Your small paper could be a reality star!

[Bob Cook]

Romenesko reports that NBC is seeking a small-town community newspaper to be the subject of a reality show (though the National Newspaper Association, which is assisting in finding a paper, calls it a "documentary"):

http://jimromenesko.com/2013/01/22/coming-soon-a-reality-show-about-a-community-newspaper/

So what do you think a newspaper reality show should have?

Release the hounds.

 

[JayFarrar]

Yeah, I saw that on the facebookz.

I figure they'll pick a place in West Virginia or Arkansas or Mississippi that is rural and full of the colorful characters that can be coached up into doing dumb things for the camera.

Tupelo, oh Tupelo, you ain't seen nothing yet.

 

[spikechiquet]

TV Guide Channel did a series that followed small-town TV stations. It lasted two seasons (Odessa and Savannah). Was fun to watch. I think it could be interesting.

 

[DanOregon]

The funny thing is, NBC would probably be best off buying a small-town paper so they could control everything. Then unload it when it is done.

 

[Uncle.Ruckus]

If they don't choose Roswell, I ain't watching.

 

[HanSenSE]

Parents dropping by to tell us all about Little Jimmy.

 

[Songbird]

Roswell would be perfect. Maybe Martinsville.

 

[dooley_womack1]

"You only cover us when you're on TV!"

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Roswell would be perfect. Maybe Martinsville.

It would have been very interesting to have seen the Westchester Journal News in a documentary for the last month or so.

And I'm willing to betcha the reporters are all going to be these young, good-looking 20-somethings. Which is who they'll find at these papers. Only thing is, the network will have to provide them money so they can go out and party and eat out 6 times a week.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Look forward to watching lively discussions of what grip-and-grin to run or how to handle the local women's group luncheon.

 

[spikechiquet]

Look forward to watching lively discussions of what grip-and-gin to run or how to handle the local women's group luncheon.

I think just taking the "Dear Dimwit" thread and making it a sit-com would be enough entertainment for NBC.

 

[Walter Burns]

Somehow, I don't think my calling people "rat ******* cocksuckers" would translate well to television. Unless it's on HBO.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Hope it's better than "Tabloid Wars or "The Paper."

 

[buckweaver]

Is this like that time one of my old papers got the brilliant idea to install 24/7 webcams in the newsroom? They thought people would tune in to see the, uhh, hustle and bustle of putting out the next day's paper (never mind that half the desks were empty after layoffs, even then.)

They made the mistake of placing the cameras near the sports department ... and turning on the audio.

First, they asked us to tone it down. OK, whatever, we'll try. But hey, we're trying to work back here.

Then they deactivated the audio. Apparently the sound emitting from the sports department wasn't exactly SFW, if you catch my drift.

Yeah, that experiment didn't last long.

 

[HanSenSE]

Somehow, I don't think my calling people "rat ******* cocksuckers" would translate well to television. Unless it's on HBO.

Papers on basic cable try hard too.

 

[Tarheel316]

Hope it's better than "Tabloid Wars or "The Paper."

Oh come on. You didn't like The Paper? Randy Quaid was a great reporter!

 

[Johnny Dangerously]

"The Paper" was based on a bad business model. It should have been about "The Internet."

 

[Captain Obvious]

Hope it's better than "Tabloid Wars or "The Paper."

Oh come on. You didn't like The Paper? Randy Quaid was a great reporter!

"The Paper" was also the name of an MTV reality show featuring a high school newspaper class in Florida.

 

[DanOregon]

Can see the coming job postings. "Are you a go-getter? We want people who don't mind working long hours digging up the truth on holidays and weekends on their own time....beauty pageant and reality show experience a plus.

 

[Bamadog]

They'd need a 60-second delay on most sports departments on prep football Friday nights. That'd be great TV, except for all of the beeps. It'd sound like one of those panel trucks backing up.