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Why this story?

E

edwardrmurrow

Guest
WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his "kennel" Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the dog was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but the the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the story ended happily with the return of the truck and the dog.The only thing the story had anything,but very little to go on was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape of the truck being stolen until several hours later to Rockwall police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The question remains disregarding the ultimate find on the thieves,why did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a vehicle or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was so compelling to run the story? The story played over two nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog, nothing else.
 
> WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
> stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his "kennel"
> Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the dog
> was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but the
> the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the story
> ended happily with the return of the truck and the dog.The
> only thing the story had anything,but very little to go on
> was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape of
> the truck being stolen until several hours later to Rockwall
> police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in
> Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The question
> remains disregarding the ultimate find on the thieves,why
> did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a vehicle
> or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was so
> compelling to run the story? The story played over two
> nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog,
> nothing else.

Because it was a human interest story. I saw it and I found it interesting. Was it earth-shaking? No. But it hit home with many people who consider their pets to be part of the family.
 
> > WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
> > stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his "kennel"
>
> > Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the dog
>
> > was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> > someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but
> the
> > the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the
> story
> > ended happily with the return of the truck and the dog.The
>
> > only thing the story had anything,but very little to go on
>
> > was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape
> of
> > the truck being stolen until several hours later to
> Rockwall
> > police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in
> > Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The
> question
> > remains disregarding the ultimate find on the thieves,why
> > did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a vehicle
>
> > or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was
> so
> > compelling to run the story? The story played over two
> > nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog,
> > nothing else.
>
> Because it was a human interest story. I saw it and I found
> it interesting. Was it earth-shaking? No. But it hit home
> with many people who consider their pets to be part of the
> family.
>
Fox 4 ran with this story the past 2-3 nights as well. Its a decent human interest piece interspliced into all the "Murder/Shooting/Car Accident/Schools In Trouble" Packages that have been running in this market recently. Personally, id rather see more stories such as this on a nightly basis than the "If It Bleeds, It Leads"-type of tabloid sensationlism local news has become.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by Slambang on 07/07/05 05:01 PM.</FONT></P>
 
> WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
> stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his "kennel"
> Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the dog
> was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but the
> the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the story
> ended happily with the return of the truck and the dog.The
> only thing the story had anything,but very little to go on
> was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape of
> the truck being stolen until several hours later to Rockwall
> police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in
> Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The question
> remains disregarding the ultimate find on the thieves,why
> did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a vehicle
> or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was so
> compelling to run the story? The story played over two
> nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog,
> nothing else.


A couple of possible answers to your most appropriate question. (1) Some1 news directors and producers subscribe to the theory that stories about dogs and/or kids almost always sell and (2) There are slow news days and no news days. Sometimes #2 exerts a great influence on when to go for a #1.

Then again, it may be neither of the above. Story choice is an elusive art.
 
> > > WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
> > > stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his
> "kennel"
> >
> > > Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the
> dog
> >
> > > was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> > > someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but
>
> > the
> > > the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the
> > story
> > > ended happily with the return of the truck and the
> dog.The
> >
> > > only thing the story had anything,but very little to go
> on
> >
> > > was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape
>
> > of
> > > the truck being stolen until several hours later to
> > Rockwall
> > > police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in
>
> > > Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The
> > question
> > > remains disregarding the ultimate find on the
> thieves,why
> > > did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a
> vehicle
> >
> > > or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was
>
> > so
> > > compelling to run the story? The story played over two
> > > nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog,
> > > nothing else.
> >

All the stations down here in Houston had this story as well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for a country song. <P ID="signature">______________
"I Believe In The Power Of Love."
Luther Vandross 1951-2005</P>
 
> > > > WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
>
> > > > stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his
> > "kennel"
> > >
> > > > Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the
>
> > dog
> > >
> > > > was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> > > > someone with a mental disability. That would be
> news,but
> >
> > > the
> > > > the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the
>
> > > story
> > > > ended happily with the return of the truck and the
> > dog.The
> > >
> > > > only thing the story had anything,but very little to
> go
> > on
> > >
> > > > was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video
> tape
> >
> > > of
> > > > the truck being stolen until several hours later to
> > > Rockwall
> > > > police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped
> in
> >
> > > > Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The
> > > question
> > > > remains disregarding the ultimate find on the
> > thieves,why
> > > > did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a
> > vehicle
> > >
> > > > or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that
> was
> >
> > > so
> > > > compelling to run the story? The story played over two
>
> > > > nights. The first being about the stolen truck and
> dog,
> > > > nothing else.
> > >
>
> All the stations down here in Houston had this story as
> well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for a
> country song.
>

Why not this story?? It got my attention and I felt bad for the family. Then I was able to feel good for them when their dog made it home.

It seems to be the luck of the draw what gets reported. Not every murder, not every house fire, not every car chase, not every bank robbery, etc. makes the evening news. They pay someone big bucks to decide what we see. Then we get to sit here and pick apart their decisions. I am guilty of that and I reserve the right to do it.
 
> >
> > Because it was a human interest story. I saw it and I
> found
> > it interesting. Was it earth-shaking? No. But it hit
> home
> > with many people who consider their pets to be part of the
>
> > family.
> >
> Fox 4 ran with this story the past 2-3 nights as well. Its a
> decent human interest piece interspliced into all the
> "Murder/Shooting/Car Accident/Schools In Trouble" Packages
> that have been running in this market recently. Personally,
> id rather see more stories such as this on a nightly basis
> than the "If It Bleeds, It Leads"-type of tabloid
> sensationlism local news has become.
>
It was a human interst story, and it bashed corporate devil Walmart. That was the focus I saw, "the store manager was too busy to get the survelience tape", Oh my.

Good journalism to me would have followed up on the recovery story one of two ways:

1 the threat that these chop shops are to people who can afford new trucks.

2 the number of people who have air conditioned dog beds in the back of their truck and don't have decent security devices.
 
> > > > > WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup
> truck
> >
> > > > > stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his
> > > "kennel"
> > > >
> > > > > Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if
> the
> >
> > > dog
> > > >
> > > > > was a seeing eye dog or used to help a
> parapelegic,or
> > > > > someone with a mental disability. That would be
> > news,but
> > >
> > > > the
> > > > > the persons who owned him were in good health. Now
> the
> >
> > > > story
> > > > > ended happily with the return of the truck and the
> > > dog.The
> > > >
> > > > > only thing the story had anything,but very little to
>
> > go
> > > on
> > > >
> > > > > was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video
> > tape
> > >
> > > > of
> > > > > the truck being stolen until several hours later to
> > > > Rockwall
> > > > > police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were
> stopped
> > in
> > >
> > > > > Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The
> > > > question
> > > > > remains disregarding the ultimate find on the
> > > thieves,why
> > > > > did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a
> > > vehicle
> > > >
> > > > > or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that
>
> > was
> > >
> > > > so
> > > > > compelling to run the story? The story played over
> two
> >
> > > > > nights. The first being about the stolen truck and
> > dog,
> > > > > nothing else.
> > > >
> >
> > All the stations down here in Houston had this story as
> > well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for a
> > country song.
> >
>
> Why not this story?? It got my attention and I felt bad for
> the family. Then I was able to feel good for them when their
> dog made it home.
>
> It seems to be the luck of the draw what gets reported. Not
> every murder, not every house fire, not every car chase, not
> every bank robbery, etc. makes the evening news. They pay
> someone big bucks to decide what we see. Then we get to sit
> here and pick apart their decisions. I am guilty of that and
> I reserve the right to do it.
>
Human interest story..ok. I still maintain dogs and autos get stolen everyday,why this particular story? Walmart being typical walmart? I feel someone knew "somebody" thus it was reported. I am glad the truck and the dog are back safely and the bad guys got caught,however.
 
> > > > > > WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup
> > truck
> > >
> > > > > > stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his
> > > > "kennel"
> > > > >
> > > > > > Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if
>
> > the
> > >
> > > > dog
> > > > >
> > > > > > was a seeing eye dog or used to help a
> > parapelegic,or
> > > > > > someone with a mental disability. That would be
> > > news,but
> > > >
> > > > > the
> > > > > > the persons who owned him were in good health. Now
>
> > the
> > >
> > > > > story
> > > > > > ended happily with the return of the truck and the
>
> > > > dog.The
> > > > >
> > > > > > only thing the story had anything,but very little
> to
> >
> > > go
> > > > on
> > > > >
> > > > > > was Walmart refused to show the close circuit
> video
> > > tape
> > > >
> > > > > of
> > > > > > the truck being stolen until several hours later
> to
> > > > > Rockwall
> > > > > > police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were
> > stopped
> > > in
> > > >
> > > > > > Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop".
> The
> > > > > question
> > > > > > remains disregarding the ultimate find on the
> > > > thieves,why
> > > > > > did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a
>
> > > > vehicle
> > > > >
> > > > > > or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it
> that
> >
> > > was
> > > >
> > > > > so
> > > > > > compelling to run the story? The story played over
>
> > two
> > >
> > > > > > nights. The first being about the stolen truck and
>
> > > dog,
> > > > > > nothing else.
> > > > >
> > >
> > > All the stations down here in Houston had this story as
> > > well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for
> a
> > > country song.
> > >
> >
> > Why not this story?? It got my attention and I felt bad
> for
> > the family. Then I was able to feel good for them when
> their
> > dog made it home.
> >
> > It seems to be the luck of the draw what gets reported.
> Not
> > every murder, not every house fire, not every car chase,
> not
> > every bank robbery, etc. makes the evening news. They pay
> > someone big bucks to decide what we see. Then we get to
> sit
> > here and pick apart their decisions. I am guilty of that
> and
> > I reserve the right to do it.
> >
> Human interest story..ok. I still maintain dogs and autos
> get stolen everyday,why this particular story? Walmart being
> typical walmart? I feel someone knew "somebody" thus it was
> reported. I am glad the truck and the dog are back safely
> and the bad guys got caught,however.
>
So endeth the tale of the pickup and the pooch.
 
> All the stations down here in Houston had this story as
> well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for a
> country song.
>
I went into WalMart
To get me some bread.
Some thugs took my pickup
with my dog in the bed.

The cops talked to WalMart
but they would not let them peak.
But some other police men
Found my truck in Mesquite.


(45's on sale in the electronics section)
 
> WFAA had a story on tuesday night about a pickup truck
> stolen at a Walmart in Rockwall with A dog in his "kennel"
> Box. Ok I can understand the need for the story if the dog
> was a seeing eye dog or used to help a parapelegic,or
> someone with a mental disability. That would be news,but the
> the persons who owned him were in good health. Now the story
> ended happily with the return of the truck and the dog.The
> only thing the story had anything,but very little to go on
> was Walmart refused to show the close circuit video tape of
> the truck being stolen until several hours later to Rockwall
> police. Ch.8 lucked out when the thieves were stopped in
> Mesquite and found to be running a "chop shop". The question
> remains disregarding the ultimate find on the thieves,why
> did WFAA report a stolen truck/dog story when it a vehicle
> or missing pet occurs almost daily? What was it that was so
> compelling to run the story? The story played over two
> nights. The first being about the stolen truck and dog,
> nothing else.
>

It's a better story than that. What the cops ultimately found on the tape was that the thieves had left their own red truck parked in the the parking lot for TWO HOURS after they stole the pickup. If the cops had seen that tape when they first showed up, they could have staked out the truck that was still sitting there and waited for the theives to show up. It would have been a slam dunk case three days before they found the truck in Mesquite.

The other thing that bugged me was that Wal-Mart's employees just said they were too busy to help. I'm glad it wasn't a child taken on a busy day.

The whole thing tells me that going to Wal-Mart can be a risky venture.
 
> > All the stations down here in Houston had this story as
> > well. It's very typical. It made for a great plot for a
> > country song.
> >
> I went into WalMart
> To get me some bread.
> Some thugs took my pickup
> with my dog in the bed.
>
> The cops talked to WalMart
> but they would not let them peak.
> But some other police men
> Found my truck in Mesquite.
>
>
> (45's on sale in the electronics section)
>

LOL! :D<P ID="signature">______________
"I Believe In The Power Of Love."
Luther Vandross 1951-2005</P>
 
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