News Media Dosn't cover S.M. Very often

[garryd451]

Last Tuesday there was a huge rash of large uncontrolled fieild and/or Grass Fires here in Cass County. I reported three of the major ones to the news tips lines at channel 3 in Kalamazoo, Channel 16 in South Bend and Channel 22 in South Bend. All 3 of these stations claims to and brags about how well they cover breaking news in Cass County.

The First Fire Was near Marcellus Michigan, it was a major fire and it jumped a river and then they had 2 major fires going. It took Fire Departments from Marcellus, Three Rivers and Jones over 4 and a half hour to put this fire out.

Another fire was in Howard Township, , this burned many acress and took firemen over 4 hours to put out.

The Third Fire was in Porter Township of Cass County, it burned a large area on U.S, 12, then the fire turned South and burned over a mile down Cass Cassopolis Road. This fire partial burned a home, a barn and a garage.

I not only notified all 3 TV Stations of these fires. I gave them updates on how bad of fire, how many acres were burning, how many fire departments fighting each fire and also howm any houses, barns and/or garages were burned or partialy burned.

All three TV Stations told me We have no one available to cover your earda, but please keeped up posted on these fires and and other fires.


I not complaining, but I have two questions:

Anyone else live in areas where the TV News Department don't cover stories?

Also why would these stations spend so much air time promoting that they cover news in your area but they don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[consys]

Your location statment "half way between" says it all. I live in one of those areas also. That's probably one of the reasons we scan.

And living in between has it's advantages. They forget about you but at least they leave you alone.

[rdale]

It all depends on what it is... To be honest, field fires don't offer that much newsworthiness. Unless it's taking out houses by the handful, sending a crew that far doesn't have the return on value. News gets value by viewers. Not many people live there - so they concentrate on where people live.

[JoeyC]

A brush fire is not very newsworthy unless its threatening structures and lives. 4 hours to put one out is nothing. Call the news next time when the fire has been burning for days.

[MONROEUSER]

They do not come to Monroe unless it is a huge deal. They never even showed us on the weather maps until after the plance crash in 1997.......

[MacombMonitor]

Originally Posted by garryd451

Also why would these stations spend so much air time promoting that they cover news in your area but they don't!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You never heard a news station say something that was untrue before?

[rdale]

"They never even showed us on the weather maps until after the plance crash in 1997"

Actually there's no connection... There never was a weather observation taken in Monroe County until the late 90's when the put in a system at the city's airport. No observation == not on the map :>

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by JoeyC

A brush fire is not very newsworthy unless its threatening structures and lives. 4 hours to put one out is nothing. Call the news next time when the fire has been burning for days.

In the area we live in, 4 hours is a long time for a grass, field, or wildfire to burn. There has only been one time that a fire lasted four days in this area. That was during the drought of 1988 and it was a muck fire in a marsh.

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by JoeyC

A brush fire is not very newsworthy unless its threatening structures and lives. 4 hours to put one out is nothing. Call the news next time when the fire has been burning for days.

In the area we live in, 4 hours is a long time for a grass, field, or wildfire to burn. There has only been one time that a fire lasted four days in this area. That was during the drought of 1988 and it was a muck fire in a marsh.

How many People know where Michigana is? Both channels 16 and 22 call any events or big news stories happening in Michiana. Only thing 85% of the time the things they are reporting are happening in Indiana and not Michigan.

In the past, I have written letters to the News Directors and the Station Managers at both Stations about this. Their response is if it happened in Northern Indiana it effect Michigan too. I am even talking about Tax increases in Indiana and changes in rules or law effecting Indiana and not Michigan. And the Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids Stations refuse to cover Berrien and Cass Counties.

So we are in no man's land!

[rdale]

Property tax increases in Indiana don't really impact Michigan at all, nor is it related to fires or scanners...

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by rdale

Property tax increases in Indiana don't really impact Michigan at all, nor is it related to fires or scanners...

SEE YOU'RE SMART, YOU FIGURED THAT OUT!!! INDIANA TV NEWS DIRECTORS THINK INDIANA TAX INCREASES EFFECTS SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN, THEY DIDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT!

[rdale]

Sales tax / tolls would affect SW Mich though.

[garryd451]

Originally Posted by rdale

Sales tax / tolls would affect SW Mich though.

That's true.

But South Bend TV Stations also say michiana when talking about indiana Property taxes abd Indian Lin plates cost increases too

[MONROEUSER]

I did not know that about our weather observations. You learn something everyday.

Thanks rdale

[fleurycove]

I live in Battle Creek, Every since Wotv channel 4 was pulled out by parent company Wood tv8 you cant get decent coverage here anymore. Channel 3 in Kalamazoo has a office here but the news coverage here Blows.

[rdale]

"I did not know that about our weather observations."

It was a great help getting them and then Lambertville online, many times a cool breeze off the lake will have those locations MUCH cooler but previously we had no way of knowing.