Media Critique for 11/12

Log: (critical analysis in bold)
KSTP: ABC News Eyewitness News (website: www.kstp.com)

H1N1: Health/Consumer 3:01 “H1N1 Affects Blood Supply”
- Many Americans still waiting
- Some will die because access not available to shot
- Ill donors and flu myth not donating blood
- Economy means less sponsors, less donors

Millions waiting for shots, and people are going to die. 4,000 have died up from 1,200. This combined with people not wanting to give blood because of scare of catching swine flu. Many Americans still waiting. -Clear play on people's fears. In fact there are several additional Swine Flu/H1N1 stories on the homepage. No question Swine Flu makes for good copy. Never mind that thousands more die annually from regular flu. Health experts interviewed, B roll of people getting shots.



Small Washington Co. Town Shaken by Murder: News 2:02
- Authorities trying to solve murder
- Small town, suspect seen, not from around the area
Video footage of dusty vacant roads to describe how desolate and small home this place is.

St. Paul Teen Didn’t Drink Himself to Death: News 2:08
- “Was it too much drinking or something more?”
- Reporter asked if Vue (teen) drank himself to death. Why? Because he was at a party? Does that upset you? (reporter asks)
- 15 year old, family upset that suspect was reported to die of drinking
- Clear that he is Laoisian
- Fight likely broke out. Died from internal bleeding.

Close up of sister with interview. Appeal’s to audience assumptions that Laosian teen was automatically drinking at the party – As in “did he die of drinking” the title of the piece. Actually, no one but the reporter suggested that was the cause of death. So the title was actually created by the reporter!


Minnesotans Endure Tropical Storm Ida in El Salvador: News: 2:10

- People returned from home from El Salvador
- Group from Thrivent-Financial building homes for Habitat for Humanity
- 14 inches dumped. Footage of helicopters, “waters rushing from mountains to sea” Images of building ruined

Perhaps a little bit sensationalized: Description of friends clinging trees, more then 500 confirmed dead (in the country), many more missing, friends (i.e., Americans) could have been killed but were saved.

Businesses Can Enter to Win Free Office Space: News: 1:38

- Drawing, company is trying to convince people to office with them. One winner gets a year of lease. Push to fill it up. 14% vacancy rate in downtown Minneapolis. Stimulus package.

What I would classify as the "cute" story. How businesses are getting creative to attract business. No analysis on how those who could not afford to rent now would be able to do so in the future. Feel good story nonetheless.

Sports: Fire Coach Byron Scott (AP) Nothing new there, but interesting Ad for WWII (masculine) documentary.

Toyota ad (X4),
Interesting Ad for EyeTeam Report: Kids in Schools without vaccinations – Parents opting out of shots. Are parents putting you and your kids at risk? Health expert interview again, and of course the shocking intonation in the voice offer "Are parents putting you and your kids at risk?" Watch to find out!

Media I consume in a week:
Radio: KDWB (Clear Channel), MPR (Public), KQRS Morning Show (Disney)
TV: CNN (Time Warner), History Channel (A&ETV), Comedy Channel (Sumner Redstone, MTV Networks Viacom), ABC (Disney)

Internet: Comcast - and doing a shoddy job at that.

Magazine: MacWorld (International Data Group)
Scholarly Publications: American Libraries (ALA), ACRL/ACRL News (ALA) Though there are a number of Reed Elseviere titles in there as well!

Music: Ben Folds Five, Rufus Wainwright (Sony), Regina Spektor (Warner) - Concert: Ticketmaster, Jam Entertainment(sp?)

Newspaper: Star Tribune (Who knows anymore - formerly Knight Ridder cum Avista Partners.

Websites: MinnPost, Columbia Journal Review, CNN, SportingNews, ESPN

Do I learn from alternative media (not gained through regular channels)? Without question. The amount of investigative reporting and sharp analysis is more significant in the niche alternative rags.