Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 12, 1994 TAG: 9405120178
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
WCIX-TV is planning to screen out graphic video footage and treat its newscasts as ``family-sensitive.''
The policy change announced this week was made in response to viewer backlash against violence and graphic crime coverage on television, station officials said.
A similar switch was made by WCCO in Minneapolis in January and by KRQE in Albuquerque, N.M., in February.
``There certainly seems to be a trend; and I think that it's fine, as long as we look at it in context,'' said David Bartlett, president of the Radio Television News Directors Association.
The change shows more energetic competition for viewers looking for a fresh product, he said. Competition fed similarity in newscasts in recent years, but the new push is to be as different from the competition as possible.
Allen Shaklen, WCIX vice president and general manager, acknowledged that the programming decision was partially based on marketing considerations. But he said it also was a result of feedback from viewers.
``After talking to hundreds of south Florida news viewers, not just our own, we found that they are sick of graphic images of crime, and are concerned about the glorification of criminals.
``South Floridians want a more balanced view of the place they call 'home,' '' Shaklen said.
Bartlett worried that a ``family-sensitive'' emphasis could water down the news.
``Good journalism should disturb the viewer,'' he said. ``The decisions should be made on journalistic grounds. You should never let marketing take over journalism.''
Media critics said the move was overdue because crime coverage has become exaggerated. Crime news on the three major networks doubled and murder coverage tripled from 1992 to 1993, according to a recent survey by the Center for Media and Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.
``It's a healthy move in the right direction, mainly because local news has gotten so violent and tabloid-ridden during the [May rating] sweeps,'' said Kathryn Montgomery, president of the Washington-based Center for Media Education.
Montgomery said it was a coincidence the change was made during the sweeps period by a station ranked last.
by CNB