Tuesday, August 2, 2011

8.2.11 Bee-otch of the Day: WBBM-TV Chicago





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Name: WBBM-TV
Age: 65
Occupation: CBS O&O
Last Seen: Chicago, IL
Bee-otched For: bad editing

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Growing up in northern Michigan, I always thought that my local TV stations' news departments sucked at editing.

During live newscasts, there was always a ton of errors brought to you by master control: wrong button pushing, sloppy editing and even the wrong graphics. But then again, what else do you expect from market 116?

Then, I grew up and realized that yes, even big city stations have their problems with the wrong edits. Even worse, this time, it's Chicago's WBBM-TV, which is owned and operated by CBS.

The station is apologizing for a video slip-up that many are deeming racist. It aired all the way back on June 30, but it's now making headlines. The report was part of a fast-moving package of stories of shootings. This story in particular was about two teens who were shot, but not killed in the city's seedy south side. A group of young children were watching the event unfold, and one of them was being asked by a freelancer.

The reporter asked the boy, "What are you going to do when you get older?" The kid responded, "I'm gonna get me a gun!"

The video ended, and the anchors that night groaned in disbelief. However, WBBM didn't air all the video.

An organization called the Maynard Institute for Journalism Education obtained a copy of the video, and it ended with the reporter asking "Why would you want to do that?"

"I'm going to be the police!" cried the kid.

Because of Channel 2's piss-poor editing, a little boy is now being looked at as a criminal, and not a hero. This poor kid has been through so much at his young age as-is, and if he grows up to be a cop, kudos to him.

Channel 2 did apologize in a statement, stating that they were investigating the matter, and changing their policies on interviewing young children. I agree with the majority that what the station did was beyond stupid. Don't TV stations have to ask people if they want to be on the air? Thing is, a little boy can't think for himself.

But, if he wants to be a cop when he grows up, then he's thinking in the right direction.

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