TV Killed the Radio Star...

So first, an explanation. This blog is set up in part because Professor Mike Scully started one, and I thought it was a good idea. It's also a way to keep in contact with many of my students past and present. It's also an outlet to discuss broadcast journalism, and the crossroads the medium is at.

Which segue way's nicely into the name of this blog -- "Thieves and Pimps Running Free." It's actually a line taken from the great Hunter S. Thompson. It's found in his book called "Generation of Swine: Tales of Shame and Degradation in the '80s." Here's what he wrote about the TV biz:

The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.

So that's what Hunter S. Thompson thought of TV as it stood back then. Unfortunately it's not much better now. That's also the purpose of this blog; to discuss good broadcast journalism, and bad broadcast journalism.

For your viewing pleasure, here's an example of BAD broadcast journalism: