Jim Hummel, an ABC6 news reporter for the past 13 years who is known for the “You Paid for It” investigative segments, resigned yesterday morning, saying he was disturbed by the sensational direction the station has been taking.
Hummel said there was pressure to sensationalize news and use slang –– such as “lowlife” and “thug” to describe defendants –– in an effort to increase ratings for the third-place local news station.
I love the craziness of the news,” Hummel said yesterday, before going on The Dan Yorke Show on WPRO (630-AM). “But I think there comes a point where you have to take a stand.”
TVNL Comment: Bravo, Mr. Hummel!
Journalism Glance
With ad revenues falling, partly due to TiVo users recording programs and skipping through commercial breaks, Madison Avenue has recently shifted its emphasis to product placement within programming. A recent partnership between several FOX affiliates and McDonald's is getting a lot of attention.
Medical reports seen by IPS appear to confirm the testimony of IPS Gaza correspondent Mohammed Omer of physical abuse at the hands of Israelis last month.
Former Los Angeles district attorney Vincent Bugliosi became widely known as the prosecutor of Charles Manson and later wrote bestselling books about that case, the O.J. Simpson trial, and other topics. However, Bugliosi's latest effort, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder, has faced what CNN calls "a virtual media blackout."





























