Poking The Bear

This post is not about the existence or non-existence of Climate Change or Global Warming. 

This post is about credibility and jeopardizing the brand.

While most Americans, according to Pew Research, are incrementally abandoning local TV news, one has to wonder who at WANE-15 thinks that posting this to the official WANE-15 Facebook page was a good idea. The weather guy is entitled to his opinion on his own Facebook page, fine, but WANE-15 forwarding it out under their name and brand does not make good public relations sense. 

It's no secret that media views their audience and uneducated rubes, why give them one more reason to dislike you? You may view them as the crackpot fringe, but is poking the bear a good idea? Imagine if the male anchor, for example, posted on the WANE-15 Facebook page that gun owners pose a threat to society and guns should be confiscated? Now that would be the proverbial shit show. 

Again, to be clear, this is not about Climate change, or gun ownership. This is about protecting the station's goodwill and brand. Why alienate your viewers and customers of your advertisers?

WANE TV Drags Their Feet

Not sure why WANE-15 is finally reporting about financial troubles at Frontier that employees and others have known about for weeks.

The business news media has had the story quite a while, too. Bloomberg has been the most quoted source. Facebook posts started appearing on January 20th.

Why did WANE-15 wait so long to report this?

The Maven has no idea. 

Could it be the kids in the news room:

1. Thought the source of the story, Bloomberg, was just an old white guy running for president and ignored the story. 
2. They never got a press release (which is where all news comes from)
3. Everyone in the news room has Comcast/Xfinity for their cable/internet service, so it doesn't matter
4. Maybe the story was kept quiet because WANE-15 didn't want to anger Frontier and jeopardize that giant ad budget?

Here's What Media Bias Looks Like

This story was pointed out by reader Dave who was shocked that this story offered only one point of view. Sound journalistic practice, you know, the kind they teach a "J School", demands that opposing or contrasting points of view are included in any bonafide news story. The Federal Communications Commission has, in the past, gone so far as to penalize TV station licensees with sanctions up to and including license revocation for such "shenanigans".

The story (complete text below) contains the complaint of one person concerned that Senator Kruse's bill will forcibly inject religion into our schools and indoctrinate children. Fair enough.

What is missing from the story is a comment from any other person sharing that concern. Missing also is a comment from any school or school system about how they would be impacted by the proposed legislation. 

And, finally, there is no rebuttal by Senator Kruse to the woman voicing the opposition to the proposed legislation. It must have been too much work to ask for one.

In all fairness, the Maven notes that the beginning line of the story has been "updated" since it's the first presentation yesterday (1/21). When first seen by viewers, the reporter opened her story with the words "Senator Dennis Kruse is at it again". Nice. No bias here.

Bias? Laziness? Ineptitude? Read the story, if the Maven missed the other viewpoints, let me know.

The text of the WANE 15 story:

Indiana Senator pushes for ‘In God we Trust’ to be in every public classroom, one mother says ‘No’

Top Stories

by: Briana Brownlee

Posted: Jan 21, 2020 / 11:28 PM EST / Updated: Jan 22, 2020 / 08:44 AM EST

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FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – Indiana State Senator Dennis Kruse of Auburn is again pushing for the nation’s motto “In God We Trust” to be placed in every public school and library.

This isn’t Senator Kruse’s first attempt. Last year the senator introduced a similar bill which also included a provision that required every Indiana school to offer a Bible study course as an elective.

One mother disagrees with the bill, believing there should be a separation from state and religion.

“We all come from different households have different, we all have different beliefs,” said Erica Jamison. “I feel like really you alienate people if you start imposing religious issues into the public schools.”

Erica Jamison, a mother of three boys all enrolled in public schools in Allen County says it’s the parents’ duty to implement religion, not the teachers.

“I believe religion belongs in their sanctuary and it doesn’t belong in the school,” said Jamison.

If the bill passes a poster or photo of the motto will be required to be at least 11 inches tall and 17 inches wide. Jamison believes the money for the signs could have better use.

“My children have been in classrooms with 30-children and I think the money used to buy signs could be use in all of the schools throughout the state to hire another teacher to provide more classroom help,” said Jamison.

Another part of the bill would require the United States flag and Indiana’s flag to be in every classroom and library. Jamison says she isn’t opposed to this, but religion she be left out of it.

“The flag is very important to have, in the school or the classroom,” said Jamison. “I know in my kids school they say the The Pledge of Allegiance every morning, they have a moment of silence and you go on with your day.”

Copyright 2020 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

The story is here: 

https://www.wane.com/top-stories/indiana-senator-pushes-for-in-god-we-trust-to-be-in-every-public-classroom-one-mother-says-no/

 
 

...by any other name

Gotta love the kids in the WANE-15 newsroom practicing their "casual journalism" and using the slang term WEED in place of marijuana. All the cool kids do.

If you've not heard of Casual Journalism, it's a trend in TV news reporting, promoted by a well-known consultant, designed to make stale news stories appeal to younger viewers. 

For the youngsters at WANE-15, the Maven would like to help you out with your news writing.

According to the Urban Thesaurus, here are a few more "hip" slang terms for marijuana, including the favorite "weed". Using these terms interchangeably should help you "spice" up your writing and avoid repetition.

Here's the list:

weed ganja grass reefer cheeba mota chiba pakalolo mary jane icky sticky toke maryjane teen spirit esh wizard cabbage wacky weed lye voodoo lounge j frop blazed weedizzle joint wids marriageyouwanna green day heeby cheebs lumber crip green bear side salad henry keyed ism bunning cess hizzerb johnnie blaze l hydro buddah marajuana babbage bones dodie kaya miller kripi kush reef gonja bomb spliff m&m doobie hit herb pot ganz buds smokeables nixon lettuce kronik sack mids ketra squiggy pif trees douja blem bubonic honnah lee african moonlight mary j flowers dankrupt dirt maplestory jade gage m.m keefe z bc bud wizzog hash browns asparagus dooby hesin sess skunk-ape midget dope-a-wanna shwag 5 on it pang brocolli jefferson sweet leaf bad word tweed loud purple haze dank smoke trees collie weed tampee collie hobo hash mindbender item 9 blunt chee chudge smokin indo jibber socom white rhino muggles zig zags mose sheeba burn one cronic throw down high grade bionic piff gunja hash brownies la snow cap leaf plane herdy reffer heddies hidden green mmj snowcap jay the herb pacalolo ancient thunder lettuce wee-wa schnau lumbo grizzle q-p kouchie yesca squeef colum blowin trees bleezie blowing trees dro lala gerb bagels bow gateway moonajuana shack cookjies bowl draw gallo dibbles snickelfritz marmar wizam collie man pat smay molta woolie doob eighth gange mj loud pack trons skeedz tom green durban poison nope p.r. poojuana hoozy beattie herbal holy herb choof plate ron paul latin lettuce wacky tabacky zol swear word chiefer specials cannabis pinner hairy monkey pack breathe poopie deag half track cheebs rip billy murphy snoop dogg nsfw twenty wizzad astroturf toasted hustle trees burn rope smoking tree greenage bloodthistle munz stick-icky-icky bombazee munchies ragweed choom gang mpr da ma wizzles veggies sticky-icky nickelbag chop lizm shmengli nugg reuben blown cd's lb homegrown geese doshia oolies shake n' bake drib orange paca lo lo chiefed uncle gary skunky hehr tjaapie purple the means boo boo shmack shatter cayabyab bush concert cigarette fenner fains piz smacked cryp cali bud flight school fun sticks grinch fingers ripped dogia reefer chief damo snicklefrits reefa maui wowwee durban danko white widow keef green out ripster borst hogleg snay burner m.o.m. fane playstation fig newtons hippie lettuce blow down caner pine cigarette tree tweedy nug playing golf bhudda hoot marihuana shrubs crops 'dro bleezy tree cocoa puffs cola dosha burn down poop naked cheechin purp gonge schweppes shwagg pushing tea london blazers hayze cooked cronkite tah flum primo dimebag blaze it walking the dog bogart bhang shmouze plug chibble jellybeans dannye fun stick kk chalise bingus twinny twin twin ez rider cheifin toak marijaweenie snoochy - boochy snackers killing puppies bambalacha chibba leaves gedo the fear brick doober hash zip blow dro bundem colita local greenery herbals toked it nuggies tb small coco puff baked green sticky bananas kushempeng susie wong burd ganjay nope criz hooter lizum potrepreneur smoke out haze greenery faso ditch weed nope nope take rope bakey cheeb majigo twiddle stick smerge borritos jeezy blaze a branch whackage shmeeze ak scliff magoozler junia (hoon-ya) devil lettuce chronasseur p sitting on pete's couch 3.5 blitzed wizzle indigo smoochie boochies thc doh-doh to hang out with sam burn the fern grindelpass j-lo 215 hokus pokus gaziza zooed mary kay j-bomb dime bag nugget ten sack afghan goo cranker quad bad word judzz skuff niña bizzy wacky tobaccy giggle smoke gourmet tobacco upm vitamin w marijahoozits bust a knock nope greens romney head shop buzzing apocalolo treehab shoe shopping home grown wake n bake seeds switchin lanes sacc dak tacked tomoc reggie bush wavy moked jibba zuke daisy nugget ganga kisha green corn cotton candy kill jber dirty mary won doobiez mr. nice guy maricoma zallad bonehenge purple trainwreck bad word wizard spices blessy zoot birdy fried shii nick cage four 20 woolies zone joe brown bumweed hamburgers piece schwiggity schwag bone blanton green giant blow trees obama rolling numbers kouche face blast 10 sack [doja] headbanger boogie chrons blaze cartucho (spanish) udskies enjoyables tin tool up a doobie mootie choom shanky weed burn a j puffin the cheeba ak-47 sensi herb monging out jang boss tweed devil's lettuce kaja friend boat spark it up tulip regs frip izzum morning star twiddle bowl pack hoots spark crop frazz geeva hits. sweet chiva preemos gaunga meej jamaican retirement package kali maori pyjamas pacheco blee weedman sticky-icky-icky marihuano 4/20 gudra banano schwag squeal stoning broccoli saj podey rollies zombie dolphin nugz shipwreck beeans yeska gober crippi study geometry smokables jbone shratnum joots schwiz nice lucifers' lettuce electric lettuce donni and austin cigarette sd snipeing hidash reefers bakery gonza yerba doadies half bawny hit the j cig smizzle croo 530 indulge grifa snoke glassy stungry pokalolo doogets roll smoke yagg hidden mary j flower mound skidmore healer dubsakreligious profane doobey marry joanna steaming broc bambalachacha hooty mac locoweed huff'n'puff herbo picture frames guiged himalaya woolford pakololo scoots sweet wicky stick nyoonch delta-9 lambspread phelps & 10 piece hippie speedball stash nuggs big black mariah hash pipe going to nick's house lucifer's lettuce squizzy steeched faber cooft red delicious hindu kush a-bomb babanya 11357 nabs deemo cross-faded shamwow blue sky blonde sife chilled blowin' smeak marijawonka chief swoss maui wowie cocopuff glurg geezle green jelly beans redankulous scurvy dancing on the green weed legs nade chill session schmur herbal remedy hippy hay full auto danknicity captain argus jarcheese tron buddhacron crap nuggets mr. magic mayor of miller appleweed hit that ach burb peyt nsfw purps stick la-la monkey crack bill clinton dancing shoes chillin with yoda mountain cabbage vaporizer segway grass monkey cheeva grib pooped smorgasm peng blunt cruise kinney cavy sack salad cloud sittin pie in the sky cambodian jefar tony tiger kush green tobacco time cripto smoke herbs woobanger nugzilla fueg grab og kush gliffed mashed neckle cheiz bw bad mankeys buns to the cloud! brinjo mary jane holland stank a dank coestar green shoes crondor smingle dime breezed fairway tweedles ronos chongkee executive branch ganja-smuggler to bob biff up a scoob buddah head the gnome churn three 6 mafia bubba kush dubsley move boxes gugu zepplin bent sister mary hern crilled doper lemon smoke one cush arboles purple nurple century sam swazi tav flower mowie wowie god's gift plant mangover weed-be-gone aidism yard work herbalist ink dave jeezus tube brickweed nose hit craig hotbox chop a dutch cheetos jetss fool mahun doobskie chundee sploofie flyin high szechwan nsfw stink kind strong pack cyph ghanj green leaf grow show green gobbler big head spliff fumal creepy iddlelichen crockodiling j-mill happy smoke hidden wizzi twisted sticky skama zig zag shish garcia vega marijuanero mokey mr. miyagi doja chiefin' nettles 420 blaze it kind mendo naid dank nuggets half bag tobias chomble marijuanica sugar coated christmas trees skush bafos swisha jimbob black up girduj famous essin gangsta gumbo pete moss herbed up electric cabbage chwanda kill roy scrant chinese tomatoes laughing grass blast skerbenacker hasherdabery dankies zoofy boots szechwanzito bashlu jernt do do elbow cousin eddie woolah ubis mersh marowana stuckin foned mildge units daze boxed wayne williams grow-op full green bifta cotton chops weed santa urban meyer ganjulate turtle racing ciba toked jaybo doshe doobar yawnie stick schmeez session headband cambo relo gone cacked weedhead blue denim haze sensimilla jamba cocopuffs qtr piff nugget tro mecc california grass durn fireplace chived blaziken popper bottle cheef drough porch builder hootie purpnicious sensimillia crondeezy gars rastatute sens cherb tree spot rainy day lady hidden schmoke spleezo shod yapper extra-curricular activities grilled duff cheech and chong steam roller cannabis nimbus wu blunt giggle weed pothole smokahontas pothead no show a piece loked m39 weed wacker eyedrops gerundus invent a holiday weedacus stonage cheaba lace san fransisco cigarette human paraquat flake & bake geeched shotgun it nicely toasted chongke g-13 razzled one more lap bunn a ting mexican cigarette praino dough boy bong wizard of an oz smoke up vase smoke a bowl long bong silver yeth don cheadle purple cush get blowed commercial smeed that good smoke a l endo purple sticky punch anticiblazin the spot you straight? challis deisel grasstronaut ganj trading green stankweed ooh wee pulling an eberhardt dursted death breath chonched smoke canada cocoa puffin mersch watering a tree bull durham smoke sesh monkeypaws bloof magic jay bone tenino club barbeque zooted kushungpeng bun a ting goodies pinch pocololo schmobbin keyshia cole will canopic dodo trainwreck hot box gateway drug wubanger erryday tweeds steam dope blaked weed whacker po-pa cannabinated wayne fontes experience no show gram bag orange mascara ya-hooka herbess reefer fever dank account budtrader.com whitey sativica nsfw crunked oooweee hittin trees green dojo bunk jig squeebage sweet gold hazy blazy englaif smiley veggies gridd bomskies no show broccoli and cheese blazies profane buddery al green records budrich dojack iye dirt weed quart lime in the coconut chill mode greensies ~k<- cabbage sheeshing chron aracata weedaholic giggle bush treefer fyre clinic roaching jett john cusack route woos verde spinello scooby snacks budz ozium juicy fruit leoing cannibus sativa papanya dank nugs gandhi weedhita weedie weedwacker chinky bud ery day chimped shmeek budah kwonk cheap perfume tamjee juda fly strunk bleezle fezz vaked o'dweed's talk to bob dub bubonic chronic smokin loud pseudojuana amp joint redacted beasters twizzle brown frown pancake faced lechron james papers puntu ganjo hotboxing pizzy heef j unit swear word geeking raw dee eye chrondizzle schwagger baby baked kentucky herb snickelfrits celery duthcie beaugs hums catatonic odbc rinsed ristal the stuff gold leaf gas sonic chronic mediweed shike weed coma hitter dopium the ganja nazi squamish airhead high jacking sweet tooth permifried twiddler peter parker headz nsfw face 3750 lemon diesel redacted

  
https://urbanthesaurus.org/synonyms/marijuana