Tuesday, May 13, 2008

What Can Anchors "Get Away" With...

I try to choose my language wisely on KAIT and I "try" to treat EVERY microphone like it is turned on, even when the news is not on air. Of course, I have been "accused" of saying some things in the past, but as I proved on the blog with airchecks... those viewers did not hear me correctly.

Anywho, a topic was brought up on a media message board about "what can anchors get away with" and I thought it was an interesting discussion. For example, one weather guy on the West Coast referred to the weather as being "crappy". I can "hopefully" get away with saying crappy on my blog, but I bet the phones would start ringing, if I said it on-air. Another meteorologist said that he referred to the roads as being "slicker than snot" and phones started ringing with complaints.

Even here at KAIT, one of our anchors said "I swear to God that some of these attendants don't have kids?..." following a story about a flight attendant making a jet land because a kid was talking too much (or something like that... I forgot the whole story).... But regardless, the phones started ringing. Right when he said it, I told him to get ready for some complaints...

Another former meteorologist at KAIT once said "Dad Gum" on air and the phones started ringing because it is an altered form of GD. I did not know that (or had not thought about it) until the phone complaints came in...

The level of complaints vary between locations and TV markets. The threshold in Region 8 is pretty low and that may not be a bad thing. If you let a few words slip out, there may be a slippery slope that leads to other things that would be accepted. Am I saying that the word "crappy" will lead to an F-bomb? Well... maybe not, BUT why start?

Ironically, after this discussion on the message board began, a news anchor at WNBC in New York accidentally dropped the F-bomb on live television last night. I'm not going to link the video because of the language, but it's all over the Internet.

The worst thing that ever happened to me is singing little song on the Weather Deck. I had no idea the cameras were rolling... At least nobody called, but my friends sure did give me a hard time about! That when I decided to treat every mic and camera as if it were live on TV.

Have a great day and watch your language!
Ryan

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm more apt to laugh when stuff like that comes over the air. But I just can't imagine complaining about "dad gum". Good grief! I guess you'd better not say "darn" either. *g*

Anonymous said...

I looked up the video out of curiosity, I never found the original but I found the apology with the original comment that was made intact..I have to say, A Lot of things over the air can be looked over but that one, I'm not sure about! Imagine if something like that were to happen on air at KAIT! ESPECIALLY During the "SEVERE WEATHER COVERAGE" Since we've already gotten so many complaints on that anyway..

Ryan said...

If that happened here, the anchor would be fired on the spot.

As far as severe weather coverage complaints... we've only had one or two. That's nothing in this biz.

Brad Townsend said...

Some folks unfortunately live to complain. I opt to put it that way than other descriptions cause someone might get offended ;p

I think the world would be a better place if they let more things slide off their back rather than make a fuss.

Anonymous said...

The easy way to never have something like the WNBC thing happen is to not have certain words in your vocabulary to begin with. :) I know I would not enjoy being around someone who thought it was okay to use that kind of language "when the cameras are no longer rolling."

As for the people who complain about other "more minor" stuff ... I'd still love to know what kind of "other" TV those folks watch on a regular basis. They undoubtedly limit themselves to the really wholesome stuff found during prime-time...and day-time... and mornings. Lots of Barney happening at these homes, for sure.

Andrew said...

First: I can say I hope everyone watches what they say on any TV Station, since there is a chance on any story being used nationally. Broadcast Media is a professional job and the people that hold these positions need to act professional.

Second: People need to remember that this is a personal blog and "The viewpoints, opinions, and content of this blog do not necessarily represent those of KAIT or Raycom Media."

Anonymous said...

I just watched the video and I can only hope that the anchor is fired.

I can only hope that the achors at KAIT 8 are not allowed to talk to anyone like that.

Sure would like to see the clip of you singing on the weather deck.

Anonymous said...

Ryan you should so post the video of you singing on the weather deck :P As for the foul mouthed anchor..shes human she messed up unfortunatly in her career it could mean the end of her career at wnbc. I agree that ANYONE who is placed on live tv should watch their language because yes alot of people curse BUT its not acceptable in many workplaces and a tv station is no acception cameras rolling or not.

Anonymous said...

I read this blog and kinda giggle, not bc it's all that funny, but because it's that rediculous. People will complain if you do anything remotely wrong these days. Here's a newsflash for those people! NO ONE IS PERFECT-O! (not even them ahhh that might be a shocker to them who knows lol) I won't forget the time my pastor said a "slang" term to describe "certain women" that do un Godly things to their body and don't understand their body is a Temple. ON THE PULPIT!! Hey it got the point across, i'm sure people in the church complained. As far as News Anchors OF COURSE it should be serious subject. My husband and I got a good laugh out of You (Ryan) during the last storms system that came through around Egypt/Cash when the storm tracker was MOVING INTO THE STORM. If I was you I would be yelling and screaming "stop", but you did it in a calm matter and I give you kudos for that.