Study finds local TV News in L.A. is not doing its job

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If you get all your local news from television, you might think everyone in Los Angeles County is either a criminal or a celebrity. A new study released today by the Norman Lear Center at the Annenberg School suggests that local TV news broadcasts are not doing their job of informing the public.

The study found that one-third of local news broadcasts led with crime stories. And when they're not leading with crime, the rest tend to start with sports or entertainment.

In a typical 30-minute local TV news broadcast only an average of twenty-two seconds were devoted to local government coverage - that includes education, layoffs, personnel changes, the budget, and the environment.

Former TV news reporter and panelist at the release event today, Bob Jimenez, is disappointed.

"The experience for I think news watchers, its much like walking into a fast-food chain. Eating your hamburger and then walking out and feeling, 'why am I still hungry?' Because the nutrition isn't there, the content isn't there, and you're left wanting."

The study found that Los Angeles' budget crisis appeared as a lead story only one time out of a hundred.

Chris Foy, Annenberg Radio News