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Letters: The Veejay Squeeze Play Is a Rip-Off

Nov 21, 2005  •  Post A Comment

Here we go again! The big guy is squeezing the little guy even more (“Veejays to the Rescue,” Nov. 14). Young Broadcasting has been cutting costs for years now and has yet to see results. Are they crazy? Soon broadcast companies will not even pay us photographers and reporters. What’s next-giving the janitors a camera in between sweeping up?

Everyone pays their dues as a “one-man band,” but this is going to the extreme. If they are going to make everyone a “stringer” they should pay us stringer rates. This is just another scam they are using to try to get ahead.

Ryan Van Kleeck

Freelance videographer

Kingston, N.Y.






Standing Up for Schieffer

While I believe that Tom Shales’ support for CBS’s Dan Rather is certainly commendable (“And Now, Heeeere’s the News,” Nov. 14), I find it sad and grossly unfair that he chose to deride Dan’s longtime colleague Bob Schieffer (and Mr. Schieffer’s wardrobe) in the process.

Bob Schieffer represents everything that is good and honorable about the news profession. His anchoring presence on “The CBS Evening News” has been a blessing for the viewer, the network, its stations and affiliates. Bob Schieffer’s career embodies excellence, integrity and passion for a good story.

I’m sure that with his unassuming nature and good humor, he’ll chuckle about the necktie comment, roll up his sleeves and continue his mission to make “The CBS Evening News” the best program that it can possibly be.

Aviva Radbord

KDKA-TV

Pittsburgh






Reality’s Here to Stay

As TelevisionWeek‘s Oct. 25 Power Breakfast “Reality Television: How Far Can You Push the Envelope?” demonstrated, reality is a popular genre. What the results don’t show, however, is that reality TV is an established form of entertainment, a survivor.

Today’s reality contestants may eat bugs and jump out of airplanes, but “Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour” and “The Price Is Right” have beamed the agony and ecstasy of their participants into our living rooms for a combined total of more than 80 years.

The diversity of reality means its evolution is limitless. Today’s market remains unsaturated, and as statistics now show, viewers want more.

Critics who forebode the death of reality are experiencing tunnel vision. The genre’s expansion will be fueled by the opening up of new mediums, as viewers will be empowered to watch what they want, when they want.

Rest assured that in 30 years reality will still dominate airwaves, though we may very well be tuning in to “Newly Retired,” not “Newlyweds.”

Scott Sternberg, CEO

Scott Sternberg Productions

Hollywood