good morning, everybody! a little bit about the genre of television morning news programs

Good morning, everybody!A little bit about the genre of

television morning news programs

What is it?

If you have ever turned on the T.V. before 9am anywhere in America, you have

probably seen a morning news show. Not sure? Do these sound familiar?

• Good Morning, America (ABC)

• Today Show (NBC)

• The Early Show (CBS)

• American Morning (CNN)

Common Features

Most of the national morning news shows have several common features.

The funny weatherman

• Shown outside with a crowd

• Talks with audience members

• Often has a slogan– “Here’s what’s

happening in your neck of the woods…” ~Al Roker, The Today Show, NBC

The trustworthy male host• Handsome• Older than the females• Funny, but serious• Wears a suit & tie

everyday• Common, “American”

names:– Harry Smith

– John Roberts

– Charles Gibson

– Tom Butler

– Matt LauerJohn Roberts,

American Morning, CNN

Harry Smith, The Early Show, CBS

The likeable female host

• Katie Couric—need I say more?

• Younger than male host

• Attractive but not sexy• Clothing is bright,

fashionable, yet professional

• Always happy

Katie Couric, former host of The Today

Show, NBC

THE EXCEPTION: Diane Sawyer, Good Morning

America, ABC

Kiran Chetry, Kiran Chetry, American American MorningMorning, CNN, CNN

The news update person

• Usually female• Gives snippits of

current news events• Appears in other

segments but is not a main anchor

• Chronicles feature stories

• Often a minority (race or ethnicity)

• Serious

Robin Roberts, Good Morning America, ABC

Ann Curry, The Today Show, NBC

Celebrity guests

• On-set interviews with celebrities in current headlines

• Tries to make the celebs look credible but this can backfire– Britney Spears looked like “white trash”– Tom Cruise seemed whacky & cult-ish

• Celebs promote current film, album, TV show

• Celebs defend themselves against tabloids

Morning concerts

Why anyone would want to go to (or watch) a concert at 7am is beyond me…

Health & wellness features

There are often full features or interviews devoted to specific health issues, such as:

• Colonoscopies (thanks, Katie)• Breast cancer• Overweight children• Food allergies• Autism• Healthy cooking

Family values

There are often stories that offer advice or support for family values, such as:

• Parenting tips for toddlers• Coping with divorce• Hosting a holiday party• Planning a wedding

Audience

People with the T.V.on in the morning

Getting readyfor work

Making lunchesfor the kids

Middle-classAmerica

Local T.V. morning news

Most network channels have some morning news shows but often they are snippits within the national shows or spots before they begin. There are a few stand-alone local news shows.

In Minneapolis, we have exactly one.

(My Shameless Plug)

FOX 9 MORNING NEWSFOX 9 MORNING NEWSWeekdays 5-9amWeekdays 5-9am

Top Tenreasons you should watch

Fox 9 Morning News10. Convenient, local channel9. Catchy theme music8. More local news7. No annoying celebrity interviews6. Julie Jay’s frequent, colorful traffic

reports5. M.A. Roscoe’s unexpected feature

stories (like the Summit Brewery & a workout class for brides-to-be)

4. Weather on the 9s3. Tom Butler’s lame jokes2. Alix Kendall’s perky personality….and the number one reason is….

Alix

Tom

Keith Marler = greatest meterologist alive

Funny beyond belief

Always accurate

Makes his cohosts look

good (and funny)

Did I mention funny?

Brief BioLives in Maple

Grove

Married to Susan (a teacher)

Has a bulldog named Mel

2 kids: Gracie & Jack

T.V. Morning News Genre Recap

• Network shows (some local)• Funny weatherman• Trustworthy male host• Likeable female host• Celebrity interviews• Concerts• Health features• Family values• Middle-class audience• Twin Cities’ FOX 9 MORNING NEWS ROCKS!