Model/Wrestler/Anchor. Headshot Attached.
Last month, my colleague Matthew Felling wrote disapprovingly about the stunt getting underway in Tyler, Texas, where former World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler and bikini model Lauren Jones is now anchoring the newscast. As Lost Remote notes, Al Tompkins, broadcast group leader for the Poynter Institute, had this to say: "It devalues the work of real journalists who are trying to do real work. It doesn't do anything to help the reputation of journalists there and around the world."
True! But! I have a hard time getting as worked up about this as these fine folks. Here's why: When it comes to fighting for quality journalism, we have to choose our battles. And most local news has long since ceased to be worth fighting for, regardless of whether or not there is a model in the anchor chair. The "if it bleeds, it leads" ethos, the scaremongering, the promotional stunts – we're far beyond the point where the qualifications of the on-camera players much matter. This isn't journalism in any legitimate sense, regardless of whether or not they put the word "news" on the screen.
Sure, many Americans still get their news from local newscasts. But it's clearer than ever that those newscasts aren't going to change, and the time has come to admit that the battle has been lost and move on. One might even argue that CBS19 is doing its viewers a favor with this stunt, since it spotlights that journalistic quality is pretty far down on the station's list of concerns.
So bring on the boobies and weatherdogs! Unleash the water-skiing squarrels! Give us five-minute features on shiny things! Stunts like this could help people realize that they're not getting anything worthwhile from their local newscast – and that realization just might lead them to seek out something better.