Koliedrus
10-30-2005, 06:39 PM
They've been around at least since January of this year. I only found out about them a few days ago.
I was looking through clips at www.unoriginal.co.uk when I noticed a clip about some guy interrupting a news broadcast. Next thing I new, I found myself looking at every link on www.newsbreakers.org
I finally get it!
Local news stations work on a formula that's meant to draw ratings. People tend to stop flipping channels when a story is "Live Breaking News". More often than not, the story is about a crash/fire/murder/rape that directly affects only a small portion of the local population but appeals to the rubbernecker in all of us. Kinda like when that dog chewed that woman's nose off when she was asleep. Remember that one?
NewsBreakers seem to have noticed that public airwaves are broadcasting Not-Really-News.
I've seen writings of newscast producers refer to 10 hours of work on a story (worthwhile or worthless) as a "product". The newscasters take offense when someone interrupts their live broadcast by standing in the background and doing things that draw attention from the reporter. Yet, knocking on the door of someone who has recently lost a loved one or pushing through a crowd outside a courtroom is considered to be official business.
Media has quietly established its own set of rules. When their cameras go on, anything within the range of the viewfinder is now "theirs".
Granted, NewsBreakers takes it to an extreme by dressing up in costume, having a base of operations and a communication network (couple of cell phones) but now that I've looked, it can't be unseen.
Don't be too surprised if you're watching a local news story about how to cook the Best Apple Pie Ever, live in front of U-Name-It grocery store when some guy in the background, picking his nose, hits an artery, bleeds profusely and has a seizure.
PS. If you think THT is dramatic, you should see the forum at http://www.medialine.com/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=1
This stuff is rich!
I was looking through clips at www.unoriginal.co.uk when I noticed a clip about some guy interrupting a news broadcast. Next thing I new, I found myself looking at every link on www.newsbreakers.org
I finally get it!
Local news stations work on a formula that's meant to draw ratings. People tend to stop flipping channels when a story is "Live Breaking News". More often than not, the story is about a crash/fire/murder/rape that directly affects only a small portion of the local population but appeals to the rubbernecker in all of us. Kinda like when that dog chewed that woman's nose off when she was asleep. Remember that one?
NewsBreakers seem to have noticed that public airwaves are broadcasting Not-Really-News.
I've seen writings of newscast producers refer to 10 hours of work on a story (worthwhile or worthless) as a "product". The newscasters take offense when someone interrupts their live broadcast by standing in the background and doing things that draw attention from the reporter. Yet, knocking on the door of someone who has recently lost a loved one or pushing through a crowd outside a courtroom is considered to be official business.
Media has quietly established its own set of rules. When their cameras go on, anything within the range of the viewfinder is now "theirs".
Granted, NewsBreakers takes it to an extreme by dressing up in costume, having a base of operations and a communication network (couple of cell phones) but now that I've looked, it can't be unseen.
Don't be too surprised if you're watching a local news story about how to cook the Best Apple Pie Ever, live in front of U-Name-It grocery store when some guy in the background, picking his nose, hits an artery, bleeds profusely and has a seizure.
PS. If you think THT is dramatic, you should see the forum at http://www.medialine.com/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=1
This stuff is rich!