“One of the reasons why when Elvis dies or the Son of Sam is captured ABC News' ratings go up is because people who don't normally watch news are watching then. The question is, do you want to attract people who don't watch network news or fight over the people who do?” PeopleWantReasonDiesFightingWatchesSonNewsReason WhyCapturedRating Author:Roone Arledge
“Despite the Brian Williams lying scandal, NBC News led in the ratings last week. Although I should note the figures were reported by Brian Williams.” ShouldLastsLyingWeekFiguresNewsNotesDespiteScandalRatingBrianNbcNbc News Author:Conan O'Brien
“The news is a public service. It's a way to inform people of what's going on in their world. And when you make it about ratings and make it about ad dollars, there's no incentive to inform people. The incentive is to be sensationalistic and get as many people to watch as you can without any regard for truth or objectivity.” PeopleWorldWayWatchesNewsRegardDollarsAdsIncentivesObjectivityPublic ServiceRating Author:Michael Schur
“Foreign news is considered an expletive. Thoughtfully written analysis is out, 'live pops' are in. 'Action Jackson' is the cry. Hire lookers, not writers. Do powder puff, not probing interviews. Stay away from controversial subjects. Kiss ass, move with the mass, and for heaven and rating's sake, don't make anybody mad- - certainly not anybody you're covering, and especially not the mayor, the governor, the senator, the president or the vice-president or anybody in a position of power. Make nice, not news.” ActionMovingHeavenPresidentNiceWrittenSubjectsCryPositionKissingNewsMassMadSakeVicesPopsAssAnalysisInterviewsGovernorsSenatorsCoveringControversialMayorsRatingVice PresidentPowderPuffPosition Of PowerProbingExpletives Author:Dan Rather
“A great deal of our ratings on the morning news are people who died during the night with their TV on.” PeopleNightDealsMorningTvsNewsDiedRating Author:Bob Schieffer
“Fox News may be demolishing its more liberal cable news rivals in the ratings but to Democrats it's still the bogeyman. That's why President Obama took the opportunity to criticize the network during a speech defending his economic record at Northwestern University today. But in doing so, the president not only demonstrated the weakness of his position but also why he doesn't understand Fox's appeal.” MayStillsTodayOpportunityPresidentRecordsEconomicPositionSpeechNewsWeaknessDemocratUniversityAppealsCriticizePresident ObamaFoxesRivalsCablesNotableRatingFox NewsCable NewsNorthwesternNorthwestern University Author:Jonathan S. Tobin
“I just think that a much more important part of the problem we face, which was evident 10 years ago and is even more evident now, is that the way we share information among ourselves as American citizens has been radically transformed. The line between news and entertainment has almost dissolved, where ratings now have a big impact on what kinds of stories are covered and not stories.” ThinkingWayYearsKindHas BeensImportantStoriesProblemBigsFacesLinesShareInformationCitizensNewsYears AgoImpactEntertainmentCoveredTransformedEvidentRatingAmerican CitizensBig Impact Author:Al Gore
“When you talk about President Trump, the cable networks turned over so many hours of prime time to him. Why? Because he was entertaining, but also because it drove ratings. And that is different from what the news media is supposed to focus on.” DifferentPresidentHoursFocusMediaTrumpNewsPrimeEntertainingCablesRatingNews MediaPrime Time Author:Al Gore
“The news media are, for the most part, the bringers of bad news... and it's not entirely the media's fault, bad news gets higher ratings and sells more papers than good news.” MediaHigherPaperNewsSellsFaultsGood NewsPapersRatingBad NewsNews MediaGood News And Bad News Author:Peter McWilliams
“You'd think if anyone could charm America into caring about the evening news, it would be Katie Couric, the Tri Delt from Virginia who became America's sweetheart on the 'Today' show. But her ratings have been dismal - she comes in last place every week.” IfsThinkingHas BeensShowsWould BeTodayLastsAmericaWeekNewsCaringEveningCharmVirginiaRatingSweetheartKatieLast Place Author:Rob Sheffield