A "Smiley Face" May for Most Local TV News
By Brian Lambert
It says something that a lurid, highly speculative story whipped up here in the Twin Cities got better play this month on national cable than anywhere else in this market. The so-called May sweeps—the Nielsen ratings period—ended last Wednesday night, the same night I caught CNN's Anderson Cooper interviewing one of the cops in KSTP's "Smiley Face Killers" opus. Three out of the four local newsrooms showed gains for their premier late news show, with only WCCO, who whacked weatherman Paul Douglas as the period began, dipping a modest 4 percent, but not enough to drop it out of number one for the month.
Here are the numbies for May '08, May '07 and, for the hell of it, May '01. (Ratings/share.)
Station .........May '08.........May '07........May '01.
WCCO (4).......11.7/20........11.9/22.........12.7/22
KARE (11).......10.6/18..........9.8/18.........14.1/25
KMSP (9)..........9.2/15..........8.1/14.........
KSTP (5)..........6.9/12..........6.2/12..........9.6/17
KMSP (9)..........4.4/8...........4.4/8............2.4/4
I don't know what more I can say about KSTP's "Smiley Face" report, which led off the sweeps in late April, other than to repeat that I regard it as a case study-worthy example of disgraceful overreaching for commercial effect. Moreover, the fact that Good Morning America, CNN and Fox News gave it airtime while it sparked no new interest from local law enforcement or even local competitors (who would have happily made fools of themselves ratcheting up the hysteria if they thought there was an iota of substance to KSTP's story), says plenty about the programming priorities of morning talk shows and 24/7 cable.
It was interesting to see KMSP's Tom Lyden, who had reported on the death of Chris Jenkins book in '06, finally drop a report on the situation in LaCrosse, where other young men ended up in the river . . . only to have their deaths tied into the forty-homicide "Smiley Face" conspiracy theory. (To reiterate for anyone who missed this, KSTP lent great credence to a theory by two retired New York cops that organized "pods" of killers were stalking otherwise able-bodied college men and apparently "mentally" torturing them prior to slipping their bodies into rivers and lakes. In almost every case investigating authorities described the deaths as the result of extreme intoxication.)
Lyden was biting his lip in late-April, pretty much appalled (like other veteran crime reporters in town) at the way KSTP had allowed itself to be played for chumps by the two cops' "Smiley Face" theory. His LaCrosse piece avoided mentioning KSTP, emphasizing instead the effect of a really un-sexy "Operation Rescue," an organized foot patrol along the riverfront, which since the publicized drownings there, has intercepted forty-two boozed up kids from falling into the river.
As the FBI and authorities in LaCrosse have long suggested, by far the most likely "killer" in the "mysterious" deaths of these college guys is booze, not some roaming band of psychopaths, as KSTP helped suggest.
I had spoken with Lyden a few days after KSTP's first story, (it was a two-parter, with a couple shorter follow-ups), and again a couple days ago. Lyden, one of the town's more colorful and aggressive reporters, is also a guy who, as I don't mind telling him, knows his way around a good pulpy story. Point being that given the local TV news business model, you're always going to get a lot of theater with your facts. The game is played that way, and Lyden is one of the best at plussing his scripts and delivery with Fox-y drama.
But there is a point you don't want to cross.
"I saw the Anderson Cooper interview," says Lyden, "and I saw [ex-'CCO anchor Randi Kaye's piece], and I don't mind telling you I had steam coming out of my ears. [For a classic example of underwhelming skepticism, note how Kaye's story buries the dubiousness of law enforcement authorities at the very bottom, long after hyping the movie-of-the-week melodramatics.] But then I had to stop and ask myself why this bothered me so much? And I decided it was because as a reporter who likes to stay ahead of the competition, I worry all the time if I am buying into bullshit. And, as you know, I am not someone you'd call old-fashioned about these kinds of stories. But the idea that someone can feed you bullshit and you run with it worries me to the point I'm constantly watching out for it."
While Lyden dismisses the "Smiley Face" theory as claptrap, he says he still sees a good story in the Chris Jenkins case—the student whose body turned up in the Mississippi months after a Halloween '02 drinking bout. The case was reclassified as a homicide, largely it appears on the basis of information that has since been discredited. But there is a tantalizing—pulpy—story in who Jenkins was with and what was going on in the hours prior to his disappearance, none of it remotely suggestive of a network of psychopaths.
Lyden's boss, news director Bill Dallman, conceded that KSTP got "some national 'pop' " on its "Smiley Face" pieces but says knowing what he knew, i.e. what Lyden knew, he never once considered doing a follow-up off KSTP's "reporting," other than reiterating the night of KSTP's first "Smiley Face" report that Lyden had covered this ground two years earlier and seen no such conspiracy.
As for CNN about the time you're throwing up your hands after their third straight week of flogging Rev. Wright, you realize that given a choice between inciting hysteria over a manic preacher or whipping up mass paranoia with a thin gruel theory about roaming psycho killers we're probably better off with the former . . . I mean if that's the choice.
To paraphrase J.J. Gittes partner Walsh, "Forget it Jake, it's cable . . . "
I did however like "Smiley Face" detective Gannon's explanation to Cooper for why he's in the deep end of the pool on this story. (Not verbatim here, but close.) "One of the mothers made me promise that I'd prove her son didn't die from an ordinary drinking accident."
That says a lot.
© 2008 MSP Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
Heah ,Mr. Global Warming ! Any veteran broadcaster in Minnesota will tell you that bad May weather leads to higher HUT (Households Using Television) levels which leads to higher ratings. Any incumbent broadcaster won't tell you that if the weather is indeed bad because they want to attribute their higher ratings to Smiley murders, "Douglas Remembers" interviews, and no reaction to the loss of Weather Boy.
Now in November... if KMSP could just some how loosely tie Paul to the Smiley...oh, never mind. I started thinking like a local News Director.
LAMBERT: Now THAT is scary. Way scarier than roaming psychopaths.
Posted by: Jed Leyland on May 23, 2008 at 2:24 PM
It appears that 10PM viewing levels are up thanks to our cold weather in May (higher HUTs equal higher ratings)but other than a 2 share point decline for WCCO, local news share of viewing appears to be relatively flat year-to-year. Nothing to really for the newses to Smile about here.
What do these local news ratings tell us? No matter what the hype is for the local late newscasts during sweeps, people aren't buying into it. Increased viewing levels indicate that the increased viewership are going elsewhere during the local late newscasts. Unfortunately, many of the local broadcast stations are run by people who still think old fashioned sweep hypes will equal higher ratings. They need to hook audiences with a new strategy. Obviously, the old strategy is not working.
What these news managers and media companies do not realize is that it is a different era from the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's. They need to be more creative and use new media more effectively to drive audiences to their newscasts. They also need to truly understand the viewing habits of not only their loyal news viewer, but their occasional news viewer as well.
By the way, it is ridiculous to show the May'01 news numbers for Ch 9 because it was still a UPN affiliate back then with such stellar shows like "Homeboys from Outer Space" and "Moesha" leading into the newscast. With a stronger FOX programming lead in, of course the news numbers are going to climb versus seven years ago.
LAMBERT: With profit margins still in the high teens to mid-thirties for these stations there is very little impetus to marshall all resources for the coming revolution.
Posted by: Beached on May 23, 2008 at 3:25 PM
Brian, what evidence caused the reclassification to homicide in the first place and how is it now discredited?
LAMBERT: The story is a little garbled, but the basics as my sources tell me is that the cops got wind of some kind info pointing to one or two thug brothers from the north side, one of who may -- I'm not sure -- have been incarcerated when he got fingered. But eventually this lead fell apart. The stories didn't add up. Yet the Jenkins family has been very persistent in demanding further investigation so the case remains "open".
Posted by: frogster on May 23, 2008 at 5:25 PM
Mr. Lambert:
Please inform "frogster" that use of that name constitutes an infringement upon a copyrighted and trademarked moniker, to wit: "Frogman of Grant." The person so infringing is demanded to cease and desist in such use at once. The Frogman, as always, reserves all rights to enforce his exclusive ownership of the amphibian moniker characterized herein but not limited to such description, and to seek injunctive relief and compensatory damages at his sole discretion.
LAMBERT: Note to "frogster". You're dealing with a level of megalomania here that could prove ruinous to all you hold dear. I'd do as he says.
Posted by: Frogman of Grant on May 24, 2008 at 8:07 PM
I've spent a couple of hours on the KSTP web site watching everything related to the Happy Face Killer case. There is an impressive number of links regarding the series, but other than the actual police file, there's nothing of substance. The best part occurs when reporter Piehl tells us that the detectives know some of the killers but don't want to name them for fear of scaring them off. It apparently didn't occur to Piehl that if these ex-cops were genuinely concerned about scaring off the killers, they wouldn't cooperate with a major market news report on the subject.
Instead of the cult killer angle, KSTP could have gone with the same pulpy angle the Milwaukee station did: Off duty police officer throws a drunken Jenkins out of the bar and later drives Jenkins' girlfriend home; girlfriend allegedly isn't helpful in the investigation, and local police cover up for their fellow cop. Of course, if KSTP went this route, they might face actual consequences such as a irreparably poisoned relationship with the MPD or a defamation suit from the cop or the girlfriend. But that's kind of the point - KSTP can air these ridiculous allegations when no one specific is damaged. After all, who's going to sue? A nonexistent cult?
LAMBERT: You are spot on, sir. As one ex-KSTPer was telling me -- I may have mentioned this already -- his great frustration prior to leaving was the station's timidity with their investigative work. Spooked by lawyers. This "thing" has, as you point out, no possible complainant. Also, the Milwaukee station's story continues to tantalize at least a couple veteran local crime reporters.
Posted by: frogster on May 26, 2008 at 6:46 AM
Why is the back story here being held from the public?
We're not just talking KSTP. Theres Lyden, KARE, the Strib, CCO. No one will elaborate on the circumstances over Jenkins being bounced.
The media is acting as a gatekeeper here, as they are want to do.
LAMBERT: The short answer is that they don't know. But there is also trepidation about the cop angle. Believe me, there are pros who want this story.
Posted by: 108 on May 27, 2008 at 9:38 AM
To Frogman of Grant: The anonymity of the web allows me to quote a Great American who, like me, was safely out of harms way when he uttered the immortal phrase: "Bring it on!"
LAMBERT: frogster ... I can't protect you from this point on.
Posted by: frogster on May 27, 2008 at 10:51 AM
"One of the mothers made me promise that I'd prove her son didn't die from an ordinary drinking accident."
That just makes me sick. The family seems to not want to accept reality--the saddest part is that they have now encouraged/got the hopes up of all sorts of grieving families across the nation. In my four years of college I cannot name a single person who kept their parents abreast of every night of foolish drinking, beer bong, blackout, kegstand, etc. Even if this concocted theory is plausible (which its not) it is in no way probable or even close to provable. Whoever is buying this garbage needs to watch a little less CSI and maybe catch some Law & Order--at least then they might have some idea what a criminal case make.
LAMBERT: But this "pro" represents this plea from an anguished mother -- to disprove the obvious -- as some kind of vital key into a new reality.
Posted by: dave on May 27, 2008 at 6:12 PM
Is anyone else as disappointed as I that the fetching and estimable Alison Triarsi has left KSTP, further darkening the 10pm time period in this small burg.
LAMBERT: Your criteria for "quality news" is fairly obvious.
Posted by: bertram jr on May 28, 2008 at 9:25 AM