Journalism & Society: "It Feels Very Awkward, Doesn't It?"

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

"It Feels Very Awkward, Doesn't It?"

A Cincinnati morning news anchor, apparently, holds a Dance Party Friday segment during the show. Is this appropriate behavior for a journalist?

13 comments:

JD said...: I think this is appropriate. It's definitely not traditional, but the thing about this field is that it's always evolving. Finding out how to deliver news can be an experimental process as the field changes. This is true especially in the entertainment news, which is what was being portrayed here. Under the ideas of classic journalism, this would not be appropriate, but since the field is changing, I think we have to change what we consider appropriate. I find it to be appropriate.; August 26, 2015 at 3:47 PM
Geneva Heffernan said...: I agree with JD. Although this behavior seems out of line for a traditional journalist, this anchor could still be exposing an element of society and culture through this dance break and thus be participating in journalism. I believe that whether this behavior is appropriate or not depends on the objective of the news station at which he is employed and whether or not it is compatible with that station's purpose and image in the public eye. Regardless of that purpose, this behavior should still be considered journalism in it ever-evolving field.; August 27, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Nick Gervasi said...: I believe this behavior is not necessarily a bad thing. This song has become a very popular song throughout the year and this is just another perfect example of how new stages of media is evolving. The news needs to appeal to different audiences, from adults to kids. Kids definitely jumped all over this and this dance got the show more worldwide attention. It shouldn't have got all this attention, but it did. Isn't that what the news is supposed to do? Grab your attention?; August 28, 2015 at 3:42 PM
Ashley Paskill said...: I do no think this is bad. This was part of a Dance Party Friday segment, so it did have a place in the segment. If it was out of the blue, it would not be professional. This song is a popular song, so it fits in with the news in terms of entertainment.; August 28, 2015 at 7:42 PM
Morgan Kolakowski said...: At first it seems out of place and unnecessary but with today's society there is always a want for entertainment. There is a specified segment for it called "Dance Party Friday" therefore giving it a proper time and place. The dancing brought a lot of attention and media to the segment which is probably exactly what the journalists wanted to happen. In the media today, people live off of unnecessary entertainment because lets face it....we love to get a good laugh after a long day!; August 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Thomas Beck said...: I do not think that this type of behavior is appropriate. There is a time and a place for everything. And while there is nothing wrong with having fun or expressing oneself, the anchor seemed to be dancing with the sole purpose of pleasing the audience. The newsroom is a place of business. Viewers should be able to expect a certain level of professionalism from journalists and reporters alike. If said professionalism is not maintained, the credibility of the station and its employees will gradually wane over time.; August 30, 2015 at 7:05 PM
Geo said...: For all you aspiring news reporters and anchors: would you do The Whip on live television, during the newscast?; August 30, 2015 at 11:13 PM
Kaitlyn Moore said...: I think this scenario looks awkward and out of place when just watching the video out of content. Personally, I grow very attached to the news anchors I watch daily on television. When I am in a situation where I watch another news broadcast my initial emotional reaction is discomfort and distrust. One of the ways news anchors create an attachment with their viewers is to be likable. To bring light to the daily news report that is often negative is surely to bring on a positive feedback for that news station. I think this is a positive and culturally relevant way to entice viewers.; August 31, 2015 at 6:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Bridget Cigler
There is no necessarily "appropriate" or "inappropriate" behavior for a journalist, however, with a generation with attention spans that shrink by the second, it is important to be somewhat entertaining, but not in this way. When one is interested in news that a journalist would report, it is expected that when watching the program, it is completely news related, but that does not mean the occasional small joke makes the journalist any less credible. To be entertaining does not lay solely in doing the extreme such as this journalist did, but getting a small chuckle from the audience by using some kind of awkwardly funny joke or pun could be just enough to keep the audiences' attention, as well as the journalists' professional appearance.; September 3, 2015 at 1:12 AM
Robert Wurtenberg said...: In my opinion, this is not bad journalism, nor is it something that should not have been shown on the air. I think that this was a very interesting way of delivering news and there is nothing to really complain about this. If anything, you should just laugh that this is what the anchor was doing. There are many ways of delivering news and if this is the way he chooses to do it, then so be it.; September 4, 2015 at 12:41 PM
Geo said...: But would you do The Whip on TV? Would you be that reporter?; September 8, 2015 at 9:36 PM
Unknown said...: I don't think this is bad behavior for a journalists by far. I think journalist should be serious when it is time to, however when discussing a well known pop-culture dance, journalist can be silly and whimsical as well. Often times I think newscasters are often de-humanized because of how serious they can come off. Having a little fun on air during an appropriate time could improve ratings but also show that this is an actual human being reporting my news to me. I see this a lot on shows like the "Today show" and "Good Morning America" and I don't feel like Journalists being silly during appropriate times should be an issue, as long as when the time comes to be serous and professional they don't intertwine the two.; September 10, 2015 at 10:13 PM
Anonymous said...: Adriana Vela

I think depending on the news broadcast its okay to show the dancing. I don't think she was dancing i appropriately and journalism is changing therefore this is modern journalism. It is entertaining for the viewers and I am sure people thought it was funny and enjoyed watching this clip.; December 10, 2015 at 1:10 AM