Since mentioning the news product shakeup at our local CBS affiliate, I feel obliged to follow-up. An earlier post mentioned the exciting changes KOTV had incorporated in their 10 pm newscast, including rattling some dinosaur-ish tradition bones.

Unfortunately, it may be nothing more than another graphics paint job.

I was thrilled to see what I thought was a tossing out of the old 1950’s formula (1. anchor at desk 2. reporter introduced 3. news subject speaks 4. pompous reporter standup closer 5. back to anchor at desk). Last night, Emory Bryan’s appearance punctuated that alterations were nothing more than cosmetic change.

He was back in an opening standup – the new graphics caught him off-guard and the split screen showed him fumbling around with the microphone as the anchor tossed it to him. He missed it.

Another split-screen had Terry Hood awkwardly smiling while the camera should have been pointed at her co-anchor. Not her fault. The director dropped the ball, which makes the anchors look bad. Graphics.

The only formulaic change of any note had a weather story immediately before shifting to the meteorologist. What a simple method to avoid those awkward moments when Travis Meyer has to segue from a story showing a horrible crash scene to a map showing sunny and bright.

Maybe the control room will work out the kinks with the new graphics. They’re attractive, but they aren’t news. Done badly, graphics are only an expensive distraction. It’s a shame the consultants are back to spray painting a bright finish on a rusty old hulk. The prospect of real innovation was invigorating. Ah well.

Everyone believes that change is difficult. I just never believed it to be impossible.

Meanwhile, the state of the panicky broadcasting industry is fodder for authors: