I thought it was very odd that they led the newscast with a live in-studio interview with Brent Wouters. He was essentially saying that Cirrus was doing "great," that forecasts looked good, etc. He did not mention anything about how the company was going to lay off 50 more people the very next morning. 

I do understand that December through April are historically their slowest months for production, but it's pretty disingenuous to ignore the layoffs altogether.

farglebargle,

I was referring to Brent Wouters' not referring to the layoffs that would occur the day after the interview.

Brent is the CEO. He knew about the layoffs weeks before the interview, yet neglected to mention it in the interview.

OK.  I missed the Cirrus story coverage actually, and I only caught the Blom thing on facebook, actually.  In fact, full disclosure I watch almost no local news, although I do go to their sites and read/watch stories almost daily.  Actually besides football in season, the only network show I watch with regularity is "The Office" and I do that online after the kids are in bed at my convenience.

So, without taking any risks myself, I was hoping there might be some discussion of the broader character of the news carried on that mega station (5, maybe 6 signals now, plus at least 2 on the range). But I guess I need to show some more of my hand to get that ball rolling.  A story:   

I was at a press conference in Duluth regarding a shooting over a year ago.  People were there from everywhere media-wise.  Asst Chief Beyer ran it.  He read a statement, and got a few questions from Ralph Doty (KDAL?) Bob Kelliher (MPR) and then Beth Jett who was brand new to town at that point jumped in and just OWNED the conference, firing questions everywhere and uncovering some real news.  She asked maybe 15 questions, politely but assertively. I don't remember who was there from DNT or what questions they asked.  But they certainly didn't shine like Beth did, no one did, actually.  (She is good aside from the pet obsession, but who's perfect?)  The other tv peeps WDIO had one or two questions, they were there with team coverage which seemed wise since they could have one focus on the press conference and others gauge community reaction, etc.  So the media sent their best and brightest, everyone did.  Except ... the last one to pipe in was one of the lead reporters with a well known face from the NNC, the reporter (name and gender withheld)asked a question that had already been answered ... and it seemed a little disingenuous like the person was just asking it to be seen asking a question for his/her own report ... or worse maybe the person hadn't been listening closely at all, intending to craft together the details back at the station from the raw tape and pull analysis from all the other reporters musings.  And that is just one example of one day over a year ago.  But it seems to fit the pattern of overall coverage pretty well.  And why that sad gap at NNC?

They have the "biggest" newsroom, I guess and "more news" and even some very good reporters and anchors talented enough to do some great hard or accurate news, even real investigations (Kevin Jacobsen comes to mind, for the younglings, Michelle Lee among the well seasoned crew) so the ingredients are there, but ... I don't get the payoff.  

Content-wise, and even in terms of news assignments (IMO) the NNC can't hold a candle to WDIO or Fox-21, either.  I agree with the poster that something isn't right there.    Yet they have all of these great resources from 2 "combined" newsrooms when the stations (KBJR and KDLH) merged under deregulation several years ago.  Why are they so far back in the pack?  Why has there been such minimal news payoff from that merger for us, the local community?

ok.  Rant over.  I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings.  Thoughts?

"More newscasts equals more news" is a line in a Northland's News Center promo. 

Dlhmn is right. "More newscasts equals more repetition of the same stories."

Not that there's anything wrong with that -- having several broadcasts for people to watch throughout the day is a good thing -- but there's no need to try to con the public.

Check out the headline "Northland's News Center" has placed on a story about a Sunday stabbing in Duluth:

http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/local/81938862.html

(in case they change it later, as of early Monday morning the headline reads: Black Male Victim of Domestic Stabbing in Duluth's East Hillside)

Way to perpetuate stereotypes as if the victim's race had something to do with him getting stabbed. And just in time for Martin Luther King Jr. Day!