USC Annenberg Journalism students heard a refreshing take on the state of television news from KABC anchors Marc Brown (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1983), top, and Michelle Tuzee (B.A. Broadcast Journalism, 1988) during a journalism forum October 3. The broadcasters discussed an industry that faces an uncertain future, but highlighted unique advantages local TV news stations have over their cable, network, print and new media competitors. "With our helicopter, live trucks and reporting teams, we can cover significant local stories in ways that other media can't," Tuzee said. "In fact," Brown added, "when major stories break -- like an earthquake or a terrorist attack -- local TV news is positioned ahead of other organizations, and our ratings show that people turn to us to find out what's happening." Even with these advantages, though, the newscasters made it clear that KABC has to adapt to maintain its position at the top of the local market. "We do three newscasts and one webcast a day," Brown said, "and we're always looking for ways to keep what we're doing relevant to our viewers. We've got to keep asking ourselves 'How do I make you care about this thing I'm telling you?'" The event was part of the "How Journalists Work" series, which next hosts Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist Eric Lichtblau on November 14.
Read more about the November 14 event