DE
Love the bit around 5 minutes in where the correspondent being interviewed via one of those enormous screens is still in shot when she's taking her mic off and about to wander away.
I actually don't dislike it in action as much as I did when I saw the screen grabs yesterday. Yes it's completely over the top, yes it's very much style over substance, form over function. But it probably will make news more accessible to some viewers in a very crowded US marketplace. I don't entirely understand what that videowall scrolling slideshow thing is all about but I can see the merits of explaining stories to the viewer by that big screen. It certainly works very well when they're on Hurricane watch! Is the idea that those story producers are interviewed by the anchor during the course of a developing story? If so I can see what the point is of having them on set with a screen big enough so that they can take you through a story without it having to be cut to full frame.
You may find it interesting that the idea of a host walking over to reporters who are in-shot the whole time and asking them to introduce their story was (seriously) proposed 8 years ago at a workshop I attended. Seasoned journalistic and technical staff all laughed it off as completely ridiculous. The idea isn't very far away from this Fox design at all.
I actually don't dislike it in action as much as I did when I saw the screen grabs yesterday. Yes it's completely over the top, yes it's very much style over substance, form over function. But it probably will make news more accessible to some viewers in a very crowded US marketplace. I don't entirely understand what that videowall scrolling slideshow thing is all about but I can see the merits of explaining stories to the viewer by that big screen. It certainly works very well when they're on Hurricane watch! Is the idea that those story producers are interviewed by the anchor during the course of a developing story? If so I can see what the point is of having them on set with a screen big enough so that they can take you through a story without it having to be cut to full frame.
You may find it interesting that the idea of a host walking over to reporters who are in-shot the whole time and asking them to introduce their story was (seriously) proposed 8 years ago at a workshop I attended. Seasoned journalistic and technical staff all laughed it off as completely ridiculous. The idea isn't very far away from this Fox design at all.
SC
scottishtv
Founding member
Still unenthusiastic about this. I can't see what watching someone struggling to select static pictures using a Wii remote brings to the show.
Looking forward to seeing the Daily Show's take on it.
Looking forward to seeing the Daily Show's take on it.
HO
Pretty sure the idea of the remote was to allow the presenter (or, more precisely, Shep Smith) to control the feeds and have more control of the final output while presenting, from the studio floor, as opposed to this being a better way for the viewer to understand the information.
Some of the reports about Fox News Deck have used lines/quotes similar to 'the roles of producers and directors has radically changed', and, 'allow Smith to 'call it as he sees it''.
Worth noting, though not necessarily directly relevant, that Shep was the anchor on-air as Fox reported on a live high-speed police chase that ultimately ended with the assailant shooting himself in the head. The entire ordeal - including the shooting - was broadcast live, and from memory Shep seemed personally angered that the control room could allow that to happen. I wonder to what extent this type of story, if not this particular one, provoked FNC chair Roger Ailes to create a dedicated team with no post-3pm distractions from breaking news coverage?
*
As for the other changes Fox brought about (on their 17th birthday), did anyone catch 'The Kelly Files', or see the 'On the Record''s new studio and set? I've only read a review and pre-launch reports on the Kelly Files, which all seemed to conclude that she won't air an opinion because she's both a proper journalist, and too 'moderate and reasonable' (code for not comfortable manufacturing and prolonguning stories she doesn't believe are true, like so much of FNC's opinion programming), but that ultimately the conservative audience will still approve because she's both a hot woman, and they have plenty of opinionated conservative pundits who will actually fill the air time. Oh, and that she failed to hold anyone to account in the manner she said she would.
Some of the reports about Fox News Deck have used lines/quotes similar to 'the roles of producers and directors has radically changed', and, 'allow Smith to 'call it as he sees it''.
Worth noting, though not necessarily directly relevant, that Shep was the anchor on-air as Fox reported on a live high-speed police chase that ultimately ended with the assailant shooting himself in the head. The entire ordeal - including the shooting - was broadcast live, and from memory Shep seemed personally angered that the control room could allow that to happen. I wonder to what extent this type of story, if not this particular one, provoked FNC chair Roger Ailes to create a dedicated team with no post-3pm distractions from breaking news coverage?
*
As for the other changes Fox brought about (on their 17th birthday), did anyone catch 'The Kelly Files', or see the 'On the Record''s new studio and set? I've only read a review and pre-launch reports on the Kelly Files, which all seemed to conclude that she won't air an opinion because she's both a proper journalist, and too 'moderate and reasonable' (code for not comfortable manufacturing and prolonguning stories she doesn't believe are true, like so much of FNC's opinion programming), but that ultimately the conservative audience will still approve because she's both a hot woman, and they have plenty of opinionated conservative pundits who will actually fill the air time. Oh, and that she failed to hold anyone to account in the manner she said she would.
NG
noggin
Founding member
Not even The Day Today predicted The Fox News Deck.
It's not even done that well - the finish quality of the touch screen housings is terrible (looks like a cheap "we'll only see it from the front - honest" bodge job), at least one of the large video walls has terrible colour-wheel-type rainbow artefacts on fast motion, and the lighting looks little more than house lights...
And don't get me started on American news programmes' reliance on poorly operated jibs and steadicams to "inject pace and urgency"... (See CNN for great examples...)
If they need Shep to be in control, maybe the bigger problem is not having experienced and assured producers and directors who know how to handle breaking news?
It's not even done that well - the finish quality of the touch screen housings is terrible (looks like a cheap "we'll only see it from the front - honest" bodge job), at least one of the large video walls has terrible colour-wheel-type rainbow artefacts on fast motion, and the lighting looks little more than house lights...
And don't get me started on American news programmes' reliance on poorly operated jibs and steadicams to "inject pace and urgency"... (See CNN for great examples...)
If they need Shep to be in control, maybe the bigger problem is not having experienced and assured producers and directors who know how to handle breaking news?
Last edited by noggin on 9 October 2013 1:27am
SC
"That's a Palestinian woman having a beef with an Israeli soldier"
"The Dow is down 134. Oh well..."
Yeah, I'm just not sold on that aspect at all.
scottishtv
Founding member
Pretty sure the idea of the remote was to allow Shep Smith to control the feeds and have more control of the final output.
"That's a Palestinian woman having a beef with an Israeli soldier"
'allow Smith to 'call it as he sees it''.
"The Dow is down 134. Oh well..."
Yeah, I'm just not sold on that aspect at all.
HO
"That's a Palestinian woman having a beef with an Israeli soldier"
"The Dow is down 134. Oh well..."
Yeah, I'm just not sold on that aspect at all.
I didn't say it would work, just what their intention appears to be
Pretty sure the idea of the remote was to allow Shep Smith to control the feeds and have more control of the final output.
"That's a Palestinian woman having a beef with an Israeli soldier"
'allow Smith to 'call it as he sees it''.
"The Dow is down 134. Oh well..."
Yeah, I'm just not sold on that aspect at all.
I didn't say it would work, just what their intention appears to be