The newscast is heavy on live shots, seemingly with a small cadre of first-rate, experienced reporters. And there is Bill Liss, the business editor. Liss is a former top airline executive who looks the part of a tough newspaper columnist. In market after market these days news departments are running scared. Among evening newscasts, the typical story length is 21 to 30 seconds almost one in four fall within this range.
TV land lives in fear of itchy fingers on the remote.
Maybe the viewer won't notice if wallpaper video flashes by. But the taciturn Roberts has hired and maintained a veteran staff. No time for context, only pictures. The two-minute package, on the other hand, is like stopping and going inside the house to meet the family.