Thursday, January 15, 2009

You Are Too Friendly!

Have you ever been accused of being "too friendly"? I never knew there was such a thing, but apparently for some, its a real turn off.

We received a complaint from a viewer regarding our 4pm-5pm newscast on WLBT. Here is the complaint:

“I think it is so unprofessional for your people to be so chatty with each other while broadcasting. Rob Jay and Maggie Wade tease each other; Barbie Bassett, Maggie and Stephanie Bell-Flynt talk about their families on TV, what they think about a subject, etc. I just get so tired of it. I turned to Channel 12 yesterday because they are VERY serious, as they should be. I learned in my mass communications education that one does not talk about oneself to the public: no one wants to hear it.” ---a viewer from Hazlehurst

Maggie, Steph and I spoke about this on yesterday's show. We really are good friends; what you are seeing isn't a result of any acting class. When Rob Jay and Maggie poke fun at each other, its genuine (you should see and hear what they do during the commercial breaks!). With the personalities at WLBT, what you see is what you get. Granted, the 4pm-5pm show lends itself to a more relaxed atmosphere, and any subject goes, especially when the medical professionals show up. When its time to be serious, we are; when its time to have fun, we do it in a big way!

So we asked yesterday's viewers what they thought: should we be "VERY serious" like the other channels or should we continue to do what we're doing and be ourselves? We asked our viewers to send emails to the show and vote. As of last night, the vote was overwhelming---2 for the "VERY serious" approach and 77 for the "be yourselves" approach. We'll be sharing these results with our viewers today on the show. Here is what the viewers who wanted us to stop being ourselves wrote:

"I agree with the emailer about the professional conduct of the three noisy, cackling, news women you have!" Signed, Anonymous

"Please, Please loose this entire format! I don't understand what WLBT was thinking anyway. There is nothing in this time slot that won't be repeated at 5, 6,and 10. Nobody wants to hear the weather repeated for the 99th time. You must be going for the ad revenue. There is already a doctors program on the air at 3:30. This program takes me back to my youth when my grandmother had chickens, about the same time of day they would all cackle while laying eggs. Boy, you really laid an egg with this one!" Signed, Anonymous

Isn't that the wonderful thing about remotes? You can press a button and it changes the channel instantaneously! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go sit on my nest.....(I'm smiling)....

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good grief, with all the negative junk that is going on these days, it is refreshing to me to see a news team who apparently have a good relationship. I catch Channel 3 @ 6 a.m. before I leave for work and usually at 6 p.m. or 10 p.m. In all my years of watching all the different stations, I note that Ch. 3's people seem to be very bonded to each other but when the news or weather becomes serious, all of the team are very serious about their job. You know you can't please all the people all the time, but some people should take a chill pill and relax and enjoy life. Keep up your good work.

Anonymous said...

I think the new format at 4:00-5:00 is new and refreshing. I love the personal touch that you ladies put on the stories that you report, and also the medical issues that you discuss. I say if your superiors at WLBT are happy with your show, (and they obviously are or you wouldn't be doing it),I wouldn't worry about a few unhappy people. They can always turn the channel if they don't like it!

Anonymous said...

The friendliness of the folks at WLBT is exactly why I watch its news exclusively! I love that you take Jesus, your career, and your family seriously, but you don't take yourself too seriously..you're fun to watch! Life can get too serious sometimes, we all need to lighten up a little. A merry heart is like good medicine.

Michael Detwiler said...

I think the 77-2 comment tells the entire story. Most, if not all, want you to be approachable and relational. They do not want you to be some stiff like PBS.

Keep up the joy! :)

Anonymous said...

I love yall, and I love everything about WLBT! Keep up the good work, and tune out those negative comments! Yall are awesome!!! Thanks!!

xxxxxxxx said...

Good Grief! Everyone is entitled to their opinion but really. if you don't like it turn it off. Watch Oprah. Now there's some real misguiding crap. I don't care what Oprah saids and if she decides to find me and give me a bunch of money I won't turn it down but, I don't like her or her programs so i just turn it off. I'll probably make some comment about it and the folk that watch it if I have to be around it but for the most part I just don't do Oprah. So if watching three young ladies at 4:00 who do their job well and don't mind allowing the people they serve to see a little of their reality turns you on then grab the news at 4:00.

Junebug said...

I like listening to the stuff that goes on...makes me wanna come hang out with yall!!

Anonymous said...

Thank goodness for remotes! Typically, I'm using it to swap TO Ch. 3! After teaching all day I'm ready for the FRIENDLY atmosphere of WLBT.

The cheerful heart has a continual feast. Proverbs 15:15

Wilson said...

It's amazing how those that criticize won't even sign their name to their email.

karen said...

People take things to seriously I work with the public and I have a greate since of humor. I laugh at life, it laughs at me!!! Ifeel sorry for the bitter grouches. I'm not going through life miserable! I had a woman that was very mad at me the other day and she showed me to much. I told some friends that she needed to button her pants over her head. It took awhile, but then we all laughed. It is the best medicene! good luck,Watch out for low airplanes they may go over your head

Anonymous said...

I love to see Rob Jay tease Maggie Wade! I crack up every time it happens. I like to see the friendships between you, Maggie and Stephanie, and that just shows what a great team WLBT has! Don't stop please just because of some negative comment! All I watch is WLBT and have since I was a little girl! Love you guys!

Anonymous said...

Laughter is the best medicine.
Life is too short to take it seriously.

Keep up the good work.

June F said...

Mrs. Bassett,

Hi. I love your show and I like the way everyone on the program reacts to each other. It is wonderful seeing people who can really get along with each other at work and be sincere and not just to be doing it to put on an act like a lot of people I have seen during my working life. Please keep up the antics as I enjoy them and you all very much.

June