Friday, January 20, 2006

The Eye at Five

Channel 5 has announced today the creation of a nine-member investigative unit. (Although Emily Rooney had that news on last week's "Beat the Press" show on Channel 2.)

There's no way you can't be heartened by the idea of more long-form, investigative journalism on local TV. There are some quality reporters on this team, so hopefully, it's safe to assume there will be a minimum of "sweeps" driven stories on lethal underwear and fast food that causes impotence. Here's the release:

WCVB-TV Channel 5 President and General Manager Bill Fine will announce plans today to launch Team 5 Investigates, a nine-person unit dedicated to uncovering news, developing stories over an extended period and digging deeper into the top news of the day. The local, live investigative team will be the largest unit in the Boston television market when it debuts in early February 2006.

The dynamic team of reporters include Janet Wu, Susan Wornick, Kelley Tuthill, Rhondella Richardson and Sean Kelly. Each journalist brings unique enterprise reporting experience to Team 5 Investigates.

Jen Berryman will serve as Executive Producer of Team 5 Investigates. She has been Executive Producer of NewsCenter 5 at 11 for seven years. Medical reporter and producer Rhonda Mann takes over for Berryman on the late news. Coleen Marren is News Director and Neil Ungerleider is Assistant News Director.

In announcing the initiative, Fine said, “This team intends to uncover and discover news, not merely report on the big news stories of the day. This impressive group of reporters and news producers reflect decades of enterprise reporting in Greater Boston and beyond. Our promise to viewers; Team 5 Investigates will offer fair, balanced and accurate reporting.”

1/20/2006 4:06:54 PM by Mark Jurkowitz | Comments [4] |
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Friday, January 20, 2006 5:42:47 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

I hope they produce serious work, and not journalism of the caliber of most of the network news magazines which is more sensational infotainment than news. Also stay away from promos for the channel's enetertainment programs thinly disguised as the 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM news.

acf

Saturday, January 21, 2006 10:31:31 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Put a bow on it. How often can these stations wrap, or repackage as they like to call it, their product?

wes

Saturday, January 21, 2006 7:39:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

no way the Investigative Team can stay serious for any period of a time with a majority female audience. It'll be near total crap in less than a year ("The Hidden Dangers of Manicures!").

anonite

Sunday, January 22, 2006 7:31:06 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)

Please, spare me the hype that this will be serious investigative journalism. I wish it were, certainly, but especially in broadcast today 'investigative' really means 'consumer' news with a dollop of suprising stuff on the surface. Will we see hard-hitting pieces about zoning and the high cost of housing, or why school projects in this state are over budget, or why the T sucks-- or will we see more specials about how some product in the supermarket didn't get rung up at the right sale price? I think we all know the answer.

themofo

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