Former News Director Says You Can Blame Management

Former longtime News Director and General Manager Bob Jordan weighed in on the latest trend in TV news.

Jordan emailed FTVLive in reaction to two stories that he saw on FTVLive yesterday. First, the two Fresno Reporters all smiles at the scene where two teenagers were shot and killed.

And the second story is of the Florida Meteorologist who posted a sexy video in a bikini.

Jordan says it is time to start blaming management for this social media crap.

Here’s his email to FTVLive:

“It’s time to call out the ‘managers’ who are not minding the store. The immature people who post smiling selfies at a crime scene, skimpy bikini photos, and ice cream taste tests on set apparently don’t know any better.

So, let’s hold their bosses responsible. Instead of building an audience, which is their JOB, they are driving viewers away from local newscasts with drivel like this.”

When we emailed Jordan to ask for permission to use his name, he responded:

“Go right ahead, Scott. And I were you, I’d name the News Director. 

This shallow crap is damaging. It is antithetical to every successful news brand. 

Bob”

I know that management at TV stations is asked to do a lot. They are asked to do stupid reports and push a lot of paperwork that is really not needed. asking them to track all the staff’s social media is clearly a big job.

But, this is what the viewer sees and this is what is hurting your station’s credibility.

It is time for TV management to work on reeling in the talent and their posts.

While they are tasked with a lot, it would not be hard to send out an email to the staff that says, going forward, you will no longer post any dance videos, swimsuit pictures, or selfies from the scene of any news on station-branded social media with prior permission.

That seems like it would work.

Do any managers want to try it?