I appointed myself as Chief LCM (local media critic…) because I got tired of waiting to be nominated for the position. Perhaps we don’t really need one, but I really need the chance to whine.

A change has come in broadcast news, television in particular. The local program as a primary source for news has been replaced by info-packages that “investigate” whether the ShamWow is really everything it is cracked up to be. Here now, the News:

On the sports desk, local football isn’t even included, relegated to OKSportsBlitz.com – We’ll be back with more sports in a moment.

My objections, it appears, are the result of old-fashioned expectations. Media consultant Terry L. Heaton writes:

Broadcast journalism’s salvation lies beyond the box of the 6 o’clock news, and we need to get past our deeply-rooted beliefs and traditions in order to find it.

In truth, my criticisms are based on traditional expectations. My concept of an evolving local broadcast has been rooted in an old model: I thought the purpose was to bring news of a regional nature, to a local audience.

Overlooked, on my part: the audience for that concept is aging, dying, or disappearing.

When I hear the sports anchor’s referral to the internet for more details, I assume that involves leaving the room to that place where the plastic machine lies dormant, waiting to be “booted up.” Dinosaur thinking.

Smart phones are in-hand, connected already. Laptops are at the elbow, wirelessly humming with the ability for instant access. Heaton says the evening news block is a aging concept and only change will keep the broadcasters in the mix.

Who knows?

The future of local news may be an interactive Skype-type discussion, where laptop chatters can form a virtual circle and decide what should be reported, for how long, and toward what conclusion.

My personal belief is that, at some point, someone will have to physically exit the chatroom to observe the world and return with real information – even if it is only the sad news that rain has cancelled the game, indefinitely.