my opinion that network news is most effective and connects most to the storied past of this media outlet  when anchored by a man possessing those qualities listed.

       It is not to say that a woman cannot physically read off words from a teleprompter, or hold her own behind a desk, nor is it a racial matter (although many aforementioned anchors were white), as I find Lester Holt of NBC's Sunday news programming to be very talented and effective. Simply, the sharply tailored newsmen of the past stirs memories of an institution which had a dignity and a stronger purpose; the evening news anchor has traditionally been the face of the news division of any network, and when most Americans relied on these people for information decades ago, that position held honor.

Couric: Out

       When I heard earlier this week that Katie Couric, the five year host of the CBS Evening News had submitted her resignation, I was very glad. As I read even more recently, Scott Pelley, a 21-year veteran of CBS is set to replace her, and I was even more glad. As the article above notes, I have trouble taking Couric seriously (despite grilling interviews, most memorably with Sarah Palin) when she once had the honorable position as a journalist on NBC's Today, where she interviewed celebrities, singers, presented great holiday recipes and budgeting tips, and showed off the hottest spring fashion trends in the fourth hour of programming. 

       It is a matter of personal opinion that the evening network news host be male for me, but if the networks ever wish to recover their coveted ratings, then a return to past tradition is necessary.

The traditional "Big 3" networks

    

Processing All the Sources

Over the span of the last several weeks, I have inputted thousands of words from many very long documents into my brain, regarding the increase of the prison population in the United States. Now, looking back on the month or more of research, I have to compile all my facts, statistics, and thoughts into a clear, readable research paper.
I believe I enjoyed the research step much more than the writing of the actual paper.this is unusual, because mot of the time I enjoy the freedom that writing assignments present; there are hundreds of thousands of words to express any idea. But I did not feel the same attraction to this assignment, mainly because of the guided format and intrinsically emotionless nature of a research paper: present a series of facts, come to a conclusion.
That being said, the research was empowering. There was something invigorating, or scholarly, about education oneself on a topic of their interest, purely for the spirit of intellectual. I will fondly remember the days in the library where I carefully read through scholarly journals and old newspaper articles. I will remember writing a full draft without much fondness.

"American" Label Sells on Television

Recently, over spring break, I had a whole cloudy, 45 degree day ahead of me, so, naturally, I flipped on the television and watched whatever might draw my eye first. Luckily for me, there was a Pawn Stars marathon, which happened to be a show I watched with some frequency. Pawn Stars (of the History Channel) follows the owners of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas; the Old Man, a cranky, squinty-eyed naval veteran, his son, Rick, an intelligent bald man with a desire to make money, his son, Corey, or "Big Hoss," and his friend, Chumlee, who provides comic relief.
       The show is also aided by a host of historical experts of their respective fields, who are often called in to analyze the value of strange items the sellers bring to the store. While many items are very old and rare, the ones that attract the most value to Rick, who is really the main buyer, are items of important value to American history.  Aside from directly saying this, Rick has numerous experts for elements of American history to call in, while he may only have one European history expert, one watch expert, and one toy expert. In some cases, he may call in both a weapons expert, for example, and an American historian.

Rick Dale: Who is more American?

       Also, I considered the other shows airing on the History Channel--an ad appeared very often during this Pawn Stars marathon. When Rick and Co. purchase a beat up, old item, they head to their buddy (other) Rick's shop where Rick Dale restores these old items of American importance. He relishes old Coca-Cola advertisements, and anything else relating to American culture--thus, his own spin-off show "American Restoration." 
     With a title as blatantly patriotic as that, there is not doubt that the History Channel is attempting to capitalize on the "American" brand. It is clear that they have had success with similar shows, like "Only in American with Larry the Cable Guy," and they want to continue that theme with the rest of their programming.

Maybe him?