Yesterday, FTVLive showed you a screenshot of a live shot by WCNC (Charlotte) in which they didn’t even bother to leave the station’s parking lot.

Charlotte sources tell FTVLive that many of WCNC’s live shots happen from the parking lot of the station.

“They have even featured reporters in between two giant shrubs,” says our source. This is a problem not only for WCNC but all stations that go live just for the sake of going live.

How often do you see a Reporter standing out in dark talking about a crime that happened hours before? You see nothing behind the Reporter because it’s completely dark outside. Yet this is done time and time again.

If there is nothing to show live, then don’t go live. I know the TV consultants will tell you that you have to go live and that it drives ratings, but that’s bullshit. How does having a Reporter stand in the dark, to talk about a scene that you can’t see, and tell you about a crime that happened 6 hours ago give you higher ratings?

You you must go live, why not send the Reporter down to the police station where you can see something behind her. He/She can say how detectives are working the crime in the station behind them. Viewers will see the Reporter in front of the cop shop and might pay attention to what they are saying.

Producers, don’t go live for the sake of going live. But if you do, demand that you can see something behind the talent.

And flat out refuse to let talent go live from the parking lot of the station. If your News Director or EP demands it…..quit your job and go to a station that cares a little more about covering the news and cares a bit more about the viewers that watch it.

Stations across the country are dying for Producers and you can work for a place that isn’t so lazy that they send their Reporters out the back door to go live.

If you need to find a new job, email me and I will set you up with either a station that cares about news or an TV Agent that will find you a station that does.