Strombotainment?
The always-excellent Ryerson Review of Journalism has published a feature article about George Stroumboulopoulos.
Here’s a sample from it:
The program drew immediate and heavy criticism for dumbing down the news in order to reach younger viewers, but then George isn’t trying to be a youth-friendly Peter Mansbridge. Nor is he trying to be a pundit, an academic or a politician — or a journalist, for that matter.
George is just some guy who likes his music, sports and politics mixed together in one fast, long conversation. The Hour gives that guy the chance to speak with the newsmakers of the day and interpret the news his own way.
Given the roasting George has received so far, it’s suprising to see that — every so often — he delivers an original kind of television product.
What is a little more difficult to calculate is whether or not it’s news programming or infotainment.
I dunno. I’m kind of tired of the boxes we try to put things into. To me, The Hour is more entertaining that news, but far more journalistically sound than what is traditionally known as “infotainment.”
Is there a middle ground here? “Strombotainment”?
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I’m just happy to see the CBC doing something different and getting new viewers. And, I’m not sure I’m entirely concerned with the level of education Strombo is giving his viewers; I mean, if you’re going to blame anyone for fast-paced summaries of world events, blame, I don’t know, the evening news, or the internet as a whole. People who view/read these summaries and see something they like will follow up on it. There’s so much going on, all anyone can do is pick and choose anyways.
I’m not touching that one. Oy!
Well I just read the article… the art work is a bit monty python meets zombies from facebook… I’m not saying that’s a bad thing…
Our bloggers were interviewed for that piece… I guess we were too supportive about The Hour. Oh well, they had to cut that out.
[...] So I am having a great time reading this insightful Ryerson J-school article on George. [via inside CBC] Here are excerpts from the article “A Case for George“, George is just some guy who [...]
To get this out of the way: Yes, I’m a girl & yes, I’m in the main viewership demographic. That aside, I am a supporter of the show.
There seems to be an ongoing debate of liking/disliking the show/host, and I’m not quite sure what all the fuss is about. There are so many avenues & outlets to catch up on the world these days, that it’s really quite overwhelming, and regularly one dimensional. The Hour (along with the host) offers multi-dimensional subjects, interviews, news coverage, celebrity coverage, humour, and Canadianism (If that’s even a word, but I think you get my drift). They offer a glimpse into our crazy world and affect our emotions, while encouraging us to expand our knowledge by reading their guests’ books, listening to their music, watching their movies, researching their political views or oppositions, looking beyond what we are fed by mainstream media and slightly feeding our appetite for non-conformity. Most of what they offer us leaves much room for discussion with friends, co-workers, family members, strangers, forums and blogs. George’s talent for asking his guests the right questions, often takes them by surprise, prompting knee-jerk responses and honest, unrehearsed responses. Giving their viewers a unique & often memorable interview (eg: June Calwood’s last interview). He has an amazing portfolio of interviews with esteemed personalities, which for a person of his age, is impressive. Today’s Canadian counterpart of Barbara Walters, perhaps, in that regard.
Of course the program’s not perfect, nor is the host, but really, that is what makes the program it’s own. I don’t know how many times I’ve cringed with their awkward attempts at opening skits, but every once in a while, they strike comedy gold and get a good belly laugh out of me. (Falling into the Pope’s vehicle!)
I could be wrong, but I think the show’s directive is to open our eyes & ears a little wider, while prompting debate and new opinions.
*And to those of you, that would like to tear apart my contribution, I say;
“Piss Off!”
I’m a mother of 2 young children, in a wonderful 14yr relationship, who works my ass off at a full-time job, and takes every chance I can get to catch up on the world around me at the end of my day. I appreciate the shit out of The Hour and will watch it when I can, for as long as it runs. Moreover, their website kicks ass, for their blogs and their format on picking & choosing segments of the show.
Cheers.
Love the show, don’t care what it is. I’ll watch it but not most news programs. I prefer to get my news online where I can seek out a few views of the same thing and choose my sources and stories.
Am I being censored, or is there a glitch?
A huge majority of Canadians never tune into anything CBC produces… but new people are beginning to find the blogs, tags, and gags enticing. Maybe they’ll tune in… maybe they’ll find out this way that we have a National Film Board, Canada Council, and Public Libraries too. Give the whole rippin’ ship to the kids… maybe they can run it better into the future than us old farts. Our tight ass-essments and worry about wasted tax money always beached the the old boat anyways. I just hope the CBC is there when the big crunches come and that- young or old… we need to keep the lines and the love open or we’re friggen doomed. This whole ‘insidethecbc’ is a ruse for use- too. I relish and embellish my off line and off air time from the See Bee Sea- and I canceled my emails. I’m down to under two hits a week. I’m Stromb- and Gumeshi-free and lovin’ it. Take the wheel kids. She’s all yours.
If only George and Giameshi weren’t the exact same person. – with the exact same likes – same dislikes – same politics
If only diverse viewpoints had a home at the CBC.
Oh, wait – Steven Page, of the Bare Naked Ladies (and NDP candidate) is getting a CBC show. Oh, never mind. Wait – what about Evan Solomon whose wife is the anti-corporate ‘no-logo’ chick and whose Dad ran the NDP in Ontario for years. Oh, never mind.
If only.
it’s funny: that whole article carries a sense of ivory tower desperation to me…journalists (and journalism instructors) around the world are freaking out that The News is going to degrade into some kind of sub-standard, citizen-driven, and potentially entertaining medium…God forbid! who’d want to be interested in The News? if it’s interesting or entertaining it can’t be news!
seriously though, I’m a journalism student and hearing from different professionals and people that have been in the industry a long time I get a real sense of panic over losing the great institution of Journalism…they’re petrified of any changes, including those that make information actually watchable with even a modicum of entertainment…lossen up, people! as long as younger people (or anyone for that matter) is getting exposed to what’s going on in the world and their own country I don’t care if they get it from a computer or the side of a cereal box– knowledge is power
If only George and Giameshi weren’t the exact same person. – with the exact same likes – same dislikes – same politics
have you ever listened to either one for longer than 5 sec? They’re like night and day.
And Panagiota, I agree with the “ivory tower desparation” idea. I’m glad CBC is reaching out and getting people at least interested in current affairs. Straight TV news is supposedly more journalistic, but it’s interpreted and edited and so forth, as well.
Mikw, I hate to poke holes in your theory, but Preston Manning has a show on the CBC.
Mikw, Evan Soloman’s wife isn’t the author of No Logo, that’s Avi Lewis’ wife.
I’m curious to know the gist of what Allan said and why it doesn’t meet the comment standards.
Panagiota: (Referring to your comment and not necessarily The Hour) It’s less a fear of change than a fear that the change will be to superficial garbage that plays only to lowest common denominators. There are lots of people who form knee-jerk opinions that new media lack intelligence, but I think there are less and less these as time goes on and more and more examined opinions.
I can think of dozens of sermons I sat through in j-school for the “New Media”–the ney-sayers were usually the students.
Mike: Do you think the tendency for the CBC to have NDPers has anything to do with the fact that the right wing often calls to eliminate the CBC? While at the other poll, left wingers think it’s the perfect concept.
Maybe less of a conspiracy than CBCwatch would have you believe.
Regardless of that, do you think the CBC should enforce a quota for the voting tendency of its employees? (And I ask that seriously.)
Voting quota? Come on, we may be a bunch of pinkos here, but that’s absurd.
Though it may interest you to know there are some pretty significant limits on what CBC journalists can be active in politically. Pretty much anything beyond having a campaign sign on your lawn requires disclosure at a minimum, and a lot of political activity is restricted. Thus the brave few who want to leap into the fray have generally had to take a leave to do so.