Northland’s NewsCenter 3: Haiti & other Good Stuff

Northland's News Center Volunteers at Haiti Telethon

Northland's News Center Volunteers at Haiti Telethon

Well, I’ve been critical of this operation twice before now, might as well make it a trilogy since no one else pointed this other stuff out …

After being awfully critical of the Northland’s News Center on this wonderful, community web page, I feel that it is appropriate to note that they did an on-air fundraiser on Wednesday and raised over $23,000 for Haiti relief. If you consider that people in Haiti may have lived on about $2 a day BEFORE the quake hit, it’s an even bigger deal.

Also, on the racial diversity front, over the years they have brought us many shining stars in hues other than just the Scandinavian/Northern European pink our region is so well-known for. (No offense, to KJ, Kessler or, my favorite, Dave Anderson intended). But I admit that it rings very hollow for a random blogger like me, on a little website like this one to cause a stir over diversity at that place WITHOUT mentioning all that they have done to promote racial harmony through their hiring practices on both sides of the camera. So … mea culpa on that front.

On another front, has anyone noticed any “women of a certain age” delivering news on any of the other local stations lately? Me neither. With the possible exception of Beth Jett, who strikes me as very Gen X, local commercial TV is pretty much dominated by the under 30 set when it comes to the ladies. Sure, some of that is economic – the jobs don’t pay a huge lot in this market – but (in my own personal opinion) part of it comes from a legacy of sexism in the local TV news business everywhere. However, the NNC has at least two very experienced, seasoned newswomen that have been on our local ariwaves for as long as I can remember: Barbara Reyelts and the “noozelady” herself, Michelle Lee.

Hoping this one doesn’t stir up the personal attacks my last one did, but if it does someone else is gonna have to manage them, because when you folks get out of hand, you REALLY get out of hand.

10 Comments

Bad Cat!

about 14 years ago

I didn't know they did a telethon, that's pretty cool. Also cool, that a "harsh online critic" is willing to point out positive contributions. :)

wildgoose

about 14 years ago

Clarification:  I am not "a critic"  I am JP or Wildgoose.  These dang flashy web nicknames and avatars get confusing sometimes.  Also, if I remember I almost always link my stuff back to me so people can know who I really am (like you do too, Bad Cat!).  I wish everyone would do that.  It might improve the flavor of the dialogue here, too. Or at least the stench

Danny G

about 14 years ago

Don't forget Trevor Roy.  She is one of my favorite local young chick reporters.

Trevor Roy

about 14 years ago

Seriously Danny....again?

adam

about 14 years ago

Local television has always been a turnstile to other markets.

David

about 14 years ago

Barbara Reyelts?  Michelle Lee?  Between the two of them, don't they anchor like 12 different news shows a week?

Seriously, Wildgoose, the media criticism needs rethinking.

wildgoose

about 14 years ago

I think it's about 5 shows each but they get repeated a lot. As was discussed on a previous post, more newscasts does not equal more news.  

If you are saying that my skills as a media critic are marginal, I actually agree with that.  Wholeheartedly. My skills as an editor are even worse.

David

about 14 years ago

It's cool.  That we have 4 of 5 women anchors on Northland's News Center (two of whom are "of a certain age) and 2 women of three anchors on WDIO strikes me as a good sign (I remember when women were thought to lack the gravitas to anchor).  

Are the reporters mostly young ladies?  Yes.  But:

"Women are 37.4 percent of television journalists, 36.9 percent of weekly newspaper journalists, and 33 percent of daily newspaper journalists."
--http://www.poynter.org/content/content_view.asp?id=28784

The real question is:  is Duluth progressive?  Or have we found the population of professionals who are willing to work for the (relatively) low wages this market will bear?  And in a reinscription of so many problematic areas, it is women who are willing to work for less than they are worth?

The Big E

about 14 years ago

Legitimate questions, but another way to look at it might be that women could be more attracted to the non-economic benefits of working/living here.

David

about 14 years ago

I certainly understand those factors, though I don't think it changes the fact that they are [likely] not paid what they are worth for their experience, talent and education.  If non-economic reasons make that decision tolerable, it doesn't make the condition justifiable.

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