Dave Foulk Internet Flyer

From this listening post, there’s a lot of heat, and not much light coming from the syndicated talk shows at the end of this year.  And television news is as stuck as a phonograph needle on an old ‘78 RPM record.  For those who are not familiar with how a a stuck phonograph needle sounds, ask your grandpappy.

There’s no denying that the issue of federal snooping on it’s own citizens is a major issue, one of the top ones of the year. After the second week of talking about it, though, we are running out of things to say.  Talk show hosts are repeating themselves and the callers are saying the same thing.  It’s under investigation, Congress is home drinking hot Dr. Pepper and eating chicken salad finger sandwiches.  The issue has been talked to death for now.  Please, wait until something new happens.  The self-appointed Washington TV experts need some time off, too.

There are some excellent reporters in Washington, DC.  One of them is a former WSB newsman, Peter Maier.  He is fair, conscientious, and  a hard worker.  Hence, he is on radio. Listen for his reports on CBS, and Westwood One.  Peter was the “go to” reporter when they needed someone with experience, compassion, and ability to cover the horrific Tsunami when it happened.

If I see one more Katrina recovery story, I am going to evacuate myself.  Every potential angle has been followed in the past two weeks.  Why?  Because it is a slow news time.  Those year-ender pieces from New Orleans say very little that’s new.   Same for  Tsunami pieces.  They are rebuilding a shattered  piece of the world.

If you ever hear “continue” in the first line of a news story—beware. “The clean-up continues” , “The furor over internet snooping continues”.  The word “continues”  is news-speak at best for:”nothing new is happenning”, and at worst for:”whoever wrote this couldn’t come up with a compelling lead”.

Here are just four on my list of stories that I believe are not getting the coverage they deserve right now:

• Newspapers in Europe and in Turkey say the United States and allies are planning a pre-emptive strike against Iran and it’s nuclear industry.
• What is happening in the housing and construction industry?  Is there such a demand for materials to the Gulf Coast that prices in other places might cause a big slowdown in new home building?  And what would that do to existing home sales, home improvements,etc?
• Our southern border is broken, and bleeding immigrants.
• What are our elementary, junior, and high school students learning.  How does this state compare with others.  And how many teachers are saying “forget it”  to disclipline problems and government paperwork, and either entering another field or private school?

If I were in on one of those assignment/editorial meetings, I would bring those ideas to the table.  And then, I would probably be asked to go for coffee for the rest of them