About News Guy

Post 595:

            I don’t know if anyone watches the news anymore. I don’t. I guess if I’m in an airport or something, but otherwise. It’s not the content that keeps me away, although the content is generally ridiculous. Mostly, it’s the delivery. Why are news anchors the only people that talk like weirdoes?

            There’s probably a reason. Thousands of years of communication studies have gone into it, most likely, and all those studies have concluded that it’s necessary to address us viewers like we’re three years old. I’ve actually been in a news studio and watched the transformation the news readers make. They go from talking to you and then the cameras roll—complete change.

            I think they put on the weird voices for two reasons. They need to make sure absolutely everyone can understand the information, and they need to separate themselves from the rest of us. I call it the condescension/authority voice.

            Are you condescending when you write or create content? Probably. A total lack of condescension would mean you expect the absolute best of people. Nobody does that. It’s not even fair to do that. How far do you take it? That’s the question. I think there’s a spectrum. The more you use the condescension/authority voice, the worse the writing and the more people might actually follow it. The less you use do it, the more it might be recognized by critics. Nobody will care, but you’ll be considered someone with a unique “voice.”

            First of all, no one cares about your stupid voice except you. Either way, it’s a difficult choice to make. If you know ten thousand words and only write with two hundred, maybe it’s the best way to get the job done. People don’t need to be challenged all the time. We all pander. It’s just about what you can take.

            No answers. Pick a point on the spectrum and go with it. Cheers and see you after.