But not all feed pieces are bad. In fact, some are wonderful tales told by gifted storytellers from other cities. In a perfect world, TV news producers are picking only the best works from their network feeds and finding time for them in their newscasts. In a perfect world, feed stories free local reporters to do a better job of covering local stories, while the feed pieces look at interesting, universal topics. If a feed piece explains the electoral college beautifully, a station can use it rather than duplicating the effort with a local reporter.
Selectivity is the key to appropriate use of feeds.
Some newsrooms feature zip code maps that let staffers know where Nielsen ratings meters were most recently placed in homes. Some stations use that zip code information carefully and include it among many other factors in story selection, but some can be driven to focus coverage on neighborhoods where there might be meters. Reporters feel they are doing marketing, not journalism. The PEJ study says good journalism is good marketing. Anchors Who Do More Than Read I've been blessed to come to know many wonderful television news anchors from markets across the country.