Lauren Jones ‘Anchorwoman’ Controversy
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James Joyner | Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
There is apparently quite a bit of controversy over the fact that a Texas CBS affiliate has agreed to let swimsuit model and former WWE diva Lauren Jones anchor the local news for a month as part of the Fox “Anchorwoman” reality show.
Does citing Katie Couric help her case or hurt it? On the one hand, Jones has a roughly similar skill set. On the other, the ratings have tanked since Couric took over the anchor duties from Bob Schieffer.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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In re Couric, her ratings went up for the first month compared to her predecessor. So I think it makes sense to cite her as it is a one month job. Now think about the implications if the common MSM management perception becomes that the life cycle of a woman in news is one month.
On the one hand, Jones has a roughly similar skill set.
I think she may have a couple of advantages not falling into the category of "skill."
This reminds me of when CNN Headline News hired Andrea Thomspon (Talia Winters from B5).
Ultimately I have never understood the fuss about the notion that TV stations hire anchors based largely on how they look and sound--given that, on balance, they don't actually do any reporting (or, at least, there is no particular reason they should be reporting). The anchors are newsreaders and studio-based hosts.
And, Heaven help us, but are talking about reality TV here--hardly the highbrow section of American pop culture.
And BTW: she was far more interesting as Talia Winters than she was reading headline for CNN.
And BTW: she was far more interesting as Talia Winters than she was reading headline for CNN.
Much better writing.
Local news is "hardly the highbrow section" of Amerian journalism. It's unwatchable for me. A little eye candy would get me to tune in.
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