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Chapter Nine: Absentee Landlords and Sleeping Watchdogs This chapter will describe corporate ownership and government regulation of broadcast news stations in the 1990s, with comparisons to the early owners described in Chapter Two. It will also question why more journalists don't uphold the values of their profession and "just say no" to sleaze and crime. One problem is the quick turnover of news directors and their lack of training in leadership and management. With business people dictating news policies that will maximize ratings, local TV journalists are increasingly frustrated. A few -- like Carol Marine in Chicago and the late Carole Kneeland in Austin -- have taken a stand for quality news coverage. Other stations tried a "family friendly" news approach. We want to hear about the best -- and the worst. |