I’ll Dance Until I Die
The Pittsburgh Post Gazette did a story on TV people that use TikTok and they featured KDKA Weather Anchor Mary Ours.
The story was headlined, “‘I’ll dance until I die’: How KDKA is using TikTok to reach young viewers.”
Ours told the paper, “This is what I live for,” she said. “I love being a meteorologist, but I’m also getting back to what I love, which is singing and dancing. It’s so important to show everyone that you can be more than just what your career is. ... No one can stop me from dancing anymore. I’ll dance until I die.”
I will challenge anyone at CBS that can show proof that the weather lady posting dance videos is bringing more viewers to the newscasts.
Does anyone really think that the 18-year-old that swipes past her video in TikTok says to themselves, “you know that older lady can dance, I’m going to make sure to watch her on the news tonight.”
KDKA’s News Director Shawn Hoder said that the station’s TikTok and Instagram Reels ambitions “are a work in progress” and the focus remains on “giving information when we do these, not just entertainment.”
Oh really?!
As for Mary Ours, she has blocked FTVLive from seeing her videos on TikTok, but here she is on KDKA Anchor Heather Abraham’s TikTok. Maybe Shawn Holder can explain to us where the information is? Looks like just entertainment to us, and, not very good entertainment at that.
I am not against people using TikTok to try and explore ways to get younger viewers interested in the news. There are a number of TV people that are using the platform to tell and promote stories.
This is Mary Ours’ post to TikTok after the story was published in the Post Gazette. Yes, I know I said that Ours has blocked us on TikTok, but it’s not like we can’t find a way around the block.
I will once again ask the KDKA News Director where the information is.
If Mary Ours wants to dance and act like a 13-year-old on TikTok, she has every right to do just that.
But, don’t try and say that this is bringing in younger viewers, and shame on the News Director for saying that the posts will be informative and not just entertainment. That is a lie.
And, I’ll call it a lie, until I die.
Did you see what I did there?
H/T Post Gazette